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Don't Buy Drugs Online, Warns FDA!
Techtree News Staff, Feb 19, 2007 1338 hrs ISTThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert asking consumers not to buy prescription drugs online...
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert saying that a number of consumers buying prescription drugs such as sleep aids, anti-depressants, and others over the Internet are actually receiving products containing Haloperidol, a powerful anti-psychotic drug.
Drugs that consumers are being cheated on include Ambien, a sleep aid; anti-anxiety medications - Xanax and Ativan; and Lexapro, an anti-depressant.
According to the report, after consumption of the Schizophrenia drug, Haloperidol (that can cause muscle stiffness and spasms, agitation, and sedation), several consumers have sought emergency medical treatment for symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, muscle spasms, and muscle stiffness after ingesting the drug.
Therefore, FDA is warning consumers against buying prescription drugs online. Consumers have been advised to seek information on the FDA Web site before buying medication over the Internet.
The agency learned about these mislabeled and potentially dangerous products after their recipients complained to a US pharmaceutical manufacturer.
The FDA analysis of the misrepresented tablets is still going on. The origin of these tablets is unknown but the packages were postmarked in Greece. Involved consumers have named several Web sites where the products were purchased, but identifying the vendors seems difficult because of the deceptive practices of many commercial outlets on the Internet.
The agency said that those who have received medications from an Internet seller should compare them to photos and shipping packages of the faulty orders, which are available on the FDA Web site at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/photos/haloperidol.html.
In case of doubt, consumers should notify their health care provider, and report the suspected products to FDA by submitting a product quality problem report at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm.
Drugs that consumers are being cheated on include Ambien, a sleep aid; anti-anxiety medications - Xanax and Ativan; and Lexapro, an anti-depressant.
According to the report, after consumption of the Schizophrenia drug, Haloperidol (that can cause muscle stiffness and spasms, agitation, and sedation), several consumers have sought emergency medical treatment for symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, muscle spasms, and muscle stiffness after ingesting the drug.
Therefore, FDA is warning consumers against buying prescription drugs online. Consumers have been advised to seek information on the FDA Web site before buying medication over the Internet.
The agency learned about these mislabeled and potentially dangerous products after their recipients complained to a US pharmaceutical manufacturer.
The FDA analysis of the misrepresented tablets is still going on. The origin of these tablets is unknown but the packages were postmarked in Greece. Involved consumers have named several Web sites where the products were purchased, but identifying the vendors seems difficult because of the deceptive practices of many commercial outlets on the Internet.
The agency said that those who have received medications from an Internet seller should compare them to photos and shipping packages of the faulty orders, which are available on the FDA Web site at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/photos/haloperidol.html.
In case of doubt, consumers should notify their health care provider, and report the suspected products to FDA by submitting a product quality problem report at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm.
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,pondycherri, on Mar 03, 2007 11:35 PM
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