Get Real. What is a counterfeit medicine?

Counterfeit medicines harm people, in some countries they have even killed people. A medicine is described as counterfeit when some part of it is fake. It could be the packaging, or the label, or the information about where it is from, but it could also be the ingredients. Every medicine contains Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (known as API), this is what makes the medicine work. Counterfeit medicines have been found to contain no API at all, not enough API to make the medicine effective, too much API and even an API that is for a completely different illness or condition . They have also been found to contain all sorts of other ingredients ranging from talcum powder through to lead-based road paint, rat poison and other highly toxic substances. There is no doubt about it, counterfeit medicines are dangerous and in some cases deadly.

How can anyone tell the difference?

Counterfeiters are very clever and often you can't see the difference between a fake pill and the real thing. Counterfeit medicine found in the UK is frequently designed to trick pharmacists and patients into believing that it is genuine, often only the scientists in the laboratory can tell it is fake.

It's always worth looking carefully at your medicine packaging and talking to your pharmacist or doctor if it looks like it has been tampered with and letting them know immediately if you experience any unexpected side effects.

The best way to protect yourself from counterfeit medicines is to only get your medicines from a regulated source. You should also make sure that you have the right treatment for the right condition by seeking advice from a healthcare professional. Buying prescription-only medicine without having seen a healthcare professional means you may not have a proper diagnosis of your problem.

Find out how to get real advice and guidance online, and report concerns about medicine.

For more information speak to your doctor or pharmacist.