A beloved father-of-two tragically died after suffering an allergic reaction to an ingredient commonly found in cold and flu tablets.
Cale Agosta suffered irreversible brain damage after taking ArmaForce, a supplement that can be purchased without a prescription in pharmacies.
The ingredients in ArmaForce are andrographis paniculata, olea europea, echinacea purpurea, zinc amino acid chelate and ascorbic acid vitamin C.
University of Sydney professor Andrew McLachlan, head of school and dean of pharmacy, said ArmaForce’s three main herbal ingredients are also found in a variety of other over-the-counter medicines.
He said ArmaForce was a “safe and low-risk” medication and that a serious reaction to the ingredient was “rare.”
Cale Agosta suffered irreversible brain damage after taking ArmaForce, a supplement that can be purchased without a prescription in pharmacies.
Tekita, Mr. Agosta’s wife, is now left with the devastating task of raising her two-year-old and seven-month-old daughters alone.
‘Cale is a loyal friend, a devoted husband and a loving father. An electrician by trade, he was the family’s primary provider,” family friend Steve Brittain wrote on GoFundMe.
“If the roles were reversed, I know Cale would give us the shirt off his back as I watched him do it weekly for 20 years. Always helping others with odd jobs and asking for nothing in return.
Agosta’s sister-in-law Tegan also shared a heartfelt message following his death.
‘Cale, I don’t have many words right now. It doesn’t seem real and I’m still in shock,” she said.
Mr. Agosta suffered brain damage from an allergic reaction and was unable to recover
Tekita, Agosta’s wife, is now left with the devastating task of raising her two-year-old and seven-month-old daughters alone.
“How incredibly lucky we all were to have such a kind and fun person in our lives for as long as we did and how cruel life can be to take you away so soon.”
‘I could never have asked for a better brother-in-law and I will be forever grateful to have you as part of my life. We will miss you dearly every day.
“Thank you for creating and raising such a funny girl like Violet. I know you were very proud of her humor and that will be our comfort in the future.”
Mr Brittain has since launched a GoFundMe to financially help Mrs. Agosta and her two children.
The fundraiser has raised more than $92,000 in donations.
ArmaForce, owned by BioCeuticals, can be purchased without a prescription in pharmacies.
A GoFundMe has been launched to financially support Mr. Agosta’s family
It is described as a “comprehensive vegan formula combining andrography and immune-supporting nutrients” that is used to treat mild symptoms of the common cold and flu.
‘Andrographis decreases the severity of symptoms of mild upper respiratory tract infections, such as sore throat, headache, runny nose, cough, fatigue and restless sleep. Zinc and vitamin C maintain healthy immune system function,” the website reads.
Adults are recommended to take one tablet a day for up to two weeks.
A warning label on the bottle says: ‘Andrographis may cause taste disturbances, including loss of taste, loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal discomfort.
‘Andrographis can cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have a serious reaction (such as anaphylaxis), stop using it and seek immediate medical attention.
ArmaForce, owned by BioCeuticals, can be purchased without a prescription in pharmacies
More than 800 reports of adverse reactions to ArmaForce tablets have been registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), while no deaths have been reported.
The most common reaction reported was loss of taste, while anaphylaxis was also observed among patients.
The TGA issued a safety notice for one of ArmaForce’s ingredients, andrographis paniculata, saying it had the potential to change a person’s sense of taste.
“ArmaForce is widely regarded and regulated as a safe, low-risk medicine, and more than 100 products contain these same herbal ingredients,” Professor McLachlan told Daily Mail Australia.
“This could have happened with any number of herbal medicines that are available without a prescription and is very rare and unpredictable.”
Professor McLachlan said Mr Agosta’s case was a “good reminder” that people can have allergic reactions to all types of medicines.
He pointed to penicillin, which is considered a relatively safe medication, but allergic people can experience life-threatening symptoms.
The professor said Mr. Agosta likely went into shock and his blood pressure dropped, causing brain damage.
“It’s a good reminder that any medication and even food can cause people to have a reaction and how you respond is very important,” he said.
A spokesperson for BioCeutical’s parent company, Blackmores, told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The health and safety of our consumers is our number one priority, and we take suspected adverse events very seriously.
‘We have a strict pharmacovigilance system to investigate reports of suspected adverse events associated with our products.
‘We have been made aware of the Go Fund Me page and are investigating the alleged adverse event.
“If consumers or their family members have experienced a suspected adverse event associated with our product, we encourage them to contact the BioCeuticals Naturopathy Advisory Team on 1300 650 455 or by email at Advisory@bioceuticals.com.au.”
Mr. Agosta has been remembered as a loving and supportive father of two.
