The warning is based on the accumulated information made by the FDA that reveals two dozen websites apparently involved in distributing the sale of these drugs.
These include a counterfeit version of Xenical (120 mg) capsules from two different websites. The FDA-approved Xenical drug is manufactured by Hoffman-La Roche, Inc.
Xenical is manufactured and sold to help obese people lose weight and maintain it.
The counterfeit drug tested did not contain the active ingredient in the true form of Xenical. The clinical analysis conducted by Roche identified the ingredients in the counterfeit capsule submitted to them by the FDA confirming these findings. This particular counterfeit capsule contained a different active ingredient that is found in a different FDA-approved prescription drug made by Abbott Laboratories.
Although this particular substitute ingredient found in the counterfeit capsule is also used to help people lose and maintain weight, this ingredient should not be taken by certain persons, the drug interactions are different with the two drugs, and the dosages for these two drugs are also different.
The counterfeiters obviously mixed the ingredients of two different drugs together and sold the product with the one drug's brand name. This is potentially very dangerous.
Pictures of the counterfeit Xenical capsules are available for viewing on the FDA's website at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/photos/xenical.html.
The FDA warns consumers that the dangers are numerous in buying and consuming these counterfeit prescription drugs.
Samples of other drugs obtained from Internet websites found compositions of simple talc and starch. Yet others found validly drugs that were already expired.
There are several Internet drug sale websites under scrutiny of the FDA that are now under criminal investigation.
However, apparently these websites' businesses are being conducted outside the U.S.
