A beloved father-of-two has 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, which is a supplement that can be bought over-the-counter at pharmacies.
ArmaForce’s ingredients are andrographis paniculata, olea europea, echinacea purpurea, zinc amino acid chelate and ascorbic acid vitamin C.
Sydney University Professor Andrew McLachlan, who is the Head of School and Dean of Pharmacy, said the three main herbal ingredients in ArmaForce are also found in a range of other over-the-counter medicines.
He reassured that ArmaForce was a ‘safe and low risk’ medicine and that the severe reaction to the ingredient was ‘rare’.
Cale Agosta suffered irreversible brain damage after taking ArmaForce, which is a supplement that can be bought over-the-counter at pharmacies
Mr Agosta’s wife, Tekita, has now been left with the task of raising their 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 main provider for the family,’ a friend of the family, 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. Forever helping others with odd jobs and asking nothing in return.’
Mr Agosta’s sister-in-law, Tegan, also shared a heartfelt message following his death.
‘Cale, I don’t have many words at this point. It doesn’t seem real and I am still in shock,’ she said.
Mr Agosta suffered brain damage from an allergic reaction and was unable to be recover
Mr Agosta’s wife Tekita has now been left with the task of raising their two-year-old and seven-month-old daughters alone
‘How incredibly lucky we all were to have such a kind and funny person in our lives for the time that we did and how cruel life can be to take you so soon.
‘I could have never asked for a better brother in law and I will be forever grateful to have you as part of my life. You will be hugely missed each and everyday.
‘Thank you for creating and nurturing such a funny kid in Violet, I know you were so proud of her humor and that will be our solace going forward.’
Mr Brittain has since launched a GoFundMe to help financially support Ms Agosta and her two children.
The fundraiser has so far received more than $92,000 in donations.
ArmaForce, owned by BioCeuticals, is described as a ‘comprehensive vegan formula combining andrographis and immune-supporting nutrients’ that is used to treat mild common cold and flu symptoms.
Mr Agosta has been remembered as a loving and supportive father-of-two
‘Andrographis decreases the severity of symptoms of mild upper respiratory tract infections, including sore throat, headache, runny nose, cough, fatigue and restless sleep. Zinc and vitamin C maintain healthy immune system function,’ the website reads.
Adults are told to take one tablet a day for a maximum of two weeks.
A warning label on the bottle reads: ‘Andrographis may cause taste disturbance, including loss of taste, loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal discomfort.
‘Andrographis may cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have a severe reaction (such as anaphylaxis) stop use and seek immediate medical attention.’
ArmaForce, owned by BioCeuticals, can be bought over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription
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 a loss of taste while anaphylaxis was also noted among patients.
The TGA issued a safety advisory for one of ArmaForce’s ingredients, andrographis paniculata, saying it had the potential to change a person’s sense of taste.
‘ArmaForce is widely considered and regulated as a safe and low risk medicine, and over 100 products have these same herbal ingredients in them,’ Prof McLachlan told Daily Mail Australia.
‘This could’ve happened for any number of herbal medicines you can get over the counter and it’s very rare and unpredictable.’
Prof McLachlan said Mr Agosta’s case was a ‘good reminder’ that people can have allergic reactions to all types of medicine.
He pointed to penicillin, which is seen as a relatively safe medicine, but those who are allergic can experience life-threatening symptoms.
The professor said it’s likely Mr Agosta may have gone into shock, and his blood pressure may have dropped causing him to suffer brain damage.
‘It’s a good reminder that any medicine and even foods can see people have a reaction and how to respond to it 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 in place 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 Naturopathic Advisory Team on 1300 650 455 or by email at advisory@bioceuticals.com.au.’
A GoFundMe has been launched to financially support Mr Agosta’s family