Table of Contents

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 1 in 10 medicines worldwide is fake or substandard. Pfizer alone has identified over 100 counterfeit versions of its drugs in more than 100 countries, with Viagra (sildenafil) and Lipitor (atorvastatin) among the most frequently copied.

Although counterfeit operations often target developing nations, fake medicines are increasingly finding their way into the US, Canada, and European countries, posing real risks to patients. Beyond the economic damage, these fakes can cost lives.

Knowing how to recognize and respond to counterfeit medicines is essential to protecting your health.

How Fake Medicines Can Harm Your Health

Counterfeit medicines may:

  • Contain no active ingredient, leaving illnesses untreated.
  • Contain too little active ingredient, causing sub-therapeutic dosing and risking drug resistance, as seen with antibiotics.
  • Contain too much active ingredient, risking overdose or toxicity.
  • Contain wrong active ingredient or harmful contaminants, such as industrial chemicals or illicit drugs. Health Canada warns that some counterfeit prescription medicines have been found with substances like heroin or fentanyl.

If you rely on the medicine for a serious condition, the consequences may be severe or life-threatening.

How to Tell If a Medicine Is Fake

Here are some of the most reliable warning signs that a medicine might be counterfeit or falsified. While none of these signs guarantees the drug is fake, they are red flags you should not ignore.

Packaging and label inconsistencies

Look carefully at the packaging. Some indicators of a counterfeit product include:

    • Spelling or grammar errors on the label or packaging. For example, the product name, manufacturer, or active ingredient wording.
    • Packaging that looks cheaper than usual, like blurred printing, low-quality labels, poor seal or sticker, tampered foil, or missing security features.
    • Differences in size, shape, and color of the medicine compared to what you are used to. For example, a pill that seems smaller, or a tablet with a different imprint or coating. Health Canada notes that if your drug suddenly differs in size, taste, shape, or color, you should question it.
    • Missing regulatory identifiers. In Canada, prescription drugs should carry an 8-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the label, confirming it has been reviewed and authorized for sale in Canada. Any drug sold without a DIN is not legally compliant, since the number ensures traceability for recalls, inspections, and quality monitoring of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

Note that even if the medicine looks correct, this does not guarantee that it is authentic. The CDC states, “It’s hard to spot counterfeit drugs, the only real way to know is through chemical analysis done in a laboratory.”

Suspicious source or purchasing channel

Confirm that the pharmacy is properly licensed and that it follows Canadian regulatory requirements. Some issues include:

    • Online pharmacies that do not require a valid prescription, or do not list a physical address or licensing information.
    • Pharmacies that claim to be in Canada but shift supply sourcing to other jurisdictions with weaker regulation.
    • If the price is significantly lower than typical for that medicine, or the seller pressures you to buy quickly, or claims “approved in Canada only” or “exported specially”. These may be marketing tactics for counterfeits.

Absence of expected safety features

Some pharmaceutical companies use advanced packaging features to make sure their medicines are genuine and difficult to copy.

Visible security marks like holograms or color-changing inks let you spot authenticity just by looking at the package. Some products also include hidden markers, such as invisible UV inks or tiny tracking chips (RFID tags) that can only be detected with special tools.

The track-and-trace system, such as Canada’s eight-digit DIN, assigns each medicine a unique code that can be tracked from the manufacturer to the pharmacy. This makes it easier to identify and block counterfeit products before they reach consumers.

Large manufacturers like Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline use a combination of these methods to protect their most frequently counterfeited medicines.

If you notice that your medicine is missing the usual markings, take it as a sign to double-check its authenticity.

What to Do If You Suspect You Received a Counterfeit Medicine

If you have concerns that the medicine you obtained may not be genuine, you should act swiftly to protect yourself. Here are the necessary steps:

    • Do not take further doses until you have confirmed its authenticity or switched to a trusted supply. Taking suspect medicine may cause ineffective treatment or harmful side effects. The FDA warns that counterfeit medicines “may contain the wrong ingredients, too much, too little or no active ingredient at all, or contain other harmful ingredients.”

    • Contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist and explain your concerns. They may be able to compare with prior supplies and advise you on switching, monitoring, or disposing of the product.

    • Contact the original manufacturer of the medicine. Many companies maintain records of lot numbers and may tell you whether yours matches a genuine release. Pfizer suggests that the manufacturer might identify your batch number as suspicious.

    • Report the incident. You may report to the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations if you suspect you received a counterfeit medicine. If you bought via an online pharmacy or platform, notify them as well and keep records (screenshots, payment records).

    • Dispose of the product safely. Do not share it with others. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance or local disposal guidelines for prescription drugs.

    • Switch to a trusted source. Obtain your medicine via a known licensed pharmacy, ideally one you have used before. In the future, avoid taking risks with unknown sources.

Before You Accept and Use the Medicine

Here is a simple checklist you can follow to build your confidence that your medicine from Canada is likely genuine:

  • The platform you used is licensed and gives full contact information, pharmacist’s name, and licensing/province info.
  • The manufacturer’s name and product appear clearly on the label.
  • Drug carries the appropriate Canadian identifier (DIN) or other regulatory number.
  • Packaging and tablets match the previous purchase or the manufacturer’s sample (shape, color, imprint).
  • Tablets/capsules are intact, unbroken, free from excess powder, no odd smells, no unusual texture.
  • Lot number and expiry date are present, legible, and correspond to the expected shelf life.
  • Price is within a reasonable range and not suspiciously low.
  • Shipping documentation is appropriate (addressed to you, includes prescriptions, traceable).
  • When you open the package, the seals are intact, no signs of tampering.

If any of these items raise concern, treat the medicine as suspect until you verify authenticity.

Tips for Ongoing Vigilance After You Start the Medicine

Even after you’ve done your checks and accepted the medicine, keep monitoring:

    • Effectiveness – Are you getting the therapeutic benefit you expect? If not, ask if it’s due to the medicine or another cause. Failure to respond may indicate an issue with potency or authenticity.
    • Side effects – Are there any new or unexpected side effects? Counterfeits may cause unpredictable reactions.
    • Packaging and refill changes – If you refill later and the packaging or tablets differ noticeably from the first supply, treat that as a red flag and repeat your checks.
    • Price/supply changes – If the pharmacy suddenly offers a lower price for a product you were already using, question whether the supply chain has changed.
    • Recalls or alerts – Stay aware of manufacturer or regulatory safety alerts regarding your medicine, lot numbers, or supply chain problems.
    • Documentation storage – Keep the packaging, lot number, expiry date papers, and receipt handy in case you need to report an issue.

How We Guarantee Every Medicine You Get Is 100% Authentic

Your safety is our highest priority, which is why every product we dispense comes from licensed Canadian pharmacies. Each medicine we ship carries an official Drug Identification Number (DIN), confirming that it has been reviewed and authorized for sale in Canada.

We source directly from approved manufacturers and wholesalers, and never from secondary or international gray markets. Our supply chain follows strict cold-chain and traceability standards to keep every product safe and stable during transport. Before any package is shipped, it is thoroughly inspected to confirm the lot number, expiry date, and packaging integrity.

If you ever have concerns about a product, our support team will help you verify its origin and authenticity immediately and coordinate with the dispensing pharmacy to ensure resolution or replacement.

Sources

Counterfeiting | Pfizer. (n.d.). https://www.pfizer.com/products/medicine-safety/counterfeiting

Pathak, R., Gaur, V., Sankrityayan, H., & Gogtay, J. (2023). Tackling Counterfeit Drugs: The Challenges and Possibilities. Pharmaceutical medicine, 37(4), 281–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40290-023-00468-w

Counterfeit Medicines | Travelers’ Health | CDC. (n.d.). CDC.gov. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/counterfeit-medicine

Research, C. F. D. E. A. (2025, June 20). Counterfeit medicine. U.S. Food And Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/counterfeit-medicine

Health Canada. (2022, March 7). Counterfeit prescription drugs. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/counterfeit.html

Health Canada. (2024, December 2). Drug Identification Number (DIN). Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/fact-sheets/drug-identification-number.html

W. (n.d.). How to identify fake medicines | Pfizer. https://www.pfizer.com/news/articles/how_to_identify_fake_medicines

World Health Organization: WHO. (2024, December 3). Substandard and falsified medical products. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/substandard-and-falsified-medical-products

Related Articles