• On Tuesday, the FDA issued a warning letter jointly with the Federal Trade Commission to Alternative Health Distribution LLC d/b/a CannaAid for selling unapproved and misbranded products for use in treating or preventing COVID-19. Consumers concerned about COVID-19 should consult with their health care provider.
• The FDA continues to warn consumers not to purchase or use products marketed with variations of the names “Artri” or “Ortiga” due to potentially dangerous hidden active drug ingredients not listed on the product label. FDA analysis revealed these products contain hidden drug ingredients, including diclofenac, an NSAID, and dexamethasone, a corticosteroid. The FDA urges consumers taking these products to immediately talk to their health care professional to safely stop using them because suddenly stopping these drugs may be dangerous. 
  • In April 2022, the FDA notified consumers that the agency received adverse event reports, including of liver toxicity and death, associated with the use of Artri King and similarly named products. 
  • In support of public safety, and because some of these products may still be available on the market, FDA issued warning letters on October 28, 2022, to Amazon, Walmart, and Latin Foods Market for distributing various “Artri” and/or “Ortiga” unapproved and misbranded drug products. Walmart and Latin Foods Market already issued voluntary recalls for these products.