Talk about a hard pill to swallow: Your trendy health cure may not only be useless, it could also land you in the ER.
As a growing number of people eschew mainstream medicines and health solutions, many have turned to harmful and even life-threatening “remedies” for a creative fix.
Dr. Nima Majlesi, director of toxicology and an emergency room physician at Northwell Health, has witnessed firsthand how dangerous these these risky behaviors can be, telling The Post: “I’ve seen pretty much anything you can imagine at some point get swallowed.”
Here’s a look at some of the wild wellness crazes making people sick — and sometimes putting their lives in danger.
Veterinary drugs
In an alarming trend, more and more people are raiding Fido’s pill stash, turning to veterinary drugs meant for animals.
“A lot of times, these things gain popularity by targeting groups of people who are desperate to fix a problem. But they can lead to significant consequences,” Dr. Majlesi said.
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 livestock — was pushed 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 another story. It’s far more concentrated, designed for much larger animals like horses and cows, and contains ingredients that are untested for human use.
“You’ve got to be super careful because the way animals metabolize drugs is different than the way you do,” Dr. Majlesi explained
During the pandemic, Dr. Majlesi said emergency rooms and poison control centers saw a surge of people self-medicating with ivermectin, including those who overdosed on the deworming drug. The side effects included nausea, diarrhea, severe skin rashes, dizziness, tremors and drowsiness, just to name a few.
Dr. Majlesi’s advice is simple: “Anytime 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 wellness trend causing problems is activated charcoal, which has popped up everywhere from juices to toothpaste.
It’s touted as a cure-all, claimed to fix everything from high cholesterol to bloating, and even as a hangover remedy — but Dr. Majlesi warns that the popular detox ingredient can also work against you.
While activated charcoal is a staple in emergency rooms, commonly used to treat overdoses and poisonings by soaking up toxins in the stomach and preventing them from entering the bloodstream, there’s a major catch: it doesn’t know how to discriminate.
“People often don’t realize that if they take medications they need to work in close proximity to charcoal, it can actually affect how their body absorbs the medication,” Dr. Majlesi explained.
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. The charcoal can interfere with the medication’s absorption, rendering 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 resistance to the drugs.
“These are things people have to think about when they’re putting them in their body,” said Dr. Majlesi.
Toxic supplements
Supplements might seem like a harmless way to boost 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. Majlesi. “The reality is, you need to be super careful about what you’re taking. You’ve got 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 have seen patients develop delirium, seizures and even have their hearts go into funny rhythms from using this supplement,” said Dr. Majlesi.
But it’s not just a few rogue products causing problems. Dr. Majlesi said many supplements contain dangerous amounts of metals like silver, mercury and gold, which the body cannot process. Over time, these metals accumulate and can lead to toxic buildup, resulting in serious health issues.
Adding to the danger, supplements are regulated differently than medicine by the Food and Drug Administration, so many hit the market without being reviewed first. Dr. Majlesi said that some of these products have been found to contain arsenic and lead — both highly toxic substances.
“The reality is, we’re not seeing people drop dead from supplements left and right,” says Dr. Majlesi. “But I do think many of them are a waste of money.”
Before jumping on the supplement bandwagon, Dr. Majlesi advises anyone considering a new product to consult with their doctor first. This ensures the supplement is both safe and won’t interfere with any existing medications you’re taking.
From common to crazy
It’s not just the usual suspects that land people in the emergency room. Dr. Majlesi has seen “a little bit of everything.”
Among the most bizarre cases involving adults: nails, screws, and thumbtacks.
While it might sound like something out of a horror movie, Dr. Majlesi explained that most of these cases aren’t accidental.
They often point to deeper psychological issues, such as pica, a disorder in which people compulsively crave and consume non-food objects. This can include things like chalk, metal pieces, and, yes, even nails.
There’s no single cause of pica, but Dr. Majlesi notes that in some cases, the cravings are linked to nutrient deficiencies, such as a lack of iron or zinc. In these instances, the body, in its desperate attempt to restore balance, may trigger these unusual cravings.
Children, however, are usually the ones who end up swallowing things by mistake. Dr. Majlesi has treated young patients who’ve accidentally ingested toy cards, batteries, and even small dolls.
