Glutathione
Status
No approved product. No FDA-approved labeling exists for injectable glutathione for any indication. Injectable preparations are compounded and are not FDA-reviewed. Several national regulators have published safety warnings specifically about intravenous use for skin lightening.
What it is
The body's main antioxidant molecule, taken by injection or orally.
What published research measured
The principal intracellular antioxidant tripeptide, given intravenously or intramuscularly in the practice this entry covers. Two distinct evidence questions apply. On absorption, orally taken glutathione is largely hydrolysed in the gut, which is the pharmacological argument for parenteral administration; whether infused glutathione raises intracellular concentrations in target tissue is less well established than the marketing implies. On skin lightening, the use that drives most demand, controlled trials are small and short, and the Philippine FDA and other regulators have issued explicit warnings against intravenous glutathione for skin whitening after reports of serious adverse events including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, renal dysfunction and thyroid dysfunction. There is reasonable trial evidence for adjunctive use in Parkinson's disease and cisplatin neurotoxicity, both narrow clinical contexts.
Source
Philippine FDA advisory against intravenous glutathione for skin lightening
Sources
No linked primary source is on file for this entry yet.
Educational use only, never medical advice. No doses.