Contrary to popular belief, there is no legal generic Viagra, generic Cialis or generic Levitra. The patents on these drugs are still active, Viagra being the oldest and due to expire 2012 (Levitra expires in 2018 and Cialis expires between 2017 and 2020). So why is there so many sites out there selling these so called “generics’?
Offshore pharmacies are trying to make a buck by taking advantage of the high cost of erectile dysfunction medications. Most of these drugs are made overseas in Chinese or Indian pharmacies where they are not subject to US patent law. That means they can legally produce the generic Viagra, generic Levitra and generic Cialis, but it is illegal to ship them into or sell in the USA. Not only is it buying these medications online supporting violation of the patent law, but these erectile dysfunction drugs are not FDA approved and can be very dangerous.
These illegal websites often promote “Viagra” but send the consumer counterfeit drugs. Some sites promote “generic Viagra” or “generic sildenafil citrate”-although this is not legally possible since there is no FDA-approved version of generic Viagra. The tactic can be misleading to consumers, who routinely purchase legitimate FDA-approved generic versions of other drugs. Pfizer receives letters from consumers who unknowingly purchase fake Viagra from such websites, and receive drug that doesn’t work or makes them ill.
According to a recent national survey of 676 men aged 35+, 20 percent of men who purchase erectile dysfunction medications buy them online, and two-thirds of them don’t check to see if the website they are purchasing from is legitimate. Only 38 percent of all men surveyed believe it is essential to have a doctor’s prescription in order to purchase Viagra.
According to the FDA, drug counterfeiters defraud consumers by selling products that resemble legitimate drugs but may contain inactive or incorrect ingredients; contain improper doses of active ingredients; or be otherwise contaminated. Other risks and consequences of purchasing ED products online from illegitimate websites may include:
Safety Risks:
– Fake or “generic” erectile dysfunction drugs may be manufactured in unregulated factories, often in regions of the world that do not share the same rigorous standards for pharmaceutical manufacturing applied in the U.S.
– The drugs may contain dangerous additives
– Obtaining erectile dysfunction pills through these sources requires no physician consultation or assessment of potential interactions with other drugs being taken by the individual
–The illegal drugs may not work as claimed, or at all.
Medical News Today, August 4, 2004. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/11656.php
Keep yourself and your wallet safe- stick with name brand Viagra, Cialis and Levitra filled from a US pharmacy. I recommend my go to pharmacy FirstClassPharmacy.com to order erectile dysfunction medication online.
