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The FDA has confirmed that certain brands of homeopathic teething tablets marketed by Hyland’s contain elevated amounts of the toxic substance belladonna and is warning consumers not to use them.  Belladonna is a potentially poisonous extract of the Deadly Nightshade plant used in beauty products and sleeping aids.  It has hallucinogenic qualities and is toxic in large amounts.

The FDA said in a statement “Laboratory analysis found inconsistent amounts of belladonna, a toxic substance, in certain homeopathic teething tablets, sometimes far exceeding the amount claimed on the label.”  The FDA does not approve such products but it can work to get dangerous food or drug products of any kind removed from the market.

The FDA also stated that it has “asked Standard Homeopathic Co., the manufacturer of Hyland’s teething products, to recall its homeopathic teething tablets from the market but the company did not agree.”  In November 2016, Raritan Pharmaceuticals agreed to recall three belladonna-containing homeopathic products, two of which were marketed by CVS, according to the FDA.  The manufacturer has not agreed to a recall but a letter to consumers on the Hyland’s website notes that their teething products are no longer being distributed in the U.S.

Belladonna causes the pupils to become large, and also can cause the child’s blood pressure to drop as the child’s blood vessels also dilate.  This dropping blood pressure can cause fainting or even death in extreme cases.  Blurred vision, dry mouth and hallucinations are common in overdose.

“The body’s response to belladonna in children under 2 years of age is unpredictable and puts them at unnecessary risk,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.  The FDA recommends that consumers stop using these products marketed by Hyland’s immediately and dispose of any in their possession.  The FDA’s advice to parents is to seek medical care immediately if their child experiences seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating or agitation after using homeopathic teething products.

 

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