Fake Antibiotics Found in Six States

The FDA has issued an alert warning American consumers to be on the look out for look-alike fake antibiotics. Dietary supplements purporting to have antibiotic or antifungal properties that actually contain no antimicrobial ingredients have been found in five states but may be found elsewhere in the US.

The FDA has issued an alert warning American consumers to be on the look out for look-alike fake antibiotics. Dietary supplements purporting to have antibiotic or antifungal properties that actually contain no antimicrobial ingredients have been found in five states but may be found elsewhere in the US.

The fakes were originally reported by Austin hospital pediatricians after several parents brought children, treated with these purported antibiotics, for additional care when their illnesses were compounded by lack of treatment.

The fake medications have names and packages that are extremely similar to those of actual antibiotics sold in Mexico prior with labels in English and Spanish.

Products have been distributed in Colorado, Delaware, Texas, Florida, California, and Georgia. FDA officials are warning Americans to be on the look out for the fakes in all states, however.

Use of these products could allow bacterial and fungal infections to develop complications, and be harder to treat effectively.

The FDA has identified three brand names as fakes to watch out for: Amoxilina, Pentreximil Plus, and Pentrexyl Forte Natural. However, they warn that this may not be the complete list of fake antibiotics on the market.