Still have questions? We have Answers: Q & A on Counterfeit Products

1. What is a counterfeit product?
2. Why can counterfeit products be dangerous?
3. How do I know if I have a counterfeit product?
4. What can I do to help/protect myself from counterfeit products?
5. How can I best protect myself when filling my prescription online?

1. What is a counterfeit product?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a counterfeit medicine as:

A medicine which is deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identity and/or source. Counterfeiting can apply to both branded and generic products and counterfeit products may include products with the correct ingredients or with the wrong ingredients, without active ingredients, with insufficient active ingredients or with fake packaging¹.

2. Why can counterfeit products be dangerous?

Counterfeit products are not authentic approved products. For this reason, consuming them may be dangerous because they may contain little to no active ingredient (the medicine that makes the drug work) and may not deliver the therapeutic benefit that the patient needs. On the other hand, counterfeit products may contain too much active ingredient, which could also be dangerous to the patient’s health. Furthermore, counterfeit products may contain harmful ingredients and may be contaminated because they are often made in substandard, unregulated, and/or unsanitary environments with no concern for safety.

3. How do I know if I have a counterfeit product?

Consumers may not know that they have received a counterfeit product because counterfeiters attempt to mimic authentic product. For this reason, it is important to purchase your products from a reputable distributor whom you know and trust. Understanding the source from whom you are obtaining your product is the best way to ensure the safety of your product.

To find out more about the product you are using you may refer to the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) at http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/index.html.

If you suspect that you may have received a counterfeit BMS product, contact the source from which you obtained the product, the prescribing physician, or BMS at 1-800-321-1335.

4. What can I do to help/protect myself from counterfeit products?

Know your product, evaluate your product and packaging carefully. Check the color, texture, taste, shape and packaging each time you get your prescription filled.

Make sure that you understand the source from which you obtained your medicine, such as a licensed pharmacist or pharmacy.

Ask for your medicine in the product manufacturer’s original packaging if possible.

If you suspect that you have received counterfeit BMS product contact the source from which you obtained your product, your prescribing physician, or BMS at 1-800-321-1335.

Educate yourself! Now that you are aware of the issue you have the power to protect yourself from counterfeit products, but your education shouldn’t stop here. The following links will take you to other sources for more information on this issue:

• Food and Drug Administration’s website regarding “Combating Counterfeit Drugs”: http://www.fda.gov/counterfeit


• Partnership for Safe Medicines’ web site: http://www.safemedicines.org/


• Buy Safe Drugs: http://www.buysafedrugs.info


• PhRMA Safety: http://www.phrma.org/safety/

5. How can I best protect myself when filling my prescription online?

When filling prescriptions online be sure that you see your doctor and obtain a written prescription beforehand. When buying over the internet, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration cites the following steps to ensure the safety of your product:

• Check to see if a pharmacy is licensed and in good standing in the United States. Contact your local state board of pharmacy or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) at http://www.nabp.net or call 1-800-847-6227², or
  


• Check to see if an Internet pharmacy site has the VIPPS Seal, the seal of the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites Accreditation Program. This program was established by the NABP to help protect you and guide you through Internet pharmacy shopping. Legitimate pharmacies that carry the VIPPS Seal are listed at http://www.nabp.net/vipps/consumer/listall.asp²

¹World Health Organization: General information on counterfeit medicines. http://www.who.int/medicines/services/counterfeit/overview/en/

²U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Counterfeit Medicines – Filled With Empty Promises: You can avoid counterfeit medicine by purchasing only from U.S. state-licensed pharmacies. http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/counterfeitDrugsNAPS.htm