Warning of medicines Counterfeit Cialis on the market

Doctors and pharmacists should examine means

The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) currently informs about counterfeiting of medicines. According to this, a falsification of the medicinal product Cialis® 20 mg film-coated tablets from Eli Lilly Nederland B.V. was found in two Dutch wholesalers. been discovered. It contains the active substance tadalafil and is used to treat erectile dysfunction in adult men.

Deviations on the expiry date

As the BfArM informs on its website, the counterfeit is in English and bears the lot number C251322. This is a real existing batch intended for the British, Irish and Maltese markets. However, there are deviations between the original and forgery in the expiry date: The plagiarism bears the date 08/2018, in the original, the batch is, however, provided with the expiry date 08/2016.

The fake drug can be recognized among other things by the missing "Lilly" sticker and a different color. (Image: https://www.bfarm.de)

Missing sticker on the carton

In addition to the wrong expiry date, plagiarism has further differences in primary and secondary packaging. Consumers can recognize the counterfeit by the lack of the "Lilly" sticker and the color of the original packaging, according to the information.

Likewise, the counterfeit drugs can be identified by differences on the blister. Identification marks here are the different printing of the color logo and a different imprint of the expiry date compared to the original batch. Furthermore, the trademark symbol "®" is illegible in the fake.

Do not use medications if you suspect plagiarism

Wholesalers, parallel distributors, pharmacists and physicians are now instructed to check the lot number, expiry date and pack prior to use. Suspicious products should be placed in quarantine and not be used, also the BfArM must be informed of suspected cases, the message continues. According to the current state of knowledge, a final assessment with regard to the type of forgery is not yet possible, and the investigations are still ongoing.

Characteristic of the original: the "Lilly" sticker. In addition, color and design differ in comparison to counterfeiting. (Image: https://www.bfarm.de)

Tadalafil also approved for the treatment of benign prostatic syndrome

The active substance tadalafil is one of the most important agents for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (impotence). It belongs to the drug class of so-called phosphodiesterase (PDE) -5 inhibitors and stops by the inhibition of the enzyme PDE-5, the degradation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). As a result, cGMP levels in the blood remain elevated, which in turn improves erectile function.

Tadalafil has a significantly longer duration of action compared to the other active substances in this class (for example sildenafil or avanafil), which is why it is also referred to as a "weekend pill". It has been approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult males since 2007. Since 2013, it can be prescribed in a low dose of 2.5mg and 5mg for the treatment of benign prostatic syndrome. (No)