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The U.S. CPSC's Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database (Database) This is a publicly searchable database where submitters can report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) a harm or risk of harm related to the use of a consumer product or other product or substance within the jurisdiction of the CPSC. Members of the public can search the Database for safety information about products that are in their home already, or that they may be thinking about purchasing.
FDA Alerts, Advisories & Safety Information - Alerts, Advisories & Safety Information from U.S. Food & Drug Administration for food, beverages, dietary supplements, and infant formula.
Consumer Product Safety - Canada - Information on incident reporting, recalls and alerts, cosmetic information, product safety education and consumer product requirements. Consumers can search recalls and safety alerts, report a consumer product or cosmetic that they feel is unsafe, subscribe to receive new information, consumer alerts, recalls, and consultations.
Some interactions between supplements and drugs are very dangerous. For example, interactions can decrease the effectiveness of critically important drugs—such as drugs that prevent transplanted organs from being rejected.
Some supplements can increase the effects—including unwanted side effects—of drugs. For example, herbs that decrease blood sugar may interact with anti-diabetes drugs to cause blood sugar to drop too far.
Sometimes, taking a drug and a supplement together may decrease the drug’s effects. This means that you aren’t getting the full benefit from the drug that your health care provider wants you to have. For example popular herbal supplement St. John’s wort is especially well known for decreasing the effects of drugs.
Some supplements may increase the effects and side effects of drugs. For example, the herb schisandra may slow down the processes in your body that change drugs into inactive substances. So if you take this herb while you’re also taking a drug, the amount of the drug in your body may increase. As a result, the drug’s effects may be too strong.