Medicines board issues warning over online drugs
The IMB issued the warning after Revenue disclosed an upsurge in the number of tablets seized by Customs at entry points into Ireland last year.
According to Revenue figures, 1.258 million tablets were seized in 2011, while 1.248 million were seized in 2010.
A Revenue spokeswoman said yesterday the most popular type of tablets seized were erectile dysfunction-type medicines; cosmetic medicines, including diet pills and creams and tablets for hair loss; sedatives that include Valium and Diazepam, as well as hormone creams and tablets that includes steroids.
The IMB said it “has consistently stressed the dangers of buying medicines online and urges consumers not to risk their health by using illegal medicines”.
The spokesperson stressed: “There can be no guarantees as to the safety, quality or effectiveness of these products.
“The supply of prescription only medicines via the Internet is illegal and no online pharmacy is authorised to operate in Ireland.
“Consumers are additionally advised that they risk losing their money and credit card details when they buy from rogue websites.”
She confirmed the IMB has seized herbal Viagra “that has been found to contain other potent prescription only medicines”.
IMB said it is not in a position to state how many Viagra-type or erectile dysfunction tablets were seized in 2011 as yet, but said 131,805 units related to erectile dysfunction products were seized in 2010.
She said: “The IMB is particularly concerned at the upsurge in availability online of weight loss products that are presented as being ‘herbal’ and entirely natural when they actually contain potent, prescription-only medicines.”
She added: “In particular, these have been found to contain undeclared quantities of Sibutramine. The IMB recently published a warning regarding the increase in Sibutramine-containing medicines, having seen an incremental and progressive rise in seizures of illegal Sibutramine products in recent times, in co-operation with Revenue Customs.”
She said: “Between 2009 and 2011 there has been a 600% increase in the number of these types of products seized. Medicines containing Sibutramine have been removed from the worldwide market due to safety concerns in 2010.”
There were 290,240 weight loss-related products seized in 2010, 153,483 sedative products and 22,377 units containing steroids.
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