title: [Drug counterfeiting--the risk to the public health].
abstract: Pharmaceutical counterfeiting and purchasing medicines from illegal distribution channels have become more and more common problem in our country. Different medicines, especially erectile dysfunction drugs are involved. The aim of this study was the qualitative analysis of fake Levitra tablets and the estimation of the risk they bear to potential users. Tablets were secured by the police and delivered to Bayer office in 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Trace amount of sildenafil (the active ingredient of Viagra) and not vardenafil (the active ingredient of Levitra) was found in tablets described as "Levitra" (vardenafil). The presence of this substance was discovered by NIR--and Raman spectroscopy. The appearance of tablets and blisters corresponded to the original product. There were no paper boxes and patient information leaflets attached. As prescription medicines erectile dysfunction drugs should be purchased from a pharmacy only. They need to be used under strict medical control.
authors.affiliation: Dział Medyczny, Bayer Sp. z o.o. elzbieta.tajanko.et@bayer-ag.de
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tajanko
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sein Anand
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roszkowska-Kranc
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kozłowska-Boszko
authors.forename: Zygmunt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chodorowski
authors.forename: Roman Paweł
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Korolkiewicz
mesh_terms: D002243:Carbolines / Q000032:analysis; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000592:standards; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000592:standards; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005607:Fraud / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000032:analysis; D007880:Legislation, Drug / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards* / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010879:Piperazines / Q000032:analysis; D011044:Poland; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011687:Purines / Q000032:analysis; D011786:Quality Control; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013450:Sulfones / Q000032:analysis; D000068581:Tadalafil; D014227:Triazines / Q000032:analysis; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride
chemical_list: D002243:Carbolines; D007093:Imidazoles; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014227:Triazines; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D000068581:Tadalafil; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate