Your Google Ads ad shows "Disapproved" with the policy "Unapproved substances," part of Google's Healthcare and medicines policy. It usually hits supplements and wellness products. This guide explains what Google counts as an unapproved substance, how to find the affected ads and what your options are. This is general information, not legal advice.
What the disapproval means
Google doesn't allow ads for certain products even if the seller claims they're legal. The rule applies to the product itself and to how it's described, so rewording the ad doesn't help if the product is on the banned list.
- Scope: Ads and the landing pages they point to
- Enforcement: Google says it issues a warning at least 7 days before suspending an account under this policy
What triggers it
Google's policy lists these categories. Its list of unapproved pharmaceuticals and supplements is non-exhaustive, so other products can be caught too.
- Listed products: Items on Google's unapproved pharmaceuticals and supplements list
- Named ingredients: Ephedra, and hCG for weight loss or weight control
- Hidden ingredients: Herbal or dietary supplements with active pharmaceutical or dangerous ingredients
- Drug comparisons: Products that claim to work as well as prescription drugs or controlled substances
- Disease claims: Products not approved by a government but marketed as safe or effective to prevent, cure or treat a disease
- Regulatory history: Products that have faced government or regulatory action or warnings
- Lookalike names: Names confusingly similar to an unapproved substance
- DHEA: Allowed only in campaigns targeting the United States
Find the affected ads
Google shows the policy on each disapproved ad.
- Status column: Go to Campaigns, then Ads, hover over Disapproved, and select Read the policy
- Policy details column: Add it from the Columns icon, under Attributes
- Policy manager: Go to Tools, then Troubleshooting, then Policy manager, and open the Policy issues tab
Fix it step by step
Your options depend on whether the problem is the product or the wording.
- Step 1: Check the ingredient list against Google's policy and its linked list
- Step 2: If an ingredient is banned, stop advertising that product on Google
- Step 3: If the issue is wording, remove disease claims and comparisons to prescription drugs from the ad and the product page
- Step 4: Edit the ad and select Save so Google reviews it again
- Step 5: If you believe Google got it wrong, appeal from Policy manager
- Step 6: If you can't fix it, remove the ad. Google says this helps prevent suspension for repeated violations
Prevent it
Check before you advertise, not after a warning.
- ✅ Review ingredients before adding a product to a campaign
- ✅ Describe what the product is, not what disease it treats
- ❌ Don't use names that echo a drug or banned substance
- ❌ Don't appeal over and over. Google limits each ad to 3 appeals
See supplement ad words that get flagged for wording to avoid.
Doing this at scale
ContentGuard scans your product descriptions and classifies each claim as safe, risky or prohibited against the rule profile you choose, such as US Dietary Supplement. It cites the governing FDA or FTC rule, scores each page and proposes a rewrite you can apply in one click. It's a screening tool, not a substitute for legal review. See ContentGuard.