One in 10 UK men interviewed recently admitted to purchasing prescription-only medicines from unregulated sources, without a prescription. What they probably don’t know is that it’s estimated that between 50 and 90 per cent of medicines sold in this way have proven to be counterfeit which means they are taking a real gamble with their health.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 10% of all medicines available around the world are counterfeit.
And counterfeiters do not only target medicines for weight loss, smoking cessation and erectile dysfunction (ED) but also pain, heart and mental health conditions.
The cinema commercial on this site portrays a man pulling a dead rat from his mouth after taking a counterfeit pill. This site allows you to view the commercial, learn more about the dangers of counterfeit drugs and share this information with friends and colleagues.
Watch a video about the danger of counterfeit medicines.
counterfeit medicines
counterfeit medicines
This product information is intended only for residents of the United States.
How do you know when you’ve purchased a counterfeit product?
Consumers may not know that the medicines they’ve purchased are counterfeits. That’s why it’s important to purchase prescription products from a pharmacy and pharmacist with whom you’re familiar.
In some cases, patients have noticed a different taste, consistency, or appearance of products that are later identified as being counterfeit, or they may have a different reaction to the counterfeit drug.
If you suspect the Pfizer product you have pruchase may be counterfeit, contact us at 1-800-438-1985
What are the dangers of taking counterfeit products?
One of the biggest concerns is that you may not be getting the therapeutic benefit you expect from the product. For example, a drug you count on to lower your cholesterol level—or to shrink a cancerous tumor—may not be providing any benefit at all because it’s counterfeit. Or the product may contain too much active ingredient, which also could be harmful. A fake drug also could interact with other medications you’re taking and create potential health issues.
Counterfeit products may be manufactured in substandard environments without appropriate controls that ensure their safety and efficacy and they could contain dangerous contaminants.
Given the present environment in which we live, there also is a concern that counterfeit drugs could be used as a tool by terrorists.
Finally, counterfeit products undermine the basic tenet of our health care system: to enable people to live healthier, happier lives.
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counterfeit medicines
counterfeit medicines
Counterfeit Medicines
Position
Trade in counterfeit drugs is widespread and affects both developing and developed countries. All medicines are subject to counterfeiting, both branded and generic.
Counterfeit drugs are found under different forms, including:
- Products with the correct ingredients (but often with incorrect quantities of active ingredients, or time-expired active ingredients, creating an increased risk of drug resistance. The product may also have been relabelled, which can lead to allergic reactions and harmful interactions with other drugs);
- Products with the wrong ingredients (possibly toxic and therefore directly harmful to patients);
- Products without active ingredient (leaving patients at risk as their disease is left without treatment)
It is virtually impossible to tell the difference between real and fake medicines. Taking for granted that the drugs can be trusted, patients, doctors and other medical staff often do not even suspect that there is anything wrong with their medicines. However, not only is it in most cases hard to detect suspicious products, but there is also a lack of public awareness about counterfeit drugs and their seemingly uncontrolled presence on the market. As a consequence, medicines that do not work or cause unusual side-effects are rarely even reported, since symptoms (including deaths) are usually attributed to the disease. From a judicial perspective, prosecution is complicated by the fact that the evidence of counterfeiting is consumed.
Because the public health risk of counterfeit medicines recognizes no national boundaries, companies have created the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI) and developed global security strategies to ensure public safety and product integrity. The pharmaceutical industry works closely with law enforcement and regulatory agencies in both developed and developing countries to implement a multilayered security strategy focused on both prevention and enforcement. The IFPMA’s Director General serves as President of the PSI.
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counterfeit medicines
counterfeit medicines
