Glutathione IV as skin whitener is not approved FDA

This is a warning to the public from Food and Drug Administration in the Philippines.

The public is strongly warned to refrain from using glutathione IV for the purpose of skin whitener in light of the potential harm associated with such use.

The alarming increase in the unapproved use of glutathione administered intravenously as a skin whitening agent at very high doses is unsafe and may result to serious consequences to the health of  users.  The only approved indication of the IV format of glutathione is an adjunctive treatment  to reduce neurotoxicity associated with cisplatin chemotherapy.

Adverse drug reactions resulting from the use of glutathione IV for skin whitening have been reported and include following:

• Serious and potentially fatal Steven Johnsons syndrome and Toxic Epiderman Necrolysis.


• Derangements in the thyroid function.


• Suspected kidney dysfunction potential resulting to kidney failure.


• Severe abdominal pain in a patient receiving twice-weekly glutathione administered intravenously.


• Incorrect technique in IV administration may result to infect, transmission of Hepatitis B and HIV and fatal sepsis.