Perth mother Kerry Smith thought she was doing the right thing when, feeling the early signs of a cold, she took an immune supplement she’d used before.
Within minutes, the 51-year-old had collapsed on the floor of her Bull Creek home.
“Within two or three minutes, I had excruciating stomach cramps, and then I couldn’t breathe,” Smith told 9News Perth.
An EpiPen was administered before Smith was rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital.
“I definitely thought I was going to die,” she said.
Connie Katelaris, a professor of immunology and allergy at Western Sydney University and head of immunology and allergy at Campbelltown Hospital, said sudden allergic reactions to supplements like ArmaForce – which Smith took – could occur even after previous use.
The reactions are linked to andrographis paniculata, a herbal ingredient found in dozens of cold and flu supplements.
“Some people react the first time, others only after repeated use,” Katelaris said.
“Itching, redness, hives or urticaria, and then they can rapidly progress to having breathing problems or the feeling of constriction in the throat or tightness in the chest, people can suffer from lack of blood pressure … the lips, the eyes may swell up, the tongue can swell, so people can have all or any combination of those symptoms.
“Some of these patients have been so severe they’ve presented to hospital and they’ve required adrenaline for resuscitation.
“Others should have gone to hospital but didn’t recognise what was happening to them, and basically sat it out at home and luckily survived.”
Hundreds of anaphylaxis cases reported
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has received 1365 adverse reaction reports linked to andrographis, including 859 involving ArmaForce, and 286 cases of anaphylaxis.
Despite warning labels becoming mandatory in 2019, serious reactions continue to be reported, including a fatal case of anaphylaxis in 2024.
The TGA says it is now considering further regulatory options.
In a statement, BioCeuticals, the company which produces ArmaForce, said: “Products containing andrographis may cause allergic reactions in some people, including, in rare cases, anaphylaxis.”
The company said all required warnings are included on product packaging in line with TGA requirements.
“Consumer safety and wellbeing is our top priority and all BioCeuticals products meet the stringent regulatory requirements set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration,” the statement read.
“While suspected adverse reactions can happen with any therapeutic product, we have a strict pharmacovigilance system in place to thoroughly investigate any reports we receive”.
‘Questionable’ benefits
Professor Katelaris said the benefits of immune supplements for viral infections were “questionable”.
“People take it for viral respiratory infections – and we’re all going to recover from those anyway,” she said.
“So I think if you look at any drug from the point of view of its risk and its benefit, this comes out in favour of risk … and I think the TGA needs to do something about removing ArmaForce from the shelves.”
Meanwhile, Smith said she would steer clear of the supplement, and hoped her story could serve as a warning to others.
9News Perth
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
