What can the Patient do?
It is very often difficult to tell counterfeit drugs from the real product, making it almost impossible for innocent consumers to recognise when they receive fake drugs. You can protect yourself by obtaining all prescription and over-the-counter medications from a reputable pharmacy.
Recommendations
If you purchase your medicines online, always see your doctor and get a written prescription first. Never buy medications from an online pharmacy that is not licenced in your country offers to write prescriptions or sells pharmaceuticals without prescription.
Overcome the temptation to buy cheap medicine from suspicious markets while travelling abroad.
If you have a concern, contact your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. Be vigilant when examing your medications.
Evidence for potential counterfeits
Packaging
- Does the packaging look as though it has been compromised?
- Look for slight differences in packaging (i.e. size, quality, material, colour)
- Check the printing quality and typeface
- Check for spelling mistakes
Appearance of the drug
- Are pills cracked or chipped?
- Has the pill or liquid changed colour? Does it appear any different from earlier prescriptions?
- Has the pharmaceutical a different consistency or taste?
Information leaflet
- Look for discoloured and added labels, quality of printing and missing imprints
Safety and efficacy of the drug
- Does a drug that showed good effect in past prescriptions has no effect any more?
A change in efficacy and tolerability may also be a hint that a counterfeit medication may have been involved, especially when other factors such as those described above appear to be present.
Acting when suspecting counterfeit drugs
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything unusual about the medication you are taking. They know to whom to forward a suspicious sample.
- Identify location and conditions of purchase!
