As summer draws to a close, many people are travelling abroad. To protect travelers, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued warnings to travelers about buying medications overseas.

According to WHO, criminals often target young foreign travelers whose only mistake is “trying to save money.” In a recent warning to travelers, WHO said that “travelers of any age need to be aware that any drug purchased outside a licensed pharmacy could be counterfeit. At best they could be ineffective, at worst dangerous – even deadly. The only way to avoid the risk is to ensure that you purchase medication recommended for your trip before leaving home.”

The CDC indicates that counterfeiting occurs throughout the world, but is most common in developing countries where there are few or no rules about making drugs. To avoid buying dangerous counterfeit drugs, the CDC recommends the following for travelers:

• Buy drugs only from licensed pharmacies rather than open markets, and be sure to get a receipt.
• Do not buy medicines that are substantially cheaper than the typical price.
• Although generics are usually less expensive, many counterfeited brand names are sold at prices substantially below the normal price for that particular brand.
• Ask the pharmacist whether the drug has the same active ingredient as the one that you were taking.
• Pay close attention to the packaging. If there is poor-quality printing or otherwise strange-looking packaging, this could be indicative of a counterfeit product.
• Be familiar with medications. The size, shape, color, and taste of counterfeit medicines may be different from the authentic. Discoloration, splits, cracks, spots, and stickiness of the tablets or capsules are indications of a possible counterfeit. Travelers should keep examples of authentic medications to compare if they purchase the same brand.

According to the CDC, the best way to avoid counterfeit drugs is to reduce the need to purchase medications abroad. “Anticipated amounts of medications for chronic conditions (such as hypertension, sinusitis, arthritis, and hay fever); medications for gastroenteritis (travelers’ diarrhea); and prophylactic medications for infectious diseases (such as malaria) should all be purchased before traveling.”

At CSIP we suggest that consumers always be cautious when purchasing prescription drugs online. Before you buy, make sure you check all online pharmacies using LegitScript’s Pharmacy Verification Tool. In addition, you can now report rogue online drug sellers directly to the Food and Drug Administration using the new portal on our website.

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The Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) and our 13 member companies have the shared goal of helping address the growing problem of consumer access to illegitimate pharmaceutical products on the Internet. Continue to read this blog for updates on CSIP’s education, enforcement and information-sharing efforts.