KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasFake Viagra: Internet Buyers Beware

Fake Viagra: Internet Buyers Beware

(Sept. 28) -- Viagra is one of the hottest selling drugs in the world. It's widely prescribed for erectile dysfunction. But people who go online to get Viagra may end up buying a counterfeit medication. A local pharmacist tells us that fake Viagra is just the tip of the Internet iceberg.

The making and marketing of prescription drugs such as Viagra, is tightly regulated in the U.S. and it's a fairly safe bet that you're getting what you pay for. That's not always the case with Internet brands, especially those made in other countries. That's according to UMC clinical pharmacist, Don Frisch.

"Once you get outside of the United States, the production of this medication is not regulated to the point that the exact milligram amounts can vary widely from zero all the way to double or triple the amounts. So you worry about under dosage or over dosage. Even though you might not think that you are."

The high cost of pharmaceuticals in the U.S. motivates customers to go shopping online. But the safety or effectiveness of drugs purchased in cyberspace cannot always be assured and may even be hazardous to your health. This applies to much more than just the famous blue pill.

Frisch says, "This story can actually apply to every drug that's available on line, not just the Viagra. It's basically a principle of the buyer beware. You just never know what you're getting."

This is likely to be a growing problem with more buyers getting tangled in a world wide web of deception. Frisch says he anticipates that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

"I really think the problem is going to keep growing. As pharmacies are more available online from disreputable vendors."

The Food and Drug Administration has consumer safety tips for purchasing prescription drugs on-line:

Consumer Guide to Buying Prescriptions Online
Buying Medicines Online