Bargain Hunters Can’t Outsmart the Fake Medicine Criminals
Fox News conducted a question and answer session with experts in medicine about the real risks and dangers to consumers from counterfeit medicines in the market.
With a nod to PSM’s 2010 Interchange, Fox quoted Dr. Margaret Hamburg’s keynote speech at the Interchange:
“In some parts of the world, somewhere between 30% and 50% of drugs to treat serious diseases are actually counterfeit. And even still, it’s hard to really know the full extent of the problem.”
Asked Fox: Which drugs are most commonly counterfeited?
The most common-counterfeited drugs are erectile dysfunction meds, accounting for 57% of gobal seziures of counterfeits in 2010, said Pfizer Vice President and Chief Security Officer John Clark. However, there have 22 Pfizer medications found counterfeited, including Celebrex, Lipitor and Zithromax, but even generic and easily accessible medications like cough syrups and inhalers are frequently counterfeited.
What are some indications my drugs are counterfeit?
For some pills, it’s almost impossible to tell what’s real and what’s fake, says Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
“The best indication would be if it tastes different, appears different in color, or reacts differently in the way it dissolves or breaks,” says Catizone. “If anything appears abnormal, people should call their pharmacy or doctor immediately.”
Who is the most at risk for getting counterfeit drugs?
“There are some people who think they are great at getting good deals and finding legitimate drugs online and half the price, and they think they are going to outsmart the criminals,” says Catizone. “It doesn’t work that way.”
People looking for bargains on multiple medications, especially senior citizens, are likely targets of online sellers of fake medications.
How can you protect yourself?
Use an online pharmacy that has a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites Seal, or VIPPS Seal issued by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
“The seal tells consumers this is a safe, legal pharmacy,” says Catizone. “If someone tries to copy the seal, we have programs that detect that. Also, any site bearing the seal has a security feature that when you click on the seal, it links back to the NABP site.”
What should you do if you think you got a fake prescription drug?
“If you receive a suspect drug from your local pharmacy, definitely take the drug back to your pharmacist,” advises Terri Mock, vice president of Global Marketing for OpSec Security, an anti-counterfeiting technology company that works with the major U.S. pharmaceutical companies.
“If you purchase your drug from an online pharmacy, call the number listed on the site.”