Watch out for fake drugs promising weight loss and sexual performance-FDA warns:

Jojy Cheriyan MD;MPH- March 5,2013

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to be on the lookout for fraudulent drugs promising a “miracle cure” for weight loss or sexual performance.

Health care fraud is a perennial issue and difficult to trace when the scammers sell online.

Online marketing with pop-up ads and temporary websites make it difficult for the FDA to track all fraudulent products.

Many websites have been shut down by the regulators but unfortunately after sometime they may reappear in different websites with different names.

In the last three years, the FDA has cracked down more than 100 illegally marketed weight-loss products containing Sibutramine. It was banned in October 2010 because studies reported that Sibutramine can cause heart attacks and strokes. In 2010, a weight-loss drug called Meridia, which listed Sibutramine as its active ingredient, was pulled from the market but is still sold online in different names.

There are many pills sold online for enhancing sexual pleasure which contain fake ingredients and not FDA approved. Some of these fake drugs are reported to cause diabetes and hypertension.

Scammers also promote their products through newspapers, magazines and TV commercials.

FDA also warns consumers to be careful about the "personal testimonies" which are not a substitute for scientific data.

FDA also cautions against marketing terms intended to mislead consumers like 'new discovery', 'scientific breakthrough', or 'secret ingredient'.

If a real cure for a serious disease was discovered, it would be widely reported through the media and prescribed by health professionals . Such information is never buried in print ads or internet ads or TV commercials.
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