Reporting Adverse Events From Therapies and Practitioners
What to do after a bad reaction to a supplement, herbal product, device or treatment, and which U.S. FDA reporting routes exist, plus how to complain about a practitioner.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
First, get care
If you or someone else has a serious reaction, get medical help first. In the United States, call 911 for an emergency, and Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 if a product may have been swallowed (see poison help by country). Reporting comes after safety. Serious reactions the FDA lists for dietary supplements include hives or throat swelling, chest pain, fainting, severe vomiting, dark urine, abnormal bleeding, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and signs of stroke. [1]Why reports matter
The FDA says consumers can play an important public health role by reporting adverse reactions or other problems with products it regulates. [2] For dietary supplements, the FDA does not approve them before they are sold to the public, so reports help it evaluate the marketplace and act on possibly unsafe products. [1]Verified U.S. reporting routes
These routes come from the FDA's own pages. Which one applies depends on the product.| What happened | Where the FDA sends you |
|---|---|
| Reaction to a dietary supplement or herbal product | The Safety Reporting Portal; the FDA says to stop using the product immediately and file a report [1] |
| Reaction to a medicine or a medical device (for example a device used in treatment) | MedWatch, the FDA's reporting program for health professionals, patients and consumers [3]; the FDA lists an online voluntary form and a consumer form, Form FDA 3500B [2] |
| Reaction to a cosmetic, such as a hair dye or moisturizer | MedWatch lists cosmetics among the products it receives reports about [3] |
| Misleading advertising for a supplement | The FDA says to contact the Federal Trade Commission [1] |
Include as much information as you can; the FDA says even pieces of information can help identify dangerous products. [1] Acupuncture needles are regulated by the FDA as medical devices. [4] Remedies sold as homeopathic are also not evaluated by the FDA for safety or effectiveness. [5]
Complaints about a practitioner
We have not verified a single national complaint process. In the United States there is no standardized national credentialing system, and each state decides credentials and licensing. [6] To complain about a licensed practitioner, find the state licensing board that issued the license and use its complaint process; NCCIH names state regulatory agencies and licensing boards as the place to start for practitioner information. [7] In England, the NHS says chiropractors and osteopaths must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council or the General Osteopathic Council, and that other therapists should belong to an organisation accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. [8] For other countries, check your national health regulator. We do not provide complaint routes we have not read.Also tell your clinician
Tell your regular health care provider what happened and what you were using, so your care stays coordinated. [9]Related
See side effects, allergic reactions and reporting for supplement reactions, and acupuncture side effects and precautions.Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be sure the product caused the problem before I report?
The FDA asks you to report if you think a supplement may have caused a serious reaction. [1]
Is reporting confidential?
We did not read a statement on this in the pages we used, so check the FDA's reporting page before you submit.
Who do I call about a reaction right now?
For an emergency in the US, call 911. For poisoning, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222.
Can I report from outside the United States?
We have not verified reporting routes outside the US. Contact your national medicines or health regulator.
How do I report a practitioner?
Contact the board or regulator that licenses that profession in your state or country. [7]
References
- How to Report a Problem with Dietary Supplements (FDA). Read 2026-10-22.
- Report a Problem to the FDA. Read 2026-10-22.
- MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. Read 2026-10-22.
- Acupuncture: What You Need To Know (NCCIH). Read 2026-10-22.
- Children and the Use of Complementary Health Approaches (NCCIH). Read 2026-10-22.
- Credentialing, Licensing, and Education (NCCIH). Read 2026-10-22.
- 6 Things To Know When Selecting a Complementary Health Practitioner (NCCIH). Read 2026-10-22.
- Herbal medicines and complementary therapies (NHS). Read 2026-10-22.
- Are You Considering a Complementary Health Approach? (NCCIH). Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.