• Do I need this particular medication?
Many medical conditions are accompanied by internet myths and legends regarding supposed new treatments or cures. Aimed at the desperate, these can lure the incautious into putting faith in untried remedies. The first step in avoiding counterfeits is to seek the advice and endorsement of a qualified medical practitioner for any medication you wish to take.
• Is my desired medication approved and available in my country?
If you live in a developed country, and your national regulator has not approved the medication you want, there is likely a very good reason. If you live in the United States, you are part of the world’s most commercially attractive and profitable medical marketplace. Manufacturers usually want FDA to approve their drugs so they can gain access to the US market. If the drug doesn’t appear on the FDA approved drugs database, known as “Drugs@FDA” then this is a major warning sign.
• Is my source and method of purchase a safe one?
There are reputable internet pharmacies, but unfortunately on a global basis these are in the minority. There are a large number of bogus sites which may be involved with various criminal activities including money laundering, selling counterfeit products, credit card fraud and identity theft. Order drugs via the internet only with extreme caution. Unless the identity of the site is known and can be fully verified (by making a call to a pharmacist, for example) then it is safer to assume that it is not a genuine site.
Beware: counterfeiters will also fake their online accreditations. Take nothing at face value and check everything out until you are satisfied. Has the site asked you for a medical prescription or other documentation? If you are asking for medication which requires a medical prescription in the jurisdiction in which you live, and you have not been asked to provide any paperwork, then ask yourself why not?
• What does the packaging look like?
Does it look as though it has been opened or tampered with? If there is a plastic “shrink sleeve” around the neck of the bottle, check that it looks like an original and has not been re-sealed in any way. If it is a liquid product with a rubber seal, look for needle holes or damage to the aluminium collar. Does the package or bottle look scuffed or dirty, like it has been recycled? Criminals sometimes re-use medical trash. If you’ve used this drug before, does the packaging you received this time look exactly the same as previous ones? Look for small differences – different fonts, changes in text size, mis-spellings, colour changes, logo not quite right etc. Is the manufacturer’s label on straight, as it should be for machine-labelled genuine drugs? If not, it may have been re-labelled by hand.
• What does the product itself look like?
Does the shape and size of the pill look right? Is it the same as last time? Do the pills all look the same as each other? Genuine drugs have a consistent appearance. Are the pills cracked or chipped or crumbling?Has the pill colour changed compared to previous prescriptions? Manufacturing of genuine medicines is highly controlled and they should look the same every time. Even subtle changes from the usual appearance can indicate fake product
• When taking the drug:
Does it smell or taste different? Does it behave unexpectedly (e.g. dissolve differently)?
• After taking the drug:
Did you experience any adverse effects? Minor but unexpected effects (headache, nausea, dizziness etc) from a new batch of a medication, which you have taken regularly without previous problems, may be a sign of fake or sub-standard drugs. More major adverse events should always be followed up with a medical consultation. Often, these events are explainable by other factors, but in some cases fake drugs may be to blame. If you have an adverse event, keep all drug packaging and tell your medical practitioner of your concerns.
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