Learn 5 Kinds of Poison Found in Counterfeit Medications – Heavy Metals

Every day of National Poison Prevention Week, we’re featuring a type of poison that investigators have found in counterfeit medications.

Learn more about heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic found in counterfeit drugs.

There are a lot of shady ingredients that go into counterfeit medications that consumers can be exposed to by buying directly from unlicensed drug sellers on the internet, or when medical professionals purchase medications from outside the secured supply chain.

During National Poison Prevention Week, every day we’re featuring a type of poison that investigators have found in counterfeit medications.

Heavy Metals: mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, chrome, uranium, strontium, selenium, aluminum

A Canadian suffered and died from cardiac arrhythmia caused by heavy metal poisoning from counterfeit prescription medications purchased online for routine conditions in 2006. The coroner ruled that her medications were laced with uranium, strontium, selenium and aluminum, as well as arsenic. Her unfortunate case is not unusual. Test results from a 2010 study showed researchers that 26% of a sampling of medications purchased from fake online pharmacies contained heavy metals or toxins including mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and chrome.

POISON IMPACT: Many heavy metals are carcinogenic or toxic to central nervous system, kidneys, liver, skin, bones or teeth.

Learn more about how to purchase medication safely online from our pamphlet “Save Money Safely From Online Pharmacies.” And ask your doctor, nurse and pharmacist if they’ve read the six steps to becoming a LEADER in the fight to protect patient safety.