Counterfeit Viagra Could Be Deadly for Men Buying the Erectile Dysfunction Medication Online

Written by: Steven Schlosser
Published 10/08/2015
Updated: 10/08/2015

Prescription medications are expensive and many people are looking for ways to save money. If you’re trying to find a deal on Viagra, the Internet offers plenty of seemingly tempting options. Virtually any name-brand prescription medication is available online at low prices. In many cases, you don’t even need a valid prescription. Online pharmacies say that this reduces red tape and allows them to pass savings along to customers.

If that sounds too good to be true, that’s because it probably is. According to the World Health Organization, up to 50 percent of online stores are selling counterfeit medications. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy also reported that 96 percent of online pharmacies did not comply with federal patient safety and pharmacy practice standards. To date, 78 counterfeit versions of Pfizer prescription medications have been found in online pharmacies around the world. By far, the most popular fake medication is Viagra.

Illicit online pharmacies often say that they are based in Canada, but most companies are located in India or China. Counterfeit drugs can contain harmful substances such as rat poison, brick dust, paint, and other toxic chemicals. The makers of these drugs aren’t usually trying to poison people. They’re just looking for the least expensive binding agents they can find in order to increase profits. Unfortunately, this practice can have dangerous consequences.

The World Health Organization recently estimated that counterfeit drugs generate approximately $431 billion in revenue each year. However, it’s difficult to get a truly accurate measurement. The problem is so widespread; it’s almost impossible to track all of the activity in the counterfeit drug market. In this low risk, high reward industry, the profit margins are incredible and the punishment is typically minor. There are no universal laws that govern counterfeit medications. Each country handles the issue differently.

Pfizer is helping law enforcement prevent counterfeit medications from entering the market by offering training to authorities all around the world. There are also additional signs of progress. During a four-year period, Interpol suspended more than 57,000 illegal online pharmacies and confiscated over 30 million units of counterfeit prescription drugs. Pakistan has also created a special drug enforcement agency to address the problem.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration requires drug makers, packagers, distributors, and dispensers to provide transaction information for every sale. These companies must also notify the FDA about the discovery of all illegitimate products. The FDA hopes that this will help remove potentially dangerous counterfeit drugs from the market. The initial results have been promising, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

Despite these new efforts, the counterfeit drug trade remains strong. Many websites have been shut down, but it’s relatively easy for these sellers to create a new website to continue doing business. It’s important to educate people about the dangers of these medications to protect the public health. With as many as 1 million people dying from ingesting fake medications every year, it is still a deadly problem.