Are you sure about the authenticity of medicines you buy online or from a local shop? Do you know how to ensure that the medicines you are buying are real?

The implications of fake drugs or medicines could be lethal as there is a nexus operating in the market which manufactures fake drugs and packs them exactly similar to the original ones. Well, here is something for you:

 Easy Methods of examining the Authenticity

Visual Testing:
Look at the package carefully and examine if it looks different from what you know earlier. Next, you must check if the seal has been tampered with which can be found out easily by looking for cracks in the seal or sealing tapes.

You should also check for non-standard fonts or font sizes, package print quality and grammatical errors. You should also ensure that the MFD date, expiry date, and manufacturer’s details are all the same in both primary and secondary packages. Also, NAFDAC number is a sign of a regulated and genuine drug.

Tips from WHO:
WHO points out that fake medicine may contain fine extra powder and also some pieces of broken tablets at the base of the container. You may also notice crystals sticking on the walls of the package or tablet to the Swelling, hardening/softening or discoloration of the medicine in the package are also prominent signs of fake drugs.

Pharmacy Check:
Make sure that the pharmacy from where you are buying medicines is renowned and established one. Avoid buying from random vendors who source medicines on trucks and motor vehicles and sell on the streets.

Purchasing Cost:
If you feel that the medicine you are buying is way cheaper than expected or deviate a lot from the price you already know, then it must ring a bell in your brain and chances are that you are buying fake drugs. Although this is not an effective method as fake drugs can be sold at the same price to confuse customers.

Ineffective Consumption & Side Effects:
You already know that fake drugs do not contain the right ingredients and if you are experiencing too many side effects then you might have consumed fake medicine.

 Fake drugs or medicines can be lethal, and therefore the authenticity of the drugs holds prime importance. Some of the methods for testing are mentioned above.