Herbal Street Drug Dangers

The FDA is warning the public not to consume Green Hornet or any other herbal products that claim to give "safe legal highs" or that are marketed as "street drug alternatives" by Cytotec Solutions Inc. of Tampa, Fla. Products by this company have been promoted and sold on the Internet and in stores as legal versions of illicit street drugs. The other products included in this warning are Trip2Night, Invigorate 11, Snuffadelic, Liquid Speed, Solar Water, Orange Butterfly, and Schoomz. Although Cytotec Solutions is no longer producing these products, they remain under investigation and the FDA is working to identify and address additional distributors.

The liquid product called Green Hornet is marketed as an herbal version of the illegal street drug "Ecstasy."

The FDA recently became aware of reports of bad side effects experienced by four teen-agers after consuming Green Hornet. The product contained high levels of the drugs diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan, ingredients found individually in numerous over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. The teenagers were rushed to a hospital emergency room after they experienced seizures, excessive heart rates, severe body rashes, and high blood pressure.

FDA analyses of additional products manufactured or distributed by Cytotec Solutions Inc. also have found the drug ephedrine and the controlled substances GBL and GHB.

The FDA considers any product that is promoted as a street drug alternative to be an unapproved new drug and a misbranded drug marketed in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Also, any product containing undeclared active drug components violates the law.