The Government of Canada has issued a public advisory regarding a Umary supplement, labeled Umary USA Hyaluronic Acid, advising the population not to consume this product.
Health Canada tested Umary USA Hyaluronic Acid, and they found the presence of the prescription drug dexamethasone. This is in addition to diclofenac and omeprazole which were both previously identified in Umary.
Scott Penner, Owner and Pharmacist at Pharmasave in Steinbach, explains dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory steroid and a very potent medication.
“At four to six times the dose of an anti-inflammatory, of course you’re going to be feeling good, but the long-term risk to your stomach, to your kidney, potentially even to your heart, is definitely not worth the risk of taking it.”
He says consuming any dose of dexamethasone together with the diclofenac is a recipe for disaster, and possibly catastrophic.
“Together, the two taken long term, (have a) well-known documented risk for serious bleeding ulcers, gastric ulcers, that could go undetected. I’ve had cases of people who have gone to ER, and the common link was that they were taking you Umary.”
He says there are not many warning signs, and left undetected, the effects Umary may have on your body could potentially be fatal.
In April, CHVN reported that Umary contains diclofenac and explained the dangers that come with that.
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Penner reiterates that diclofenac is a very potent, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is available only by prescription in Canada.
“Not only is that alarming in and of itself, it was that the dose is about six times higher than it should be on some samples that were tested. So very dangerous for people to be taking it by itself, and then if you are taking it with other pain relievers, if you have other medical conditions, other medications that you take, potentially catastrophic.”
Penner says since steinbachonline initially told the story, Umary has been a common topic of conversation at Pharmasave.
“We had dozens of people coming in, we had people calling from all over Canada say, ‘I saw the article on steinbachonline, what should I do? Is it safe to take?’”
He always gives them the same answer.
“Unequivocally no, stop taking it.”
Penner says people often are hesitant to stop taking the supplement, as it relieves pain.
“At four to six times the dose of an anti-inflammatory, of course you’re going to be feeling good, but the long-term risk to your stomach, to your kidney, potentially even to your heart, is definitely not worth the risk of taking it.”
Even taking the supplement ‘once in a while’ is not safe.
“People have said, ‘I haven’t felt this good in years, it’s given me my quality of life back, I can walk again without my walker, without my cane’, so it was very hard for them to give up,” he says. “I’ve had people say, ‘can I still take it one out of two days, one out of three days?’ I say, ‘No, stop, it is not safe’. And I stand by that, do not take this product.”
There are no Umary-brand products currently authorized for sale in Canada, but people are accessing this product.
If you want to know what products have been tested and approved by Health Canada, check for an NPN, or a Natural Product Number. If the product does not have an NPN, it has not been approved by Health Canada.
If you have any questions, Penner encourages you to reach out to your local pharmacist.
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With files from Corny Rempel