QDIS Blog

FDA Warns Consumers About Some Canadian Websites

by Ed Vawter @ 9:46 am. Filed under Health News, FDA

I was remiss in not posting about this earlier. The FDA has listed several “Canadian” websites and a list of drugs that are likely counterfeit.

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Buy or Use Prescription Drugs from Various Canadian Websites that Apparently Sell Counterfeit Products

Among those listed are some of the most common prescription drugs.

LIPITOR Cholesterol disorders
CRESTOR Cholesterol disorders
ZETIA (US name) / EZETROL (Canadian name) Cholesterol disorders
DIOVAN High blood pressure
HYZAAR High blood pressure
ACTONEL Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
NEXIUM Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
CELEBREX Arthritis-related pain
ARIMIDEX Breast cancer
PROPECIA Male-pattern baldness

Here is the list of websites run by Mediplan:

www.RxNorth.com;
www.Canadiandrugstore.com;
www.Rxbyfax.com;
www.Northcountryrx.com;
www.Canada-pharmacy.com;
www.My-canada-pharmacy.com;
www.NLRX.com;
www.Canampharmacy.com;
www.Canada-Meds-For-Less.net; and
www.Canadian-safe.com

I do want to say that drugs in Canada are safe but that some of these websites online are not truly Canadian based and their backgrounds are difficult to establish. Also, even if they are, some seem to be purchasing cheap drugs from countries who may not meet the good manufacturing guidelines the FDA uses.

This is a major problem not only in Canada but world-wide. Drug counterfeiting is a high priority with the FDA and progress is being made with the use of RFID tags, but much more work remains to be done.

You always have to ask if the risk (counterfeit drug, sub-optimal doses, potential contamination, etc.) are worth the savings that may occur. I would not get drugs from Canada via an online website for any of my family members. A better use of your time would be to find help from either the pharmaceuticals company that makes your drug (many offer assistance programs but don’t advertise that fact) or go the Partnership for Prescription Assistance website. Here they explain the various programs and what it takes to qualify for them.

Other Resources from the FDA website

Importing Prescription Drugs from Foreign Sources
Consumer Education: Buying Medicines From Outside of the United States
Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online
Combating Counterfeit Drugs
Generic Drug Prices in the U.S. Are Lower Than Drug Prices in Canada

Technorati Tags: drug cost, drug imports, FDA