The Rise Of Fake Prescription Drugs

The prescription drug abuse epidemic we currently face in the United States may be, to some, old news. By misusing or taking more the prescribed dose of opiate and other pills, individuals place themselves at risk of a laundry list of physical and mental adverse reactions.

The rise of fake prescription drugs, however, is “new” news and presents risks which, in many ways, are more dangerous than the original prescriptions which they mimic.

What Are “Fake Prescription Drugs”?

The issue of counterfeit pharmaceuticals is accordingly much more prevalent in undeveloped countries but has recently presented itself in the United States, putting prescription consumers and abusers alike at tremendous risk.

Reports indicate US pill consumers have reason to question whether the prescriptions in their possession are “fake.” FDA-issued warnings about illegal and dangerous prescription counterfeits have been distributed in light of incidents related to foreign imports of subpar pills.

Allergic Reactions

In the case of counterfeit prescriptions like the Turkish-imported fake Avastin (a drug designed to attack tumor growth), allergic reactions have manifested due to unusual ingredients. In 2008, a chemically tainted blood thinner from China was found to contain US-banned ingredients and caused nearly 150 deaths.

Dangerous Ingredients

The FDA has placed a good deal of resources on cracking down on the illegal importation of fake prescriptions via online pharmacies. In 2009, over 800 packages of fake prescriptions for Viagra, Vicodin (opiate painkiller) and antihistamines were found to contain chemical fillers such as drywall, yellow paint (the kind used on highway lines) and antifreeze.

Dangerous Dosage Levels

Fake prescriptions rarely have the appropriate or indicated dosage levels. In FDA counterfeit pill seizures, some pills have been found to contain none of the active ingredient (instead, 100% filler chemicals) while others were found to contain triple the indicated amount.

Counterfeit Drug Dangers

The most obvious threats of fake prescriptions lie in the fact that their ingredients are generally unknown and unpredictable. While it is estimated that a mere 1-2% of US prescriptions are counterfeit, this still translates to millions of potentially hazardous fake pharmaceuticals delivered to unsuspecting consumers and addicts. In fact, over 4 billion prescriptions are filled every year in the United States. It is estimated that roughly 4 million of those pharmaceutical drugs contain dangerous chemical fillers, double or triple the indicated drug amount or completely useless ingredients altogether.

For the millions of Americans currently addicted to prescription drugs, fake pharmaceuticals can mean death. An individual who already takes too much of a drug, then ingests a pill which has 3x the indicated amount, can easily overdose.

Even for non-addicted prescription drug consumers, this presents blatant risks—how can we be sure these pills are safe?

Signs Your Prescription May Be Fake

American prescription regulations on distribution of drugs are generally tight, but obviously not stringent enough.

Fake prescriptions are truly impossible to sniff out without lab testing. As a consumer, however, you can use your sensibility and go with your gut if you suspect your prescription may be suspect.

Avoid coming into contact with these dangerous fake drug duplicates by obtaining your necessary prescriptions from legitimate, qualified sources only. Further, watch out for some of the following suspicious signs:

• Strange packaging or labels. Fake pharmaceutical packaging also may appear to have already been opened. 
• Oddly shaped or colored pills with any sort of chips, cracks or malformations.
• Unusual drug taste or texture than you are used to.
• Abnormal side effects or drug reactions.

If you are certain your prescription is an illegal counterfeit, contact your healthcare provider and report it to the FDA right away.