CDC warns of overdose risk from counterfeit medications ordered online

A current press launch from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) issued a stark warning to well being care officers, clinicians, and the general public concerning the rising threat of overdose amongst people ordering counterfeit prescription medicines from on-line pharmacies. The U.S. Division of Justice (DOJ) beforehand introduced felony fees towards 18 people working unlawful on-line pharmacies.

This warning has direct implications for sleep medication physicians, since many sufferers with sleep issues are prescribed managed substances. It’s unclear whether or not the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will tighten rules round prescribing managed substances through telehealth with out an in-person analysis, however coverage modifications might trigger sufferers with sleep issues to hunt medicines on-line.

In accordance with the CDC’s assertion, these illicit pharmacies are manufacturing, promoting, and distributing tens of millions of counterfeit tablets throughout the U.S. Many of those tablets, that are falsely marketed as legit prescription medicines, have been discovered to include harmful substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine. The CDC highlighted that these counterfeit tablets pose an excessive overdose threat, as consumers might unknowingly eat these deadly substances, resulting in severe well being issues or dying. This alarming pattern underscores the hazards of buying medicines from unregulated on-line sources, as these counterfeit merchandise usually resemble legit medication however include extremely poisonous elements.

FDA’s BeSafeRx marketing campaign helps customers discover ways to safely purchase prescription medicines on-line. AASM members can ship questions relating to counterfeit medicines ordered on-line to coding@aasm.org.