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Firefighters, patients say they cannot get nebulized glutathione or methylcobalamin in California
Summary
Multiple public commenters, including firefighters and nonprofit leaders, told lawmakers that compounding and enforcement practices have blocked community pharmacies from filling prescriptions for nebulized glutathione and methylcobalamin, limiting access to treatments used by patients and first responders.
Firefighters, patients and health‑care advocates urged the Assembly and Senate committees at a joint sunset review to investigate the California State Board of Pharmacy’s enforcement and its effects on access to compounded therapies, including nebulized glutathione and methylcobalamin (a form of vitamin B12).
Jackie Jorgeson, founder and executive director of the Volunteer Fire Foundation, told the joint committee her organization has run clinics treating firefighters with nebulized glutathione after recent wildfires and said the treatment is “allowed by the FDA, available in 49 other states, and a doctor can prescribe it, but not a single pharmacist in this country will make it for you for fear of retribution from their board.” She said the clinics have treated thousands of firefighters and that home-based courses of 30 to 60 doses are the clinical protocol many firefighters need.
Other witnesses described personal experience they said showed benefits. Volunteer firefighter Stephanie Endsley described a 16‑week, glutathione‑centric program and said follow-up testing moved her biomarkers from “red” into healthier ranges and improved lung capacity. Emergency responder Michael Wyman said he has witnessed “positive” effects in clinics and urged committee oversight because, he said, pharmacies will not supply home-use prescriptions.
Why it matters: speakers — including clinicians and nonprofit leaders — argued that limited access is forcing patients to travel out of state or seek unregulated alternatives. Multiple witnesses called for greater legislative oversight of the board’s enforcement practices and for appointment of experts in community sterile compounding to the board.
Board representatives said they are balancing consumer protection and access and noted the board must weigh federal law, FDA guidance and USP standards when assessing compounding practices. Board president Seung Oh explicitly told the committee the board “is not banning the compounding of substances such as glutathione or methylcobalamin,” and he emphasized the board’s intent to provide a clear path for safe compounding.
No regulatory change was decided at the hearing. Public commenters asked lawmakers to consider oversight actions and to press the board to clarify enforcement and to prioritize access where legally permissible.
