We all take medicine, some more, some less, but we all are sick, and therefore we are also being treated. It often happens that some medicine that has always helped us, suddenly ceases to help. Or we notice differences in color, the shape of tablets, compared to those purchased earlier. Often, the tablets crack or crumble right in your hands. All these are signs of forgery.
As a rule, the quality and effectiveness of counterfeit medicines have nothing to do with originals. Under the packaging of a counterfeit drug, anything can be hidden. In a counterfeit medicine, there may be fewer active active substances, or they may not exist at all, in the package from one medicine, another can be hidden. It can also be the medicine you need, but its expiration date has long expired, and it has been re-packed. All illegally produced drugs are considered counterfeit. Rightholders do not control the production of such drugs, they do not pass any control and are not subject to inspections.
As the research shows, not only the inhabitants are not aware of the scale of the problem of counterfeit medicines, but one can also say about most doctors. The most harmless consequences of using counterfeit medicines is their insufficient effectiveness, but in addition, such drugs can cause atypical side effects and various kinds of allergic reactions. As a rule, such a reaction of the patient's body is written off by doctors for individual intolerance, a tendency to allergy or improper selection of the drug. Doctors even do not even think that the reason can be in the use of a non-original drug, but its forgery.
There are several types of allergic reactions to medications. The most common type is skin reactions. As a rule, such a reaction manifests itself after a few days from the beginning of taking the drug, so this type of allergic reactions are referred to as delayed-type reactions. In second place in popularity there is an itch, which can be felt both in some specific part of the body, and in several different. The most dangerous form of allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock. It occurs rarely, occurs almost immediately after taking the drug, sometimes after a minute or a few seconds. It is attributed to immediate reactions.
Anaphylactic shock is very dangerous and can lead to the death of the patient, so when it comes to it, you can not hesitate and need to seek medical help as soon as possible. Anaphylactic shock can manifest as a laryngeal edema, intestinal spasms, bronchial spasms, circulatory disorders. In case the medication has been injected into a vein, you can try to put a tourniquet on your arm to prevent further spread of the drug or attach ice to the site of the injection. However, do not rely on these measures, as a rule, they do not bring much effect and can only help a little before the arrival of an ambulance.
Allergic reactions can cause not only counterfeit medicines, but also produced according to all rules and with observance of all norms. However, counterfeiting can enhance the body's response or cause an allergy to a medicine that the patient has never had an allergy to. This is also dangerous use of counterfeit drugs, the reaction of the human body to them can be unpredictable and it may take a long time to determine what exactly caused the allergy.
Sadly, every year the situation with counterfeit goods on the Russian market is getting worse. According to experts, the share of fakes in our country is about one-third of all goods sold. Medicines in the rating of fakes occupy the honorable fifth place.
But if you can still put up with the forgery of clothes or detergents, the counterfeiting of medicines poses a serious threat to our life and health, and given the scale of the problem, this is a direct threat to the health of the entire nation.
According to the World Health Organization, about 5% of all drugs on the world market are counterfeit, in Russia this figure is much higher and reaches 30%, also applies to other developing countries. Last year, losses incurred by pharmaceutical companies due to the sale of fakes in the market amounted to about 75 billion dollars and this is almost twice as much as 5 years ago.
Forging any goods, criminals, of course, do not care at all about the quality of the goods or the observance of production technology. Their main focus and strength are aimed at accurately simulating the appearance of the product and its packaging. If it is a medicinal product in the form of tablets, scammers try to repeat the appearance of the original as precisely as possible, to make the tablet identical in shape, color and even weight. In the case of ampoules or, for example, ointments, the main role will be played by color and consistency.
The same applies to packaging. But since the attackers, as a rule, do not have the necessary equipment and materials, the packaging of the counterfeit medicine can be distinguished from the original by eye. So, the counterfeit medicine can differ from the original in the form and color of the tablets themselves, the color and quality of the cardboard and foil from which the packaging is made, the color and type of the inscriptions on the package, the quality of the engraving on the tablet, the quality of applying the series number and the expiration date of the drug.
However, it should be remembered that not all fakes contain all of the above differences. A qualitative counterfeit can contain only one or two traits, and they may differ for different packs of the same medicine.
There are also cases when counterfeiting was detected because of the spelling errors contained in the instruction or on the packaging.
Each drug should be carefully inspected before purchase, also it should be done at home, just before taking. Perhaps such seemingly excessive vigilance will help you to protect yourself and your loved ones from accepting substandard medicines, and can also help many of our fellow citizens. A huge number of medicines is withdrawn from the sale due to calls of vigilant consumers.
Below are tips on how you can avoid buying a counterfeit drug or recognize a counterfeit.
1. Acquire medicines only in pharmacies. Each pharmacy should have a list of falsified medicines or medicines that were rejected by Roszdravnadzor. Do not purchase medicines in institutions that do not inspire confidence in you. This is just the case when it is not superfluous to be safe.
2. Carefully study the packaging of the drug before buying, do not just look a quick glance. Counterfeit can produce spelling mistakes, unevenly printed inscriptions, color and quality of the cardboard from which the packaging is made. Pay attention to how the series is applied and the expiration date. The instruction should also not cause suspicion. It is applied to white paper, with a high-quality printed font, the barcode should be clearly marked and clearly distinguishable.
3. You can check the authenticity of the medicinal product by contacting the information service "FarmControl" by phone (495) 737-75-25 or go to the website on the Internet at pharmcontrol.ru. This service was specially created to inform the public about rejected and falsified medicines. All identified counterfeit medicines should be reported to the police. The sale of counterfeit drugs is a crime and is prosecuted by law.
Remember, an allergic reaction to counterfeit medicines can damage your health!