How can you differentiate a fake and an original medicine?
It is an unfortunate truth that regular consumers would be unable to differentiate fake medications from the real deal and it happens (not that medical professionals would be able to spot it easily too). You see, most manufacturers (of fake drugs) have succeeded in copying almost every physical aspect of the medication making it seem like the original. Packaging, vial shape and size, tablet shape, size, and coloring - these aspects have been copied. It goes without saying that counterfeit drugs can< generally speaking, do more harm than good. As a consumer, there are things you can take note of:Check the medication. (This might be applicable to most patients with chronic problems.) If your blue pill suddenly got a number stamped in middle where there previously was none, ask your PCP and/or your chemist/pharmacist.Be wary of relatively cheap drugs. Meds are manufactured in relatively the same manner, hence, changes in pricing could greatly affect a pharmaceutical company - this isn't something they want.Take note of the medications' effectiveness (i.e, for pain meds and the like)Try and procure medications only from trusted sources.Most hospitals have implemented measures to prevent administration of counterfeit drugs:Vials and packaging are collected day in and day out and disposed of as mandated by company policy. This prevents theh reuse of the vials, literature, and/or packaging.Drugs are sourced straight from manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. This will cost the hospital just a little bit more for that special delivery, but the security is worth it(to most patients)Closed pharmacy systems - Drugs administered in the hospital are procured from the hospital pharamcies secondary to #2.It took me three paragraphs and a few bullets to say, but the only surefire way of spotting fake drugs is via chemical analysis.