MHRA cracks down on counterfeit and unlicensed drugs

The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has seized fake and counterfeit medicine worth millions of pounds, as part of their crackdown on multi-million pound trade in fake and unlicensed medicines amid fears that the counterfeit and unlicensed drugs are causing potential health risks.
Investigators have been monitoring websites advertising Kamagra, an Indian version of Viagra, not licensed for sale in Britain.  Senior enforcement investigator Danny Lee-Frost says: “No-one involved in those websites is medically qualified. None of the products are licensed or tested. “

MHRA ceizes fake drugs

The operation is the largest internet-targeting enforcement action of its kind, with 80 countries participating in this year’s event, the MHRA said. Across the world, 55 people were arrested or placed under investigation. In conjunction with UKBA, the MHRA seized illegal medicine worth about £2 million, including 52,000 doses of counterfeit pills.

About 1.2 million suspect doses were discovered in or en route to the UK during a seven-day crackdown on rogue websites selling treatments for an array of conditions including erectile dysfunction, weight loss, hair loss, epilepsy and cancer. More than £5 million-worth of these unlicensed pharmaceuticals was found all over the world in the largest operation of its kind.

Nearly 13,000 websites selling fake drugs have been taken down by investigators from the MHRA. The Interpol-led operation, which concluded on Tuesday, came after two English schoolgirls were admitted to hospital with heart problems caused by weight loss pills bought online.

There has been a rise in the number of people purchasing drugs from these sites, as cash-strapped Britons try to save money. A growing number of people are diagnosing their own medical problems and buying medication online, which has led to a surge in trade in fake and illegitimate drugs that are being supplied without a prescription.

Bogus treatments for epilepsy, asthma, acne, narcolepsy, breast cancer, erectile dysfunction, weight loss, pain relief and human growth hormone drugs were found in raids at a number of locations including Brighton, Wembley, in north west London, and Ebbw Vale, near Cardiff.

Many of the drugs are made in China, Russia or India with the fake pharmacy websites being run by Chinese or Russian criminal organisations but the MHRA has discovered a pharmaceutical drugs factory in London.
The MHRA points to a recent survey of GPs suggesting a quarter had treated patients made ill by drugs bought online.

Its advice is not to buy anything off the internet without a prescription. Legal internet pharmacies should always ask for one, or have an online consultation service with a qualified GMC doctor.
Always make sure the pharmacy shows its registered logo and registered pharmacy number with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Viagra helps woman to have first baby

A recent story in the Times of India has reported on a lady called Poonkudi who

was having health difficulties whilst pregnant. In the 24th week of Poonkudi's pregnancy 

Viagra was given due to rising blood pressure complications which was endangering the

life of the unborn child.

Her doctors at Jaslok Hospital said if she managed to deliver a live child after four ill-fated pregnancies, it was Viagra that deserved a pat on the back.

Poonkudi's story began over six months ago. The 27-year-old wife of an electrician came to gynaecologist Dr Sudeshna Ray on the recommendation of a parish friend. "At 221/150, her blood pressure was high when she came to us at three-and-a-half months of pregnancy,'' said Dr Ray. Almost immediately the rush to keep the pregnancy going began: Poonkudi was confined to hospital, with round-the-clock monitoring and tests.

A detailed examination revealed her problem—a narrowed right renal artery that was causing blood pressure to build up.

According to Dr Bahadur, every known anti-hypertensive drug was prescribed to Poonkudi in over the usual dosage. A procedure to put a stent in the shrunken artery was abandoned, as it was found to be unfeasible. That is when Dr Bahadur drew upon his previous experience with sildenafil.

Thus, in the 24th week of Poonkudi's pregnancy, sildenafil was started in double the usually recommended dosage, said Dr Bahadur. "We then managed to get her pressure down to acceptable limits,'' he added. It still wasn't smooth sailing; resident doctors and nurses were worried throughout Poonkudi's four-month hospital stay about a possible convulsion brought on by the rising pressure.

Said Dr Ray, "We had to do extensive research using journals, we talked to experts abroad to ascertain the dosages and we were worried about the child's condition in her mother's womb.'' To ensure that she didn't have pre-eclampsia (very high blood pressure with high protein in urine that needs urgent Caesarean section), weekly Doppler and sonography checks were done.

In the 29th week, the daily Doppler test showed high resistance in blood flow patterns. "So within 24 hours, we operated, and her daughter, weighing just 940 grams, was born,'' she added.