PharmEasy Blog

How to Check Authenticity of Medicine?

It’s a sad truth today that even regular consumers are not able to differentiate fake medications from the real ones. What’s worse? Even medical professionals are unable to spot the difference easily or check the authenticity of medicines, at least not without a chemical analysis.

An overwhelming amount of manufacturers have succeeded in copying almost every physical aspect of the medication to make it seem like it is the most genuine. Packaging, tablet shape, vial shape and size and colouring these aspects can be and have been copied.

As a consumer, here are things you can do to ensure the authenticity of your medicines:

The most basic thing you should check is the seal. If you find that the seal is broken or has been tampered it, do not buy it. Make sure you buy medicine in which their seal is intact.
Checking the packaging can also give you an idea regarding the authenticity of the medicine. The font, logo, colour and spelling of the name can be clear indicators of a fake package.
Price is another answer to the question of ”how to check medicine authenticity”. If there is a sudden fall in the price of any medicine, there is a high chance that it is a fake one.
After consumption, if you experience unexpected allergies or side effects, immediately stop using it and consult with your doctor. You might have been using a fake drug all this while.
You can also verify the authenticity by sending the unique code behind the bottle or package to the Drug Technical Advisory Board’s (DTAB) number via SMS. They should respond with an authentication message from the medicine’s manufacturer.
Check the authenticity of medicine. If your red pill suddenly got a number stamped in the middle where there was none previously, make sure to check it out with your doctor and pharmacist first before consuming it.
Take note of the medications’ effectiveness when compared to the previous times you have consumed it
Try and procure medications only from trusted sources. Don’t fall prey to scams on the internet that offer medication without a prescription and/or very low prices. We at PharmEasy only deliver medicines on orders with valid prescriptions
Be cautious of relatively cheap drugs. Medications are manufactured in comparatively the same manner; hence, changes in the pricing of one brand could greatly affect all other pharmaceutical companies. Obviously, this isn’t something a medication brand will do out of the blue.

While the above guidelines can go a long way in reducing the risk of buying counterfeit medication, remember that the only definite way to know if your medicine is original or not is through chemical analysis.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is now considering the introduction of a barcode system to check the authenticity of medicines that are imported into the country as well as manufactured here in India. If implemented, this system can keep at bay all types of counterfeit and fake medicines.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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Medicine It’s All In The Name

Have you secretly had a doubt that your parents didn’t love you enough to put in some time and effort to come up with a less embarrassing name for you? Thank god that your fate wasn’t in the hands of the people who named these unfortunate medicines!

Fukitol

Hell yeah! Such a brilliant solution to manage life’s troubles that are depressing us! Lets Fukitol! Now medicines teach us how to sport a badass attitude and get through life’s troubles!

Ayds

Umm, no. We aren’t talking about the disease.
Ayds was a product that claimed to reduce cravings.
For Food.
Hear us out please before you jump to conclusions. Why the name it Ayds? We would like to know too!

Xanax

Got an extraterrestrial disorder? Here is a medicine that’s coming straight from the stars too! It may be in a spaceship, a flying elevator or sneaked in Doctor Who’s TARDIS. For ‘Xanax’ sounds just like a character from Star Wars and makes you feel privileged that you are being cured by something so celestial.

Xylometazoline

So Xylo Met Azoline medicine and then? Then she drove him so crazy that he went and stuffed her up to your nose! And hey, she just did such a wonderful job of digging all the gold for you! Nasal decongestants are such saviours, aren’t they?

Drug nomenclature (naming) is important as it is very common for healthcare practitioners to rely on the names of drugs as the critical identifier of the appropriate therapy. It is essential to interpret product names correctly to ensure the correct product is procured, prescribed, dispensed, and/or administered to the patient.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.

Flomax

Can’t decipher what’s so funny about poor little Flomax? Well, it’s just so apt! It is used to improve urination in men with prostate disorders. It max’s the flow alright!

Idebenone

”I’d-be-none?” Then who would you be? Or was that to say that we would be none after we have you? And why would we have you if we’d be none after you are done with us? Whoa. Whoa, wait. We think our brain will blank out because of you rather than the Alzheimer’s that you are supposed to cure! Also, just wondering- is this available or would there be none when we go check?

Jamaal Gota

Sounds like some Mata’s ghotala? Well, tread the waters with caution then! This herb claims to be beneficial in reducing hair loss and getting your bowel movements right. Erm, how is one herb beneficial for two such non-related ailments? We wouldn’t know, would we? Told you, there was some ghotala about this!

Also Read: How to Get Rid of Static Hair Naturally: Home Remedies and Tips

Have you come across any such weird names that left you dumbfounded or fighting back tears of laughter? Let us know in the comments!

Side Effects And Dangers Of Self Medication!

India, the largest democracy in the world, is the second-largest populous country in the world and it is said that for every 1700 Indian citizens, there is only one doctor! No wonder, the cases of self-medication are on the rise.

But with mothers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles and of course, pados-wali aunty, who needs doctors? Yes, we are regularly advised to have a random tablet/capsule/syrup for any ailment and sadly, we end up doing so. In fact, such is the case that people prescribe doses of antibiotics and other powerful drugs by themselves, never bothering to consult the doctor. Unfortunately, self-medication has increased many health issues.

What are the dangers of self-medication?

Self-medication is considered okay by many of us. It is just a paracetamol tablet or some ‘safe’ antibiotic we believe we are ingesting as going to the doctor can be time-consuming and expensive. But there are side-effects to this and is not at all a healthy practice.

The idea of self-medication even for small health issues can lead to complications. People tend to pop pills as they are popping candies. Medicines such as pain relief drugs, cough syrups 1, laxatives, antibiotics, anti-allergy medicines, vitamins and antacids are easier to acquire. But what we do not realize is that opting for self-medication makes us prone to allergies, drug dependence and even addiction.

Unfortunately, there is very little or almost no awareness of the disadvantages of self-medication. Sadly, we still go ahead and take doses randomly and don’t even check the composition of the medicine and are clueless about the side effects of these on our bodies.

Side effects of self-medication

Popping pills may get instant relief, but we don’t realise they are not free of side effects.2

Self-medication with irrational use of antibiotics can lead to an increase in drug resistance (bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics and stop responding to treatment), a rising threat for people in coming years.3
At times, a patient may be under-prescribed medication for different health issues and self-medicating may lead to adverse reactions.
Self-medication may suppress your symptoms and delay the underlying condition’s diagnosis.
Delayed diagnosis and delay in seeking appropriate treatment can lead to major complications. Hence, consulting a doctor is a must.
Risk of drug interactions- this may even influence the effect of another medicine that you may be taking.

Drug dosage

Self-medication is never encouraged. We do not know about its dosage.2 We do not know how the drug should be taken, its side effects or its reactions. This means we underestimate its strength. Here, ignorance is not bliss.

People do self-medication because it is instant and of course, there is no expense of the doctor. But when eventually, they suffer from severe health issues, their medical expense increases two-fold. Self-medication as a habit can damage one’s health irrevocably, causing disabilities and even premature death.

In a nutshell

Consult a doctor for the correct diagnosis of your symptoms or illness
Take medicines only after consulting a doctor
Do not discontinue an ongoing treatment unless advised to do so by your doctor

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9355716/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3915367/
Hughes CM, McElnay JC, Fleming GF. Benefits and risks of self medication. Drug Saf. 2001;24:1027–37