FDA Warns About Fake Internet Drugs

This was on WebMD's website the other day. Thought some may find it of interest.

FDA Warns About Fake Internet Drugs
FDA Says 24 Web Sites May Be Involved in Distributing Counterfeit Prescription Drugs

By Miranda Hitti WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

May 1, 2007 -- The FDA today strongly cautioned consumers about purchasing drugs from 24 web sites that may be involved in the distribution of counterfeit drugs.

The FDA links two of the 24 web sites to counterfeit versions of the weight loss drug Xenical.

The FDA says that Xenical's maker, the drug company Roche, tested three phony Xenical pills obtained from brandpills.com and pillspharm.com.
One phony Xenical pill contained the active ingredient in another weight loss drug. The two other fake Xenical pills contained only talc and starch, according to the FDA.

The FDA has previously linked four of the 24 web sites to counterfeit versions of the flu drug Tamiflu and counterfeit versions of the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis.

Overseas Web Sites

The web sites, which the FDA says appear to be operated outside the U.S., are:
AllPills.net
Pharmacy-4U.net
DirectMedsMall.com
Brandpills.com
Emediline.com
RX-ed.com
RXePharm.com
Pharmacea.org
PillsPharm.com
MensHealthDrugs.net
BigXplus.net
MediClub.md
InterTab.de
Pillenpharm.com
Bigger-X.com
PillsLand.com
EZMEDZ.com
UnitedMedicals.com
Best-Medz.com
USAPillsrx.net
USAMedz.com
BluePills-Rx.com
Genericpharmacy.us
I-Kusuri.jp

The 24 web sites appear on pharmacycall365.com under the "Our Websites" heading, the FDA notes.

FDA's Advice to Consumers

The FDA says consumers using online pharmacies should be wary if there is no way to contact a web site pharmacy by phone, if prices are dramatically lower than the competition, or if no prescription from your doctor is required.
The FDA's web site includes these safety tips for people buying prescription drugs online:

Make sure the web site requires a prescription.

Make sure the web site has a pharmacist available for questions.

Buy only from licensed pharmacies located in the U.S.

Don't provide personal information such as credit card numbers unless you're sure the web site will protect that information.

The FDA urges consumers to visit

www.fda.gov/buyonline for more information before buying prescription drugs over the Internet.