Glutathione
GSH · L-glutathione
An antioxidant the body makes, sold as a supplement and offered as an injection to lighten skin. Injectable medicines exist in Italy. In the US it appears only in an eye rinse.
This site is for information and education only. It does not promote or encourage the use or purchase of the substances described and is not medical advice. Many are not authorised as medicines and their safety has not been established. We sell nothing and have no ties to sellers. For health decisions, consult a doctor.
- Type
- Nutrient
- Stage
- A mix, not a finished medicine
- Safety
- Little data
- Risk of fakes
- Not known
- Checked
- Not yet
Doping. The substance is not on the WADA list, but drips and injections above 100 mL in 12 hours are banned, except in hospital care and medical tests.
Safety. A 2016 review found no studies of drips for lighter skin, and none on long-term safety for any use. Studies of other uses lasted weeks at most. Sources: study 1, study 2.
Risk of fakes. We found no tests of products sold outside pharmacies.
Is it legal
| Where | Status | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PL | No approval | The European medicines database (EMA) lists no glutathione medicine in Poland (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down. This covers medicines, not supplements. Source | Not yet |
| EU | Approved medicine | No EU-wide approval. Injectable medicines, including Tationil and Ridutox, exist only in Italy (European medicines database, EMA, 9 October 2026). Source | Not yet |
| US | No approval | No injectable medicine. The substance appears in BSS Plus, an eye rinse. Source | Not yet |
How much research exists
Scientific papers per year 2015–2025
These are search results. A count shows how much exists, not how good the studies are. 1 Nov 2026.
Reported side effects
What doctors, patients and companies reported to the US medicines agency (FDA), and single cases described in medical journals. A report says what happened to someone after taking the substance. It does not prove the substance caused it, and it does not say how often it happens. Reports do not change any grade.
Cases described in medical journals
- Intravenous Glutathione and Vitamin Supplementation Causing Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: A Case Report.
- Glutathione Whitening Pills Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: An Unusual Case Confirmed by Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.
- Effect of glutathione on the cadmium chelation of EDTA in a patient with cadmium intoxication.
- Severe hepatic failure occurring with T61 ingestion in an attempted suicide. Early recovery with the use of intravenous infusion of reduced glutathione.
FDA reports come from openFDA, cases from a PubMed search. The editors have not read these cases yet. Titles stay in the original language. As of 3 Nov 2026.
More papers we found
We found these papers automatically in PubMed. The editors have not read them yet, and they do not affect any grade. Titles stay in the original language.
Short answers
- Does glutathione work?
- An antioxidant the body makes, sold as a supplement and offered as an injection to lighten skin. Injectable medicines exist in Italy. In the US it appears only in an eye rinse. We have not graded the studies yet. The number of papers in the databases is shown on the page.
- Is Glutathione legal?
- PL: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA) lists no glutathione medicine in Poland (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down. This covers medicines, not supplements. EU: Approved medicine. No EU-wide approval. Injectable medicines, including Tationil and Ridutox, exist only in Italy (European medicines database, EMA, 9 October 2026). US: No approval. No injectable medicine. The substance appears in BSS Plus, an eye rinse.
- Is glutathione banned in sport?
- Not on the list, WADA 2026. The substance is not on the WADA list, but drips and injections above 100 mL in 12 hours are banned, except in hospital care and medical tests.
- Is Glutathione safe?
- Little data. A 2016 review found no studies of drips for lighter skin, and none on long-term safety for any use. Studies of other uses lasted weeks at most.