On May 28, 2022, Walmart Inc. issued a voluntary recall of all lots of Artri Ajo King Joint Supplements after FDA laboratory analysis found the presence of undeclared diclofenac.

Diclofenac is an anti-inflammatory drug that can cause serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke, as well as bleeding, ulceration, and fatal tears of the stomach and intestines, or liver toxicity. The drug ingredient may also interact with other medications and significantly increase the risk of adverse events.

The FDA warned consumers not to use these products in April 2022 after the agency’s testing found diclefenac, as well as dexamethasone (a corticosteroid) and methocarbamol (a muscle relaxant) in various Artri Ajo products. Methocarbamol can cause low blood pressure, sedation and dizziness, while dexamethasone can cause infections, increased blood sugar, bone damage and psychiatric problems.

A 40-year-old woman who had been taking two tablets of Artri King three times daily for three years prior for joint pain and arthritis experienced a hip fracture upon falling. Laboratory testing determined that the woman had developed Cushing syndrome, a condition commonly caused by use of steroid medications (including corticosteroids such as dexamethasone) and linked with osteoporosis development. Upon discontinuing the supplement, the woman's symptoms (including excessive weight gain and abnormal blood levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone) improved, although she continued to require treatment for osteoporosis (Saad-Omer, Cureus 2023). Several other cases of Cushing syndrome have been reported among people using Artri King (Carpio-Orantes, Med Int Mex 2021; Mikhail, Int J Endovasc Treat Innov Tech 2022; Patel, AACE Clin Case Rep 2022; Berg; JCEM Case Rep 2023).

Artri Ajo King Joint Supplements are typically marketed for treating arthritis, muscle pain, osteoporosis, and bone cancer. The products were sold by Innovacion Naturals and PDX Supply Warehouse LLC on Walmart.com and shipped by Walmart to the consumer level. All lots of the following products are being recalled:

• Artri King Ortiga Omega 3 Joint Support Supplement ArtriKing Nettle Glucosamine Curcumin – 100 ct bottles, UPC: 7 501031 111190
• Artri Ajo King Enhanced Ortiga Omega 3 Curuma Joint Supplement Nettle Glucosamine Tablets- 100 ct bottles, UPC: 7 501031 12705
• ArtriKing Ortiga y Omega 3 Suplemento Alimenticio 100 Tablets (2 Pack) bottles, UPC: 3 72426 01434
• Authentic!! ARTRI KING Ortiga Omega 3 Joint Support Supplement ArtriKing Nettle 100 ct- bottles, UPC: 6 09002 40885

Walmart has notified customers who purchased these products on Walmart.com. Because suddenly discontinuing diclofenac can be dangerous, customers taking these products should talk to their health care providers to safely discontinue use.

See ConsumerLab’s Reviews of Fish Oil/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements and Joint Health Supplements for more information and tests of related products.

For more information, use the link below.

Walmart Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Various Artri Ajo King Joint Supplements Due to Potential Hidden Drug Ingredients

See related recalls and warnings:

Prescription Drugs Found in Arthritis, Muscle Pain, and Osteoporosis Supplements

CVS Settles Lawsuit Over Claims Its Omega-3 Supplement Improves Memory

Weight Loss Supplements Found to Contain Sibutramine Recalled

FDA Warns Seller of Curcumin, Lion's Mane, Quercetin & More