FDA Urges Public to Beware of Phony Adderall Sold on the Internet

Adderall, the drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, is an amphetamine that mimics the effects of speed in the body and because of this, it is often abused. The high potential for misuse has created an underground market where those seeking the medication can get it online with little or no restrictions.

Unfortunately, that market has also drawn a lot of counterfeits seeking to capitalize on the drug’s popularity. The Food and Drug Administration just announced that it has uncovered imitation versions of the drug being sold under the Adderall name.

The report was released after the agency received a complaint from Teva Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Adderall, that one version of the drug was illegally being sold under the Teva name.

Shelly Burgess, FDA spokeswoman, said that it wanted to notify the public before someone found out the hard way. The dangers associated with consuming counterfeit drugs from an unknown source could be tremendous. And, because rogue pharmacies are almost impossible to track down, there is no way to tell how many people may have been victims of this scam.

The fake Adderall is said to be white in color and not orange like normal. The tablets are plain and are bundled in blister pack. The packaging may also contain misspelled words on the outside.

The FDA tested some of the phony Adderall and found that the ingredients did not match the key ingredient found in Adderall. In fact, the imitation consisted of acetaminophen and tramadol, neither of which is used to treat ADHD.

To prevent any potential problems, the FDA is urging those who want to purchase the drug to do so only from a licensed online pharmacy. And remember, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Anyone who believes they have purchased an imitation version of Adderall should stop taking it, and contact the FDA right away.