Beware Of Fake Drugs Online, FDA Warns

Unscrupulous Sites Offer Counterfeits Or Replacements, Not Legitimate Meds

(CBS)  Thinking of buying your prescription drugs online to save time and money? Think again, warns The Early Show's Dr. Emily Senay. The FDA reports that some online pharmacy sites are selling unsuspecting consumers pills that are counterfeit.

According to the FDA, they discovered that two Web sites were selling fake capsules of Xenical 120 mg, a drug manufactured by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Xenical is an FDA-approved diet drug.)

The FDA report says: "None of the capsules ordered off the Web sites contained orlistat, the active ingredient in authentic Xenical. In fact, laboratory analysis conducted by Roche and submitted to the FDA confirmed that one capsule contained sibutramine, which is the active ingredient in Meridia, an FDA-approved prescription drug manufactured by Abbott Laboratories."

The FDA discovered that other Xenical samples from the bogus sites were composed of only talc and starch.

Roche says that the two Web sites that sold the fake Xenical were brandpills.com and pillspharm.com.

"Further investigation by FDA disclosed that these Web sites are two of 24 Web sites that appear on the pharmacycall365.com home page under the 'Our Websites' heading," the FDA reports. "Four of these Web sites previously have been identified by FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations as being associated with the distribution of counterfeit Tamiflu and counterfeit Cialis."

Here are some Web sites you will want to visit — they offer guidelines and tips for buying drugs online:

To find out about the 24 online pharmacies that the FDA found were selling counterfeit drugs, click here .

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) offers a list of Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS). According the NABP Web site, the group was established in 1904 to assist state licensing boards in developing, implementing, and enforcing uniform standards to protect the Public Health. "Pharmacy boards from 50 United States, the District of Columbia, three US territories, eight Canadian provinces, two Australian states, and South Africa make up the Association membership," the site says.

This government site, "Buying Prescription Medicine Online: A Consumer Safety Guide," offers some basic guidelines and tips to purchasing your prescription drugs over the Internet. There is also an FAQ page.

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Add a Comment

by katie448 June 11, 2009 7:39 AM EDT

I think its necessary for us to check and verify all the details before moving on to get the online medicine and that too without prescription. My hubby was also fooled once with Viagra which he bought online but thank GOD due to my friends help we were saved and then my friend recommended about an onlien service which sell genuine Viagra on prescription only so we tried it and it works all thanx to my friend and the online service of Viagra which you can find and visit at http://www.onlineclinic.co.uk

Reply to this comment

by erik2590 May 3, 2007 10:19 AM EDT

Exactly, FDA advocates the U.S. as being a Third World Country food and all....

Reply to this comment

by drinuk May 3, 2007 10:17 AM EDT

Here We Go Again ! FDA representing and helping BIG PHARMA who are worried to death about anyone stepping on their well established cartels.

A Big Pharma executive was asked what the industry would do if a natural cancer cure was found costing a few cents, he stated that they would have it banned by thr FDA and the MHRA in Europe.

If you are sick go onto this wonderful medium and find the cure, they are out there, just take care and check them out carefully.

May I also ask that you check out a very informative website - www4.dr-rath-foundation.org

Reply to this comment

by crater7 May 3, 2007 9:17 AM EDT

FDA, online drugs unsafe;
This is the same agency that says our food supply is safe, and the contaminated chickens, are no threat to the American people. So eat up america, but dont buy your drugs on the internet.
Trust Me.

Reply to this comment

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[katie448]

I think its necessary for us to check and verify all the details before moving on to get the online medicine and that too without prescription. My hubby was also fooled once with Viagra which he bought online but thank GOD due to my friends help we were saved and then my friend recommended about an onlien service which sell genuine Viagra on prescription only so we tried it and it works all thanx to my friend and the online service of Viagra which you can find and visit at http://www.onlineclinic.co.uk

[erik2590]

Exactly, FDA advocates the U.S. as being a Third World Country food and all....

[drinuk]

Here We Go Again ! FDA representing and helping BIG PHARMA who are worried to death about anyone stepping on their well established cartels.

A Big Pharma executive was asked what the industry would do if a natural cancer cure was found costing a few cents, he stated that they would have it banned by thr FDA and the MHRA in Europe.

If you are sick go onto this wonderful medium and find the cure, they are out there, just take care and check them out carefully.

May I also ask that you check out a very informative website - www4.dr-rath-foundation.org

[crater7]

FDA, online drugs unsafe;
This is the same agency that says our food supply is safe, and the contaminated chickens, are no threat to the American people. So eat up america, but dont buy your drugs on the internet.
Trust Me.