FDA Issues Warning on High-strength Hydrogen Peroxide

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement on July 27, 2006 warning consumers not to purchase or use high-strength hydrogen peroxide products.  Recently, some products have been marketed as “35 Percent Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide” for medicinal purposes.  The companies that are selling these products claim that their products can treat AIDS, cancer, emphysema, and many other life-threatening diseases.  Dr. Steven Galson, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, stated, “No one has presented any evidence that hydrogen peroxide taken internally has any medical value.  In fact, consuming hydrogen peroxide in the manner touted by these websites could lead to tragic results.”

The American Cancer Society performed a literature review of “hyperoxygenation” therapies, such as hydrogen peroxide, germanium sesquioxide, and ozone. These substances supposedly kill cancer cells by supplying more oxygen than they can tolerate.  The American Cancer Society concluded that there is no evidence that treatment with hydrogen peroxide or other “hyperoxygenating” compounds is safe nor does the treatment result in an objective benefit in the treatment of cancer.  High-strength hydrogen peroxide is more than 10 times stronger than the solution used in over-the-counter drugs to disinfect minor cuts.  Ingesting hydrogen peroxide can cause gastrointestinal irritation or ulceration.  Intravenous administration of hydrogen peroxide can cause inflammation of the blood vessel at the injection site, gas embolisms, and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. 

The FDA has never approved high-strength hydrogen peroxide to be taken internally. The FDA is working to stop companies selling high-strength hydrogen peroxide from making illegal medical claims about their products.  The FDA issued warning letters to two firms that are illegally selling “35 percent hydrogen peroxide” products on Web sites.  These warning letters outlined the various regulations that the companies have violated, and the companies were given 15 working days to correct the violations.

References:

1. www.fda.gov
2. Questionable methods of cancer management: hydrogen peroxide and other ‘hyperoxygenation’ therapies. CA Cancer J Clin 1993;43:47-56.

Jamie Toothman, PharmD. Candidate