L. Capote, P.A.

FDA is warning consumers about a "generic" TamiFlu that is being sold over the internet.  This product, which is being used to treat the Flu has not been approved by FDA. 

The product contains cloxacillin, which is in the same class as penicillin.  Anyone having an allergy to penicillin may have life-threatening reactions to this product.

The product's labeling claims that the product contains oseltamivir, the active ingredient in TamiFlu, but after FDA tested the product it actually contained cloxacillin. 

Legitimate Internet pharmacies will also display a seal from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy—known as VIPPS seal or Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites. VIPPS pharmacies are listed at www.vipps.info.

FDA is calling on the public to help enforce its regulations. FDA has recently posted a link on its website to educate the public on how to spot a bad advertisement of prescription drugs.  This link does not apply to dietary supplements nor over-the-counter drugs.  The federal government is calling on the public to do its job.

It may be a result of the large amount of prescription drugs currently being marketed through television, computers and magazines. It may be a lack of tax payer dollars. What is known is that FDA will listen to your comments, but it is unsure whether they will act on the comments.

There are hundreds of thousands of products on the market which fall under FDA's jurisdiction, dietary supplements, over-the-counter drugs and cosmetics are a few. Yet FDA is not calling on the public's support to find companies who are violating this regulations, only prescription drugs. Will dietary supplements soon be subject to similar regulations?