Counterfeit products containing medical active ingredients

Objective: Counterfeit and illegal drug trafficking is a worldwide problem. The most important substances of this trade include phosphodiesterase 5 enzyme inhibitors (PD5EI) which are used for the treatment of penil erection dysfunction, and weight loss products. These products are generally manufactured at clandestine laboratories and marketed under inappropriate conditions. The aim of this study was to examine these types of products, which have been seized by the judicial authorities in Turkey and to draw attention on the subject. Material and Methods: Products, non-alcoholic beverages and pharmaceutical compounds in the form of capsule, tablet or cream containing unlabeled sibutramine, PD5EI, and also products which were sold with these compounds seized by legal authorities and sent to the Council of Forensic Medicine for analysis between July-December 2011 were examined in this study. Results: The analysis of seized products revealed that 9 (69.2%) pharmaceutical compounds contained sildenafil, 3 (23.1%) contained local anesthetics, 1 (7.7%) contained sibutramine and beverages contained thiosildenafil. All of the products were counterfeit and they did not have a licence of production from legal authorities in Turkey or other countries, or import permission on their packages. Conclusion: Especially, PD5Is or weight loss products containing sibutramine which are widely marketed all over the world are also sold by illegal ways in our country, and because of inappropriate manufacturing and transport conditions, they cause a serious threat to public health.