Every morning, as you greet the day and shake your prescribed medicine into your hand, you trust that they’re authentic. Worldwide, though, illegal medications are more common than some might think.
Studies show approximately 10-40% of medicines sold in developing countries are fake.1 There are risks of taking a fake medicine, such as, it may not work at all or cause serious reactions.
The chances of your medication being fake are small, but there's still a risk. You can make the best-informed decisions about your health, by knowing what fake medicines are and how to identify fake medicines.
What is a counterfeit medicine?
There are two types of fake medicines: products that imitate genuine medicines, and products that make false claims about their ingredients.
A counterfeit medicine could have:
- no active ingredient
- substandard ingredients
- undeclared ingredients
- illegal or dangerous ingredients
- incorrect dosage (too much, too little or variation in dose across tablets)
- contaminants from unhygienic manufacture.
How common are counterfeit medicines?
Any product can be counterfeit, from dermal fillers to leukaemia medicine. In countries that have strong medicines regulation, such as Australia, fake medicines are rarer, especially when bought from reputable retailers such as registered pharmacies. A pharmacist found to deal in counterfeits could have their registration as a pharmacist cancelled- external site.
You are more likely to encounter a counterfeit medicine if you try to buy a medicine online. Some websites look like they are Australian, but are actually located and distributing goods from overseas. According to the World Health Organisation, a number of medicines sold online are fake- external site.
Health risks of counterfeits
All unapproved therapeutic goods pose a risk, and counterfeit goods have a much greater risk. Anyone that is willing to break the law to take your money could also be willing to cheat you or risk your health.
A fraudulent medicine may fail to treat the disease, which can be fatal if the medicine is intended to treat a life-threatening condition. Each year, more than 250,000 children die because of fake and substandard pneumonia and malaria medicines alone.- external site
Fake medicines can cause unexpected adverse reactions if they have undeclared ingredients or contaminants. Moreover, in the case of diluted antibiotics, understrength medicines contribute to antimicrobial resistance- external site.
How to spot a fake
The quickest way to spot a bogus medicine is to compare it with an authentic medicine. Medicines are manufactured with precision, so any variation in size, weight, colour, quality or embossing could indicate a forgery.
In a side-by-side comparison, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a fake and real medication.
Laboratory testing can confirm 100% if a medication is real or fake, but there are signs that people can lookout for:
Spelling errors
Misspellings of the product name, manufacturer, or main ingredients on the medicine bottle labels or other packaging are the biggest, and some of the most noticeable, mistakes.
Medication appearance
Your medication could change size and shape. Call your doctor or pharmacy to confirm any changes.
Medication quality
Authentic medication will always have a factory-made appearance. If your tablets are cracked, have a bubbled-up coating, or are crumbly, take notice. Moldy pills or jars containing excess powder or crystals should also be considered suspicious.
Compromised packaging
Medication that comes in the original manufacturer packaging should be sealed. If it's open, appears tampered with, or just doesn't look right, it’s worth checking with the pharmacist.
So, you think your drug is counterfeit—now what?
If you suspect your medication is fake, most importantly, don't take it. Call your doctor and pharmacy to let them know and ask about your next steps.
Reach out to the pharmaceutical manufacturer, as well. They have records of each drug batch they produce. If yours doesn't fall in line with their records, they will know. Company representatives can also tell you how to properly dispose of illegal medicines.
Ultimately, as long as you buy your prescriptions from a bricks-and-mortar (a business that has at least one physical location that customers can visit) or reliable online pharmacy, you can be confident your medication is authentic. Still, knowing how to identify fake medicines can keep you and your loved ones safe in the long run.
Report side effects:
- If you think you may be experiencing a side effect related to a Pfizer medicine:
- Call 1800 675 229 or email AUS.AEReporting@pfizer.com
If you think you may be experiencing a side effect related to a non-Pfizer medicine, click here to report this to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
How TGA stop counterfeits
Counterfeit therapeutic goods are against the law and subject to criminal and civil penalty provisions in the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
We work with other Commonwealth and State and Territory agencies to keep fraudulent medicines out of the marketplace. Fake medicines found to be imported into Australia are seized and destroyed.
Don't take the risk
Counterfeit medicines can be hard to identify. Lower your risk by buying your medicine from a registered pharmacy. If you do buy your medicines online, make sure it is through a pharmacist registered in Australia.
Be alert to anything suspicious about your medicine, and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about a product.
If you suspect a product is fake, report it to TGA.
