Ingesting these trendy health products could land you in the ER

Talk about a tough pill to swallow: Your health fad might not only be useless, but it could also land you in the ER.

As an increasing number of people eschew conventional medicine and health solutions, many have turned to harmful and even life-threatening “medications” for a creative fix.

Dr. Nima Majlesi, director of toxicology and emergency room physician at Northwell Health, has witnessed firsthand how dangerous these risky behaviors can be, telling The Post, “I’ve seen almost anything you can imagine being ingested. “

Here’s a look at some of the wild health crazes that are making people sick — and sometimes putting their lives at risk.

Veterinary drugs

In an alarming trend, more and more people are raiding Fido’s pill stash, turning to veterinary medicine meant for animals.

“A lot of times, these things gain popularity by targeting groups of people who are desperate to solve a problem. But they can lead to important consequences”, said Dr. Milesi.

One of the most notable cases in recent years was the ivermectin craze during the COVID pandemic.

Despite a lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness against the virus, the veterinary version of ivermectin – formulated to treat cattle – was promoted by media figures, politicians and even some doctors as a miracle cure.

While the human formulation of ivermectin is relatively safe, Dr. Majlesi said the veterinary version is a different story. It is much more concentrated, designed for much larger animals like horses and cows, and contains ingredients that are untested for human use.

“You have to be super careful because the way animals metabolize drugs is different than the way you do,” explained Dr. Milesi.

During the pandemic, Dr. Majlesi said emergency rooms and poison control centers saw an increase in people self-medicating with ivermectin, including those who overdosed on the deworming drug. Side effects included nausea, diarrhea, severe skin rashes, dizziness, tremors, and drowsiness, just to name a few.

The advice of Dr. Majlesit is simple: “Whenever you see ‘not for human consumption’ on a label, beware. And remember, it’s the dose that makes the poison. Taking too much of anything can lead to a problem.”

Activated charcoal

Another troubling health trend is activated charcoal, which has popped up everywhere from juices to toothpaste.

It’s been touted as a cure-all, claiming to fix everything from high cholesterol to bloating and even a hangover cure — but Dr. Majlesi warns that the popular detox ingredient can also work against you.

While activated charcoal is an emergency room staple, commonly used to treat overdoses and poisonings by absorbing toxins in the stomach and preventing them from entering the bloodstream, there’s one big catch: It doesn’t discriminate.

“People often don’t realize that if they take medication that they need to work near coal, it can actually affect how their body absorbs the medication,” explained Dr. Milesi.

Majlesi regularly sees patients come to the ER complaining that their blood pressure medications aren’t working, only to discover that activated charcoal is to blame. Charcoal can interfere with the absorption of the medicine, making it ineffective—and in some cases, downright dangerous.

Take this report published in the journal Antiviral Therapy as a warning: it details how activated charcoal interfered with one patient’s HIV treatment, causing the virus to rebound and even develop drug resistance.

“These are things that people need to think about when they put them in their bodies,” said Dr. Milesi.

Toxic supplements

Supplements may seem like a harmless way to improve your health, but for some people, they’re a one-way ticket to the emergency room.

“People assume that if a supplement is available, it must be safe,” said Dr. Milesi. “The reality is that you have to be extremely careful about what you’re taking. You have to read the label and understand if it’s toxic or not.”

Yohimbine, for example, is commonly found in gas stations and fitness stores marketed as an energy booster and a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

“We’ve seen patients develop delirium, seizures, and even have their hearts go to ridiculous rates from using this supplement,” said Dr. Milesi.

But it’s not just some fraudulent products that cause problems. Dr. Majlesi said many supplements contain dangerous amounts of metals such as silver, mercury and gold, which the body cannot process. Over time, these metals accumulate and can lead to toxic buildup, resulting in serious health problems.

Adding to the risk, supplements are regulated differently than medicine by the Food and Drug Administration, so many of them hit the market without first being reviewed. Dr. Majlesi said some of these products have been found to contain arsenic and lead – both highly toxic substances.

“The reality is, we’re not seeing people dying from supplements left and right,” says Dr. Milesi. “But I think a lot of it is a waste of money.”

Before jumping into the supplement pool, Dr. Majlesi advises anyone considering a new product to consult their doctor first. This ensures that the supplement is safe and will not interfere with any existing medications you are taking.

From ordinary to crazy

It’s not just the usual suspects that send people to the emergency room. Dr. Majlesi has seen “a little bit of everything”.

Among the strangest cases involving adults: nails, screws and plugs.

While it may sound like something out of a horror movie, Dr. Majlesi explained that most of these cases are not random.

They often point to deeper psychological issues, such as binge eating, a disorder in which people crave and consume non-food objects. This can include things like chalk, bits of metal and, yes, even nails.

There is no single cause of pizza, but Dr. Majlesi notes that in some cases, cravings are linked to nutrient deficiencies, such as iron or zinc deficiency. In these cases, the body, in its desperate attempt to restore balance, may trigger these unusual cravings.

However, children are usually the ones who end up swallowing things by mistake. Dr. Majlesi has treated young patients who have accidentally swallowed toy cards, batteries, and even small dolls.