Consumer alert: CBD products not necessarily safe
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The FDA is urging consumers to use caution with products infused with cannabidiol (CBD), the cannabis-derived extract that's touted as a cure-all. CBD is widely available in creams, tinctures, oils, patches, gummy bears, capsules, and more. But some products are being sold illegally, with claims that CBD can treat health conditions. In November, the FDA cracked down on 15 companies that were making such claims, or that were illegally adding CBD to food or selling it as a dietary supplement. "We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe, or that trying CBD can't hurt.' Aside from one prescription drug approved to treat two pediatric epilepsy disorders, these products have not been approved by the FDA, and we want to be clear that a number of questions remain regarding CBD's safety," says FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy. Even legal CBD products have potential health risks such as liver injury, drug interactions, sedation, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and mood changes. Talk to your doctor before trying any new supplement, especially if it contains CBD.
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