FDA issues
warning on bogus HIV treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that drinking or injecting high-strength hydrogen peroxide products, which are sold online to treat serious illness--including AIDS--can be very harmful.

The products are promoted as "35% food grade hydrogen peroxide." Conventional over-the-counter hydrogen peroxide is just 3% strength. The FDA said the 35% products are highly corrosive and could lead to stomach ulcers and irritations. Injecting the products could cause inflammation and bubbles in the blood vessels in addition to potentially fatal allergic reactions, according to the FDA, which said it had not approved 35% hydrogen peroxide for any use.

"No one has presented any evidence that hydrogen peroxide taken internally has any medical value," Steven Galson, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. "In fact, consuming hydrogen peroxide in the manner touted by these Web sites could lead to tragic results."

The FDA sent warning letters to two Texas-based firms, DFWX and Frad 35, that it said were illegally selling the products to treat AIDS, cancer, emphysema, and other diseases.

Donald Worden, owner of Frad 35, said his Web site provides links to information about potential medical uses for the product, but he does not promote it for that purpose. Worden said he will continue selling 35% hydrogen peroxide, which he called "technical grade." His Web site said the product could be used for treating wastewater. (Reuters)