Saturday, October 14, 2017

The Philippines Fake Drug War

Despite shifting authority from the PNP to the PDEA Duterte's war on drugs is raging full speed ahead. The foundations aren't so shaky. There really is a problem with shabu in this country. There's also a problem with alcohol.  But perhaps the most dangerous problem is the relative ease with which fake drugs are being sold in the Philippines. 

At a pet supply store amoxicillin was being sold for 5 pesos a pill. 





Not only is amoxicillin sold only by prescription but this particular amoxicillin is fake and was recalled by the FDA in 2013.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/554893/fda-recalls-antibiotic-manufactured-in-china
In an advisory posted on its website, the FDA warned the public against buying Amoxicillin (Ambimox) 500 mg capsule with batch number 130216 and registration number DE- XY40623.  
The drug was manufactured by CSPC Zhongnuo Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a Chinese company, and imported and distributed by AMB HK Enterprises.  
“Based on the result of laboratory analysis conducted by FDA, it was found that the label claim of Amoxicillin (Ambimox) 500 capsule is below the required potency,” said the advisory, which was signed by Kenneth Hartigan-Go, FDA acting director general.  
Since “it provides only a sub-optimal dose of amoxicillin,” the FDA finds the sale of the product as a risk to the safety and health of the public.  
The FDA likewise ordered all drug retail outlets to discontinue selling the product and warned doctors against prescribing the drug.
Despite being recalled by the FDA four years ago this fake medicine is still being sold in stores and online.

http://www.muramed.com/store/detail/amoxicillin-ambimox-capsule

Just google "fake medicine Philippines" and 1,270,000 results show up. This is a real problem.  Much worse than fake honey or fake Nike's.  Medicine is supposed to heal but fake medicine can only harm. So what's being done about it?  Who is monitoring the situation?  Has anyone been arrested or shot for endangering the public health by selling fake medicine?

44 comments:

  1. What will happen if you accidentally consume it? Please consider my question

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    1. Best case scenario nothing. Worst can scenario you die.

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    2. Is cspc ambimox amoxicillin fake. ?? By amb

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  2. AMB still selling this amoxicillin(ambimox 500)

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    1. This is fake? Why fake? Please explain... I have 1 box.

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  3. Is this for real?..awhile ago..i went to the hospital and the doctor actually gave me this drug to cure my cough..the medicine is not well-packed, is in a resealable bag without any mg(name is only written on the capsule)that's why i search for it.

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    1. Your doctor gave you antibiotics to cure a cough? That sounds real bad. Do you have any more of those pills left? Perhaps you should contact the FDA and speak with your doctor about it.

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  4. Yes, it's true. They are still selling it. I bought amoxicillin and they gave me CSPC AMB ambimox 500 mg. capsule

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  5. Ow no,. I already consumed two capsules when i read this,. So that's why it's not effective in my swollen skin,. Shit

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  6. Heck! yet they're still selling it on some pharmacies???????no wonder my cough isn't getting any better...

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  7. may agent nag nagiikot sa mga sari sari store at nagpapakilalang taga unilab daw sila, amox ambimox ang binibenta nila, bat sila pinapagayagan mag distibute ni unilab?

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    1. Ako din nkakuha sa agent.. Unilab nga daw cla.buti nlang 10 amox lang nakuha ko kc pag search ko fakenpala

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    2. kkabili k lng dn now. pero nakainom n ko, bgla ngyon q lnq nlaman

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  8. i'm using it Amoxicillin (AMBIMOX) cause i have UTI, is this true that this med. is fake? i hope someone can answer my question

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  9. Amoxicillin CSPC AMB AMBIMOX 500mg capsule is it fake?

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  10. Yan ang nbili q na amoxicilin ngayon kaya pala wlang effect...buti nlng ngresearch aq dahil npnsin ko kasi parang hindi gumagaling sugat q

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  11. yan ang nabili ko pero nagtaka ako dahil bakit malambot ung balot nun inumin ko ng morning pagdating nang 12noon sobrang sakit na ng ulo ko na parang minamartilyo pang 2 times ko nainom un. Fake pala kaya ganun effect ssa aki

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  12. Oh sh*t ,i just consumed 10 caps of this meds ,no wonder it did not work!I JUST searching it and this is what i found out ,amoxicillin ambimox is fake!,what will happen now i already ingested 10caps of it? Anyone can answer pls? Thanks

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  13. hello to those who have taken this medicine. I have already taken 11 capsules when I found out about this. I'm also having headache whenever I take it. How about you? How are you guys today? :(

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  14. Totoo po ba eto..KC Yan ngaun Ang iniinom ko KC my tonssil ako...

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  15. I have took this today. Huhu.buti na lang isang beses ko pa lang nainom. Ano na po balita sa mga nakainom nito? May nangyari po bang masama? ���� Ganyan na ganyan sa picture yung natake ko red and white ����

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    1. I think there is a specific batch of ambimox that is fake which already recalled last 2013 to 14. I just went to my dentist today and she gave me ambimox. Ill ask her later regarding this. I hope this is not fake.

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  16. Yan din bugay sakin ng center dito sa amin. I took2 capsules palang. Is it really true?

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  17. Fake din yung nabili ko. Na curious ako bakit mura. Buti di ko pa nainum for my teeth

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  18. I just consume 1 capsule for my toothache. Is this really fake?

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  19. Omg tatlo na po nainom ko na cspc amoxicillin ambimox may infection po kasi ako sa tenga ano po kaya ang magiging epekto nito ngayon ko lang po nabasa na peke pala:(

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  20. Ako din naka bili isang banig ng ambimox dito sa las piñas ko nabili 50 pesos lang

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  21. just want to ask if this is fake 707190375 EXP 03/22, pls po. kc naka bili po ako dalawang banig with doctor's precipitation

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  22. just want to ask if this is fake 707190375 EXP 03/22, pls po. kc naka bili po ako dalawang banig with doctor's precipitation

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  23. I have swollen gums now due to toothache. I cannot go to the hospital due to community quarantine there is no transpo in our place. I just bought ambimox with batch number 707190722 exp.7/22 is this potent? I could not find any other remedy for my swollen gums 😔 I also read the FDA warning about ambimox just now but it was only on a specific batch in 2013 was this not lifted?

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  24. Same here😢 nkakailan na ako😭 kakainom ko lang uli ngayon

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  25. my god..its only now that i search about this drug bcoz my daughter had a toothache and swollen gums..and bcoz we're on locked down..theres no way to consult a doctor..so i went to a nearby store and asked and i was surprised they have this ambimox on sale so i bought 4 pcs for 6 pesos each..but what i am wondering is that..as far as i know you cannot buy antibiotic if you have no prescription..and thats why i was curious kng fake or totoo so i search and the comments here shocks me..but my daughter swollen gums and toothaches also gumaling din....ang tanong ko po..bakit ba hanggang ngayon nkakalusot prin ito while noong 2013 pa pla pina recall..ganun ba kaluwag ang FDA ng pilipinas?pano pla pg puro nlng fake tong mga nabibili natin?..saka ano po ba ang pweding side effect nito sa tao ng fake na AMBIMOX?..Thanks po sa makapag paliwanag.

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  26. I am drinking this for 3 months until now because my cough it's hard my chest and my back is paining while am coughing pleam is yellow and sometimes is green.
    .
    My God heal me.

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  27. Hello everyone.
    The product recall was for a specific lot number, meaning that a certain batch of the manufactured drug was found to be unsuitable for use. However, with a quick Google search of the product, you can find that it has already been allowed to enter the market. (https://ww2.fda.gov.ph/index.php/industry-corner/common-services-laboratory-all-registered-products-with-notifications-clearances-and-certifications/batch-notification/672678-BN-OL-2020-04-23-0199). This means that they were able to correct whatever went wrong with the specific batch and were able to satisfy the necessary regulations.
    If you were able to buy Ambimox from a pharmacy, I'm sure that the Pharmacist was able to countercheck and ensure that the products they are selling aren't coutnerfeit drugs. That is part of their job. I suggest that you contact your nearest pharmacies if you have any drug-related questions because when it comes to actual drugs or medicine, pharmacists are supposed to be the experts.

    Also, a gentle reminder that antibacterials are only to be taken with a prescription from a dactor. This is to avoid the development of antibacterial resistance. You need a doctor to confirm that you have an actual bacterial infection. Amoxicillin is not for pain or is not to be taken regulary as a maintenance medication.

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  28. Ako nakainom ako ng mga 2 capsules kasi nga namamaga yung neck ko due to na iritate ang skin ko s kati, i search fake pala ito tama nga b? Sa sari sari stores ko lang ito nabili

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    1. Hello po. Tandaan po na ang antibacterial tulad ng amoxicillin ay hindi para sa skin irritation o sa kati. Kailangan po ng reseta para maka bili neto. Wag po sana tayo bumili ng mga gamot sa mga sari sari store kasi wala namon po sila lisensya para mag benta ng mga prescription drugs. Posibleng peke ang mga nabibili na prescription drugs sa mga sari sari store.

      Kung pumunta ka lang sana sa botika makakabili ka ng over-the-counter antihistamine tulad ng cetirizine. Mas mura pa yon at para talaga sa kati.

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  29. Nakabili po ako ng ambimox 500mg 1banig (P40) dhil namamaga ang ngipin ko. Ngyon ko lng nabasa na fake pala ito. It this true. What will be the effect if I took a fake medicine.

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  30. Batch no. 707190802 Exp 08/2022 ambimox is this really fake

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  31. 707180914 exp 09/2021 fake po ba or hindi?? Salamat sa sasagot

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  32. 707180914 exp 09/2021 fake po ba or hindi?? Salamat sa sasagot

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  33. Uhhmm.. Sabi sa article fake yung Amoxicillin based dun sa batch no. and registration. Kung yung nabili nyong Amoxicillin is same ng batch no. dito sa nakapost na article 100% fake yan pero kung ibang batch no. ang nalagay sa amox nyo siguro naman nagawan nila ng aksyon so after the following batch hindi na sya fake. Most of the comments kase, asking if fake si Amox. Ambimox when its clearly stated naman sa article.

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    1. Yup ang daming mga di nagbabasa.

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