How to Check if Medicines Are Authentic

Imitation or counterfeit drugs had not been an issue of concern in developed countries until recently. The US, in particular, runs a closed drug distribution system regulated by the FDA, which ensures all medication in the market is reviewed for quality, safety, and effectiveness. However, in recent years, counterfeit and substandard medicines have made their way into the market.

For the most part, American consumers are exposed to counterfeit drugs through illegal online sales. The incorporation of the internet in nearly every aspect of life, and disruptions like the Covid-19 pandemic which limited people's movement considerably, changed the US and worldwide marketplace. Online pharmacies became popular because of their convenience, ease of filing prescriptions, and contactless interaction with the sellers. With this now being most Americans' preferred mode of purchase, the number of online pharmacies has grown and should continue to increase in the coming days. But, some problems have also come up, like the infiltration of fake medicines.

The presence of counterfeit drugs does not mean that Americans have to forego the convenience and ease of this growing industry in fear of buying fake medicine. The solution is for patients and caregivers to be vigilant. Just as with purchasing any other item online, American consumers must know how to determine the authenticity of drugs sold to them. The government is working to curb this problem, but in the meantime, people can take extra precautions when purchasing medicines online.

What Are Counterfeit Drugs?

Counterfeit, fake, or substandard drugs are made and packaged to resemble legitimate medications but lack or only have a little of the active ingredients indicated on the label. Without the active ingredients, these drugs do not provide the therapeutic value of regular drugs. Another problem with low levels of active ingredients, specifically for antivirals and antibiotics, is they are not enough to treat the disease entirely. This allows the pathogens to mutate and increase, resulting in a new form of antimicrobial-resistant infections which may become a public health menace.

How To Ensure Your Medication Is Authentic

Here's how to ensure you’re buying authentic medicines every time, and avoid fakes, especially when purchasing medications online.

1. Always Buy From Legitimate Pharmacies

Before initiating any engagement, ensure you are dealing with a licensed pharmacy. Research the laws and licensing requirements for pharmacies in your area. Legit pharmacies also display the pharmacists' and assistants' credentials as proof of their knowledge of handling medicines.

After proving the pharmacy's legitimacy, you can transact with them without worry. A licensed pharmacy only sources its products through formal channels and is less likely to deal with fakes. Their personnel are ethically and legally liable for the medicines they dispense. So, ensure you buy medication from pharmacies and personnel you can trust.

2. Inspect The Product Packaging

Even if the product is not in your hands, you can still inspect the medicine's external packaging by evaluating the product photos attached. Check the product name, the expiry date, and manufacturing details like the name and address of the manufacturer and batch number.

If you have used the product before, compare the packaging with the pictures on the website. Check the font, name spelling, color of the packaging, and logo. Manufacturers of fake drugs will often alter small details of the packaging like these. One way to ensure that you always have a reference is to take a photo of the legit product you are using so you can always use it for comparison in the future.

3. Beware of Relatively Cheap Drugs

Internet scams and illegitimate pharmacies often lure customers with low prices and the convenience of issuing medication without a prescription. But pricing is one telling factor that you could be dealing with counterfeit drugs.

Typically, the process of manufacturing drugs is comparatively similar, which means that the prices from different pharmacies should not deviate much. A pharmacy pricing its products far less than the rest would be making losses. So, before ordering medicines from a pharmacy, look up the prices set by other licensed pharmacies. This is not to say that you should go for the highest price set but to find a relatively reasonable price. If the price seems too good to be true, there’s a chance it is.

Buying Authentic Medication Keeps You Safe

Buying medicines from online pharmacies has become quite common in the US because it's convenient, quick, and eases access to medication. However, this development has opened the door to illegitimate sellers who wish to take advantage of the sporadic growth of online medicine sales by offering counterfeit drugs. Fake drugs pose a danger to consumers because the medicines may lack the right concentration of active ingredients or contain harmful filler ingredients like heavy metals. Taking counterfeit drugs, you also risk overdosing or dying from consuming the wrong products.

Since buying medicines online is a convenience that many people are unwilling to give up, the solution is for users to be vigilant of their purchases. They should ensure they only buy authentic medication from licensed pharmacies, avoid low-priced drugs, and inspect the drug's packaging. As the authorities work to neutralize the threat of fake medicines, users have an active role to play. They should understand the risks that counterfeit drugs pose to their health and take the above mentioned measures to avoid them.