Counterfeit drugs

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) defines counterfeit medicine as fake medicine. It may be contaminated or contain the wrong or no active ingredient. They could have the right active ingredient but at the wrong dose. Counterfeit drugs are illegal and may be harmful to your health.

Counterfeit medicines are not authentically approved products. For this reason, consuming them may be dangerous because they may contain little to no active ingredient (the medicine that makes the drug work) and may not deliver the therapeutic benefit that the patient needs. On the other hand, counterfeit products may contain too much active ingredient or other unapproved ingredients, which could also be dangerous to the patient’s health.

Furthermore, counterfeit products may contain harmful ingredients and may be contaminated because they are made in substandard, unregulated, and/or unsanitary environments with no concern for quality or safety.

Consumers may not know that they have received a counterfeit medicine because counterfeiters attempt to mimic authentic product. For this reason, it is important to purchase your products from a reputable licensed source. A reputable licensed source from whom you are obtaining your product is the best way to ensure the safety of your product.

If you suspect that you may have received a counterfeit medicine, contact the source from which you obtained the product, your healthcare professional or Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-800-721-5072.

Know your product, and evaluate your product and packaging carefully. Check the color, texture, taste, shape and packaging each time you get your prescription filled.

Make sure that you understand the source from which you obtained your medicine, such as a licensed pharmacist or pharmacy.

Ask for your medicine in the product manufacturer’s original packaging if possible.

If you suspect that you may have received a counterfeit medicine, contact the source from which you obtained the product, your healthcare professional, or Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-800-721-5072.

See the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Buying Prescription Medicine Online: A Consumer Safety Guide for their guidance on safe buying practices.

See the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s information on Drug Integrity and Supply Chain Security.

See the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s information on Cargo Thefts.