71 drugs fail quality test: How to identify if your medications are safe

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recently identified 71 medications as "spurious" or "not of standard quality" (NSQ), including essential antibiotics and diabetes medications. Consumers must learn to verify medication safety to avoid counterfeit drugs

Sumit Jha

Published Oct 27, 2024 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 27, 2024 | 1:29 PM

How to identify if your medications are safe

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recently flagged 71 medications as either “spurious” or “not of standard quality” (NSQ), including essential drugs like antibiotics, cough syrups, diabetes medications, and blood pressure pills.

Among these, some were popular brands like gastric medications and antibiotics, found to be ineffective or even harmful. With such findings, it’s crucial for consumers to know how to verify the safety and authenticity of their medications to avoid counterfeit or substandard drugs.

Understanding spurious and NSQ drugs

Spurious Drugs: These are counterfeit medications designed to mimic legitimate brands, often with incorrect or missing active ingredients, which may pose serious health risks. Common examples include brand imitations of well-known medications like Glenmark’s Telmisartan and Sun Pharma’s Pantoprazole, which were found to lack any connection to the original manufacturers.

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NSQ Drugs: NSQ (Not of Standard Quality) drugs fail regulatory quality checks, often due to issues like incorrect dosages, poor dissolution rates, or inaccurate labelling. While not always immediately harmful, NSQ drugs can lead to ineffective treatment.

Steps to verify medication safety

Check the CDSCO Website for Updates
The CDSCO regularly publishes a monthly list of NSQ and spurious drugs, detailing medications that failed quality checks.
Consumers should review these updates to ensure their medications haven’t been flagged. Search the CDSCO’s official reports for the name, batch, and manufacturer details of your medication.

Here is the link: https://cdsco.gov.in/opencms/opencms/en/Notifications/Alerts/

Verify Packaging and Label Information

Inspect the Packaging: Authentic medications often come with high-quality packaging, clear labelling, and unique holograms. Look for signs of tampering, spelling errors, or low-quality printing—common indicators of counterfeits.
Manufacturer Details: Ensure the manufacturer’s name and licence details are clearly printed. Counterfeit drugs often imitate popular brands but may have small variations in name or missing details. There are many nutraceutical products in the name of drugs.
Check Batch Number and Expiry Date: Cross-check the batch number and expiry date on the package with the label on the blister pack or bottle. Any discrepancies can indicate a counterfeit product.

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Consult a Pharmacist or Doctor
Pharmacists and healthcare providers can often verify the legitimacy of a drug by cross-checking its batch and manufacturer details. They may also advise on alternatives if the drug seems ineffective or questionable.
Exercise Caution with Online Purchases
When buying medication online, only use reputable and licensed pharmacies to minimise the risk of counterfeit drugs. Look for reviews and verify the credentials of the online pharmacy before purchasing.
Examine Physical Characteristics of the Medication
Observe the shape, colour, and coating of tablets or capsules. Authentic medicines generally have a consistent appearance. Broken or irregular-looking tablets, or capsules that differ from usual colors or sizes, may signal counterfeit drugs.
Report Suspected Drugs to Health Authorities
If you suspect a drug is either NSQ or counterfeit, refrain from using it and report it to local health authorities or directly to the CDSCO.

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(Edited by Ananya Rao)