Audience: consumers, pharmacists
June 17, 2010 — The FDA notified consumers and health care professionals about a potentially harmful product represented as "Generic Tamiflu" sold over the Internet. FDA tests revealed that the fraudulent product does not contain oseltamivir (Tamiflu's active ingredient), but contains cloxacillin (an ingredient in the same class of antibiotics as penicillin).
Patients who are allergic to penicillin products are at risk of experiencing similar reactions from cloxacillin, including anaphylaxis.
The FDA bought the fraudulent "Generic Tamiflu" without a prescription from a website claiming to be an online drugstore, but that web site is no longer operational. The FDA believes the fraudulent Tamiflu is likely to be sold on other websites. Legitimate online pharmacies are licensed by the appropriate U.S. Board of Pharmacy and carry the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) seal. Please see the VIPPS web site for a list of pharmacies carrying this seal.
Anyone encountering these fraudulent Tamiflu products should not use them and should contact the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations.
Any adverse events or side effects related to the use of this product can be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
