(CBS News) Fake Adderall pills that contain the wrong ingredients are being sold online to unwitting consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Tuesday.
The FDA’s lab tests of counterfeit versions of Teva Pharmaceutical’s Adderall 30 milligram tablets that were purchased on the Internet revealed that the pills contained the painkillers tramadol and acetaminophen instead of its normal amphetamine-based active ingredients.
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Adderall is a prescription amphetamine salts-based pill that is approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and narcolepsy.
The news is worrisome because Adderall is currently listed on the FDA’s drug shortage list, and the agency says rogue websites and distributors may especially target medicines in short supply for counterfeiting. HealthPop reported in January that widespread Adderall shortages in the U.S. are expected through 2012, with blame being passed between the Drug Enforcement Administration and Teva Pharmaceuticals.
The FDA says Adderall 30 mg may be counterfeit if:
- The product comes in a blister package. Authentic Adderall is packaged only in 100-count bottles.
- There are misspellings on the package: “NDS” instead of “NDC;” “Aspartrte” instead of “Aspartate;” “Singel” instead of “Single.”
- The tablets are white in color, round in shape, smooth and contain no markings on them. Real Adderall 30 mg tablets are round, orange/peach-colored, and marked with “dp” on one side and “30” on the other side of the tablet
Anyone who believes they have the counterfeit Adderall tablets should not take or should stop taking the product and talk to their doctor about their condition and treatment options.
Consumers should be extra cautious when buying their medicines from online sources, the FDA said. Here are some tips to make sure your medication is safe and not counterfeit.
