Agency goes Covert to Pull the Plug on Fake and Unapproved H1N1 Drugs
Friday, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning against purchasing drugs over the Internet that claim to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure H1N1 influenza virus. The FDA has gone undercover to secretly purchased Tamiflu, an antiviral drug used to treat the H1N1 flu, online. Afterwards, the samples were analytically tested to determine their quality and authenticity.
The two antiviral drugs approved by the FDA for treatment and prophylaxis of the 2009H1N1 influenza virus are Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) and Relenza (zanamivir).
What they found in the purchased online samples was shocking. One package contained nothing more than talc and acetaminophen. Four contained various levels of oseltamivir but were not approved for use in the United States. Several of the products purchased did not even require a prescription from a health care professional. Additionally, the products did not arrive in a timely enough fashion to treat someone infected with the H1N1 influenza virus, or with an immediate exposure to the virus.
FDA warned consumers that purchasing prescription drugs online results in products that are from an unknown origin, uncertain quality, and could pose an undue risk to your health. Consumers are urged to purchase their prescriptions from only licensed pharmacies approved for distribution of these medicines.
To view entire FDA warning visit:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm186861.htm.
To view the FDA consumer guide to purchasing drugs online visit:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/ucm080588.htm.
Friday, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning against purchasing drugs over the Internet that claim to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure H1N1 influenza virus. The FDA has gone undercover to secretly purchased Tamiflu, an antiviral drug used to treat the H1N1 flu, online. Afterwards, the samples were analytically tested to determine their quality and authenticity.
The two antiviral drugs approved by the FDA for treatment and prophylaxis of the 2009H1N1 influenza virus are Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) and Relenza (zanamivir).
What they found in the purchased online samples was shocking. One package contained nothing more than talc and acetaminophen. Four contained various levels of oseltamivir but were not approved for use in the United States. Several of the products purchased did not even require a prescription from a health care professional. Additionally, the products did not arrive in a timely enough fashion to treat someone infected with the H1N1 influenza virus, or with an immediate exposure to the virus.
FDA warned consumers that purchasing prescription drugs online results in products that are from an unknown origin, uncertain quality, and could pose an undue risk to your health. Consumers are urged to purchase their prescriptions from only licensed pharmacies approved for distribution of these medicines.
To view entire FDA warning visit:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm186861.htm.
To view the FDA consumer guide to purchasing drugs online visit:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/ucm080588.htm.
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