FDA Warns Consumers Against Using Smelling Salts and Inhalants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning this week advising American consumers against using certain inhalant products marketed to promote alertness and boost energy. These inhalants such as smelling salts, which primarily contain ammonia, are not approved by the FDA and pose significant health risks, according to the alert from the agency issued on Aug. 6. Ammonia is a colorless gas with a distinct odor commonly found in household and industrial cleaning products and in fertilizers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), inhaling ammonia can cause immediate respiratory distress, including coughing, airway constriction, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat....