Fake medicine, also sometimes called counterfeit or falsified
medicine, can have potentially serious health implications; below we
discuss the risks and provide some advice on how to identify one.
These are medicines which have been deliberately mislabelled to
imitate a real, approved medicine1.
They may contain incorrect quantities of the genuine active
ingredient, which is the main part of a medicine that causes the
desired effect in the body1. Otherwise, they might contain
the wrong ingredients, have been transported or stored unsafely, or be
delivered in an untested dosage (i.e. the quantity or suggested
frequency for taking the medicine has not been formally approved)1.
You can’t be sure what the contents are in a fake medicine. Taking
counterfeit medicines can result in not getting the treatment that you
need, leading to potentially negative consequences for your health and safety2.
It’s often prescription medications that are the targets for
creating a fake because strict regulations make it difficult to obtain
them without sign-off from a healthcare professional3. It
is these strict regulations however that keep you safe and ensure that
the only people taking prescription medications, are the people who
genuinely need them.
1. Does the packaging and medicine look like it usually does?
Counterfeit medicines will often have spelling errors,
instructions that are not in your language, unsealed packaging or
changes in the appearance of the medicine itself. These are all
indicators that the medicine is not authentic or is being illegally
sold in the wrong market.
2. Is the price too good to be true?
A much
lower price than expected should be a clear warning sign. A price cut
is likely possible because the active ingredients are not the same as
the authentic medicine – they could be wrong or missing altogether.
3. Are you using a well-trusted source?
Fakes are often
sold on websites which are not associated with the real manufacturer
or trusted distributors such as pharmacies5. Signs to look
out for are unwanted pop-up adverts, spelling or format
inconsistencies, unusual URLs and payment platforms.
4. Is a valid prescription needed?
Prescription
medications should only be taken on the recommendation of a medical
professional who knows your personal medical history, has weighed up
the risks and benefits for you, and can provide you with information
about any potential side effects. If the source of an online
medication does not need confirmation of a prescription, it is likely
to be untrustworthy.
If you have any suspicions that a prescription medicine is not
authentic, do not purchase or take it, and speak to your doctor.
Sometimes, when a medicine is in high demand and hard to get hold of,
or is only available in certain countries, this can make sourcing
online alternatives seem like an enticing option. However, there is
usually a valid reason for a medicine being unavailable from a trusted source6.
Especially if it is only available on prescription, you should not
take any medicine which hasn’t been discussed with and prescribed by
your doctor. If you find yourself struggling to find a trusted source
for a medication you need, it is best to speak to your doctor who can
help you to decide the best course of action which protects your
health and safety.
If you suspect a product to be a fake of a Novo Nordisk product,
please let us know.
