Fake drugs are a real international problem
Updated by Joseph Stromberg on April 19, 2014, 9:00 a.m. ET @josephstromberg [email protected]
Recently, a team of Georgia Tech chemists analyzed the contents of 25 different types of emergency contraceptive pills (often called the morning-after pill and marketed as Plan B) bought in Lima, Peru.
28 PERCENT OF THE PILLS WERE COUNTERFEIT OR INEFFECTIVE
What they found is pretty concerning. Seven of them, or 28 percent, were either counterfeit or of such poor quality that they probably wouldn't work in preventing pregnancy.
Six of the samples had insufficient levels of the artificial hormone that prevents the release of an egg from the ovary (levonorgestrel) or were formulated incorrectly, so the hormone wouldn't be released properly as the pill dissolves in the body.
One type of pill simply contained an antibiotic that can cause rashes and even life-threatening skin conditions in people who are allergic to it, but does nothing to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Counterfeit drugs are an international problem.
Updated by Joseph Stromberg on April 19, 2014, 9:00 a.m. ET @josephstromberg [email protected]
Recently, a team of Georgia Tech chemists analyzed the contents of 25 different types of emergency contraceptive pills (often called the morning-after pill and marketed as Plan B) bought in Lima, Peru.
28 PERCENT OF THE PILLS WERE COUNTERFEIT OR INEFFECTIVE
What they found is pretty concerning. Seven of them, or 28 percent, were either counterfeit or of such poor quality that they probably wouldn't work in preventing pregnancy.
Six of the samples had insufficient levels of the artificial hormone that prevents the release of an egg from the ovary (levonorgestrel) or were formulated incorrectly, so the hormone wouldn't be released properly as the pill dissolves in the body.
One type of pill simply contained an antibiotic that can cause rashes and even life-threatening skin conditions in people who are allergic to it, but does nothing to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Counterfeit drugs are an international problem.
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