FDA Warns of Dangers of Internet Drugs

Enews ^ | February 18, 2007 | Associated Press

[aculeus]

WASHINGTON - Consumers who thought they were purchasing sleep aids, antidepressants and other drugs over the Internet instead were shipped a powerful anti-psychotic, sending some unwitting victims to the emergency room, federal health officials warned Friday.

The Food and Drug Administration said a number of consumers took the schizophrenia drug, haloperidol, after being shipped what they thought were a variety of different pills, including Ambien, a sleep aid, and the anti-anxiety medications Xanax and Ativan. Others thought they were getting the antidepressant Lexapro.

Preliminary analysis of the pills, packaged in plain plastic bags and mailed in envelopes bearing Greek postmarks, suggest they contain haloperidol. The FDA said it had reports of several consumers seeking emergency medical treatment for symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, muscle spasms and muscle stiffness after taking the pills.

The FDA used the occasion to remind consumers of the possible dangers of buying prescription drugs on the Web.

The FDA posted images of the suspect pills and their shipping packages on its Web site - http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/photos/haloperidol.html - to help consumers identify any suspect product they may have ordered.

Consumers apparently ordered the drugs through a variety of commercial Web sites. The FDA said it was investigating.

[FunkyZero]

Ok, I knew spammers weren't doing this for fun, but now that it's been verified, I can't believe someone actually sent money to one of these places and swallowed a pill that they sent back!
GEEZUS... the stupidity of it all.

[CheyennePress]

Anyone crazy enough to buy pills in a plastic bag with no label at all is just asking for it.

I can't believe there are people who would actually take these...

Ordering over the internet is one thing. Ordering something with no real labels is more than just a little careless...

[Gorzaloon]

Ordering over the internet is one thing. Ordering something with no real labels is more than just a little careless...

And buying something advertised by spam is another order of magnitude beyond that.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Here where I live we have a problem with drug addicts purchasing meds like synthetic narcotics, opiates and tranquilizers over the internet. A friend of mine who works delivers for Federal Express here said his company stopped delivering a lot of this stuff because of the hassle. He said as soon as he drove into our town in the morning people would interrupt him on his rounds to ask if he had their "package." I've read that the North Koreans are deep into this racket.

[mgstarr]

I'm sure this will be used as the pretext for further government crackdown and legislation. Afterall, they have our best interests at heart...

[Publius6961]

Anyone crazy enough to buy pills in a plastic bag with no label at all is just asking for it.
I can't believe there are people who would actually take these...

Natural selection at work...

[dawn53]

I'd never buy drugs over the internet...BUT, that doesn't mean you don't face dangers of mistakes from your local pharmacy.

I was hospitalized after receiving the wrong dosage of a drug...the pharmacy misread the doctor's Rx.

Stats show that approx. 1.5 million medication errors are made every year.

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11623

[aculeus]

Haldol was used by the Soviets to control dissidents.

[Tennessee_Bob]

HALOPERIDOL (Haldol®) helps to treat schizophrenia. Haloperidol can help you to keep in touch with reality and reduce your mental problems. Haloperidol can help to control tics and vocal outbursts in patients with Tourette's syndrome and treat behavioral problems in children with severe conduct disorders (hyperactivity, mood swings, aggressive behavior, or difficulty maintaining attention). Generic haloperidol injections are available.

Maybe we need to start sending it to democrats...