FDA Warns Consumers Who Purchase Diazepam Online of Potentially Serious Counterfeiting Issue

The FDA is warning consumers who purchase Diazepam, an anti-anxiety medication, on the internet of the potential risk that this drug may be counterfeit.The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 700 adverse events from patients in Central Africa taking mislabeled Diazepam that was actually the anti-psychotic drug, Haloperidol. The patients who mistakenly took Haloperidol suffered acute contractions of the muscles of the face, neck and tongue (dystonia).

While it has not been confirmed that the counterfeit Diazepam in Africa was purchased online and FDA has no confirmed reports that these counterfeit products have entered the US, FDA advises consumers who purchased Diazepam online to check if the pills they received are authentic. The counterfeit tablets are light yellow in color, scored across the center of the tablet on one side and bear the letters AGOG on the other side.