Imagine trusting a pill to cure your illness, only to find out it’s a fake medication. From counterfeit painkillers to bogus cough syrups, what’s inside these medications can be as dangerous as the illnesses they claim to cure.
Tee Percy from Mokopane in Limpopo shares his troubling experience that reflects the growing concern over fake medications. He recounts his encounter with flu treatment that left him feeling far worse than before.
“I had flu and tried medicine from an Indian spaza shop. It came very badly to my system, and it was not the first time.
“Fake medications nearly killed me for real. My body got easily tired at the same time. My body was feeling heavy, and my stomach was running and very painful. I now make sure that I buy from big, reliable stores.”
Tee Percy
Eric Krishen from Gauteng says his recent experience with fake medication nearly cost him his life.
“To anyone and everyone who regularly uses medication like me, please don’t ever consume any that you bought at Makuleng (Pakistan shops). Their medication nearly took my life until I went to a normal shop to buy it, only to find out that the medications were totally different.
“The fake one was very light in colour, and the original was dark. It doesn’t even cure headaches or anything. It just made my symptoms worse than ever.”
Quality compliance and production pharmacist Thabiso Nyawo from KwaZulu-Natal sheds light on the complexities and dangers of fake medications.
Spotting fake medication
According to him, medication can vary widely, from tablets and capsules to topical medicines like creams and ointments, as well as suspensions and syrups.
“The most commonly faked medications are tablets and capsules. Sometimes syrups and suspensions also have the potential of being fake. These often find their way onto the streets, where unqualified individuals sell them without authorisation.”
Spotting fake medication can be challenging but is crucial for safety. Nyawo explains that one way is through the side effects the fake medication may cause, especially if you are familiar with the real versions of the medication.
“Always pay attention to the physical appearance of the medicine. If the pills are cracked, opened, or if their structure seems off – perhaps they aren’t as hard as they should be, or they’re not compressed well, leaving behind excess powder and residue – then that could be a warning sign.”
Pharmacist Thabiso Nyawo
“If it’s a syrup or suspension, these should be uniform mixtures, so there shouldn’t be any particles as if it’s not well mixed together. A legitimate medication wouldn’t be released with such defects.”
Packaging can also provide clues, as Nyawo states that fake medications often come in boxes that look suspiciously different from genuine products.
“If you notice fading colour, poor-quality box materials, or the wording is off, especially on the batch details, that’s another red flag.
“Companies have very specific formats for printing batch numbers and expiry dates. If the font seems off from what you’re used to, that might be counterfeit.”
‘People put anything in it’
He also stresses that all registered medications should include a patient information leaflet.
“Every medication that is registered should have a patient information leaflet for the patient to read through. A medication box shouldn’t be too plain; it should have information for proper storage conditions, directions for usage, and a patient information leaflet.”
Nyawo warns of the serious health risks associated with fake medications. “The ingredients used in counterfeit medicine are unknown and unregulated.
“People who are in it for a quick buck may include anything in those pills, which could lead to severe health complications because the substances included are not tested or certified.”
Pharmacist Thabiso Nyawo
“Finding cough syrup medication usually found in pharmacies being sold in the streets is a red flag. These sellers are not qualified resellers, and you’re not sure where they got the medicine from. But when you buy in a pharmacy or health shop, you have some assurance that it is indeed legitimate.”
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