Counterfeit drugs are copies of legitimate drugs. Counterfeit drugs usually look exactly the same as the original drug, including the same size, shape, packaging, and color. Counterfeit drugs often contain few or none of the active ingredients listed on the label.
The use of counterfeit medicines can have serious health consequences. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every 10 medicines fails in low- and middle-income countries due to substandard or adulterated medicines.
To avoid choosing the wrong medicine, it is very important to consider the differences between genuine and counterfeit medicines. Find out more about the differences between genuine and counterfeit medicines in the review below.
The dangers of using counterfeit drugs
Counterfeit drugs may contain the wrong amount of active ingredients, contain the wrong active ingredients, or even have no active ingredients at all. Some counterfeit drugs have also been found to contain mercury, arsenic, rat poison, or cement.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), low-quality counterfeit medicines can cause harm to a person, including:
- Side effects (e.g. toxicity) from incorrectly administered active ingredients
- Failure to treat or prevent future diseases results in increased mortality, morbidity, and prevalence.
- disease.
- Driving the development of antimicrobial resistance and drug-resistant infections, such as the rise in antibiotic resistance, resulting in reduced effectiveness of these important drugs.
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How to recognize real or fake medicines
When comparing fake and genuine medicines, it can be difficult to tell the difference. In fact, there is only one way to be sure. Laboratory testing is required to make sure that a medicine is 100% authentic or fake. However, there are certain characteristics that you can recognize, which may or may not be present. It is important to know that the absence of these signs does not mean that the medicine is genuine, it simply means that it does not actually exist.
Some tips for recognizing whether a drug is real or fake include:
1. Consult a doctor before purchasing.
Before deciding to buy and take medicine, you should consult your doctor first to avoid the risk of worsening health due to choosing the wrong medicine.
Your doctor will advise you on the right medication for your health problems and recommend that you take genuine and legal medications.
2. Check the drug packaging.
Before purchasing, pay close attention to the packaging and ingredients of the medicine. Make sure that there are no defects in the packaging (such as no tears, dents, holes, or leaks, or rust on the packaging). Also, check when the medicine was manufactured and the expiration date. Make sure that the following is included on the back of the medicine package, including:
- BPOM License Number
- The name or address of the importing company is clearly stated.
- Company and importer name hologram
- Information on the content or components of the drug
- Recommendations for presentation, dosage, usage, indications and contraindications
Counterfeit drugs often have different expiration dates than the original drug, such as a printed expiration date that is difficult to read, an expiration date that has been written on or replaced with pen, or even no expiration date at all. The expiration date may be in the form of a stamp, the ink of which will easily fade if rubbed.
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3. Read the label.
When buying medicines, read the drug packaging label carefully. Make sure that there are contraindications and contraindications, correct usage rules and dosage.
Additionally, consult your doctor to determine if you are allergic to any of the ingredients listed, and any restrictions (foods, drinks, medications, and activities that should be avoided when taking the herbal remedy).
4. Check the sales license.
Before purchasing any medicine, make sure that the medicine has a marketing license from the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) to ensure that the medicine is genuine. You should visit the website http://cekbpom.pom.go.id/ and then enter the registration number, product name or product brand to verify the validity of the BPOM marketing license.
In addition to http://cekbpom.pom.go.id/, you can check the legality of pharmaceutical products through the BPOM Mobile application, which you can download from the Google Play Store/App Store.
5. Check the drug manufacturer.
When checking the packaging of the medicine you are buying, be sure to check if it has a phone number, address, or website listed.
This makes it easier for you as a consumer to find out more about the products you will be using.
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6. The pills are easily destroyed.
In addition to checking the drug packaging, it is also important to know one characteristic of counterfeit tablets. Counterfeit tablets are often fragile and easily broken or sometimes even cracked. This is because counterfeit drugs are manufactured with substandard quality.
If you find these characteristics of the medicine, you should not take it. Consult a pharmacist or the nearest doctor immediately to avoid any adverse effects.
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