FDA: Ordering Drugs Online Is Risky

(AP)  Consumers who thought they were purchasing sleep aids, antidepressants and other drugs over the Internet instead were shipped a powerful anti-psychotic, sending some unwitting victims to the emergency room, federal health officials warned Friday.

The Food and Drug Administration said a number of consumers took haloperidol, a schizophrenia drug, after being shipped what they thought were a variety of different pills, including Ambien, a sleep aid, and the anti-anxiety medications Xanax and Ativan. Others thought they were getting the antidepressant Lexapro.

Preliminary analysis of the pills, packaged in plain plastic bags and mailed in envelopes bearing Greek postmarks, suggest they contain haloperidol. The FDA said it had reports of several consumers seeking emergency medical treatment for symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, muscle spasms and muscle stiffness after taking the pills.

The FDA used the occasion to remind consumers of the possible dangers of buying prescription drugs on the Web.

The FDA posted images of the suspect pills and their shipping packages on its Web site to help consumers identify any suspect product they may have ordered.

Consumers apparently ordered the drugs through a variety of commercial Web sites. The FDA said it was investigating.

[flolake]

Seems to be all about frightening Americans from seeking the very same drugs in Canada. Canada doesn't scalp the consumer anything like the U.S. pharmacies do.

How interesting and twisted. Lobby, lobby and corruption...

[mimcdo]

this is another scare(profit seeking) tactic. I have been using these same prescription from international suppliers: ambien, lexapro, etc. for almost two years. They are cheaper and seem more reliable than U.S. overpriced medicines. In our system you must see a doctor for every renewal. Your overpay for a very short visit, then; overpay the pharmacy after waiting in long lines. If you don't examine the prescription; you might be shortcounted and overcharged.

[frankbowers]

This is another scare tactic from the the National Drug Co. Think about the fact there are several persons ever day of the week getting the wrong medications while in the hospitals or the drug stores. So when they say several times this has happened one would have to except that all Rx stand to be miss filled at on time or another regardless of when or where U receive them it is just on line cost is about 1/3 the cost of WalMarts and about 1/2 the cost of the general drug store and about 1/100 the price of the hospital. This is just a scare tactic and nothing more. The best of good byes Frank Bowers of Austin, TX

[cgesualdo]

Really?! How would you know that? Do tell...