FDA Warning: Fraudulent Tamiflu Product Sold by Internet Drug Outlet

July 1, 2010 2:49 pm Topics: Internet pharmacy

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning regarding a fraudulent product, sold over the Internet and represented as “Generic Tamiflu,” that contains cloxacillin, an ingredient in the same class of antibiotics as penicillin. Patients who are allergic to penicillin are at risk of experiencing similar reactions from cloxacillin, including anaphylaxis. FDA also reminds consumers that there is no FDA-approved generic drug for the prescription product Tamiflu. FDA Commissioner, Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, stressed that medicines purchased from rogue Internet drug outlets put consumers at risk due to the high potential that the products sold are counterfeit, impure, contaminated, or contain too little or too much of the active ingredient. An FDA press release provides additional details about and images of the fraudulent Tamiflu product. FDA reminds consumers that they can purchase medications online safely by using VIPPS^® (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites^CM)-accredited Internet pharmacies.