THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has alerted the public about the proliferation of counterfeit versions of three popular medicines in the market.
The FDA, in Advisory No. 2025-0508, said counterfeit versions of ibuprofen (Medicol® Advance) 200 mg soft gel capsule, ibuprofen + paracetamol (Alaxan® FR) 200 mg/ 325 mg capsule, and loperamide hydrochloride (Diatabs®) 2 mg Capsule are being sold in pharmacies and drugstores.
“All healthcare professionals and the general public are hereby warned as to the availability of these counterfeit drug products in the market,” said the FDA.
“FDA advises the public against the purchase and use of the counterfeit version of the following products,” it added.
The FDA said the lot number, knurling, and print appearance of the counterfeits are different from the standard features of the registered products.
Counterfeit drug/medicine refers to products with the correct ingredients but not in the amounts as provided, wrong ingredients, without active ingredients, or with insufficient quantity of active ingredient, which result in the reduction of the drug’s safety, efficacy, quality, strength, or purity.
The FDA said consumption of counterfeit medicines may lead to adverse health effects and may “pose potential danger or injury to consumers.”
