FDA cautions consumers against filling Rxs abroad

The FDA is warning healthcare professionals and consumers that filling their prescriptions abroad may have adverse health consequences because of confusion with drug brand names that could inadvertently lead consumers to take the wrong medication for their condition. An FDA investigation has found that many foreign medications, although marketed under the same or similar-sounding brand names as those in the U.S., contain different active ingredients than domestic drugs do. Taking a different active ingredient may not help, and may even harm, the users. For more information, visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/reports/confusingnames.html.