Counterfeits Make Up Large Percentage of Online Viagra Sales

Over the last year, evidence has been mounting that rogue online drug sellers are peddling dangerous counterfeit Viagra^® (sildenafil) to many people who bought the medication online, Forbes reports. Researchers at the 2012 World Meeting on Sexual Medicine presented on findings that 77% of the supposed Viagra obtained from 22 Web sites was fake. The research also noted that as many as 36 million consumers may have been exposed to counterfeit drugs of all types. The Forbes report also highlighted information from the NABP Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators (PDF) and cited the Association’s finding that of more than 10,500 Web sites selling prescription medications nearly 97% operate out of compliance with pharmacy laws and practice standards which have been established to protect public health in the United States and many other developed countries. The article also advised consumers to consult the list of recommended sites that have been accredited by the NABP Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites^CM (VIPPS^®) accreditation program. The list of VIPPS-accredited sites is available at www.AWARErx.org