美国贸易团体警告网上购买Cipro
NEW YORK, Nov 01 (Reuters Health) - On the same day that the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alerted consumers to the dangers of purchasing anthrax cures online, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that it has issued warning letters to numerous Internet vendors offering the antibiotic ciprofloxacin.
Sold by Germany's Bayer as Cipro, ciprofloxacin is currently the preferred, but not only, antibiotic used to combat the bacterial infection. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US and the recent rash of anthrax infections, there has been a run on drugs used to combat biological warfare.
, http://www.100md.com
In a statement released on its Web site, the FTC warned that hucksters traditionally tailor their offers to prey on consumer fears, and the recent anthrax worries are no exception.
"It is typical in the health area for marketers to push the consumer-concern button in terms of various types of products that are marketed for incurable diseases," Richard Cleland, senior attorney of the division of advertising practices at the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, told Reuters Health.
, 百拇医药
"The difference is that this is at a whole different level," he said. "I would describe it as a feeding-frenzy right now."
According to the FDA, it has issued letters to 11 Internet drug vendors located in various countries--from Canada to Malaysia--warning that it is unclear whether the drugs offered online "have been made in accordance with the US specifications and are the same products legally marketed in the US."
The FDA said in its letters that it has alerted the regulatory authorities of the countries in which the companies operate of possible violations, and has advised the US Customs Service that all shipments from the companies may be detained and refused entry into the US.
, 百拇医药
The FDA also said that it has identified five foreign-based Web sites that are continuing to sell ciprofloxacin despite previous warnings. The agency said it is taking additional measures to block these companies' imports, and to secure the assistance of foreign authorities.
The FTC and FDA both caution consumers not to purchase pharmaceuticals from sites that offer to prescribe them without a physical exam, especially when dealing with as serious an infection as anthrax.
, 百拇医药
"Some of (the drugs bought over the Internet) are very strong antibiotics, and people should consult with their physician before they ever use some of these products," Cleland said.
Additionally, the agencies recommend that consumers not purchase drugs from Web sites that do not offer their name, physical address or phone number, or with foreign Web sites in general.
"Particularly in terms of foreign sites...consumers may be getting adulterated products coming from sources that we don't know," Cleland noted. "Or they may not get anything at all."
Exception:java.sql.SQLException: Connection has already been closed., 百拇医药
Sold by Germany's Bayer as Cipro, ciprofloxacin is currently the preferred, but not only, antibiotic used to combat the bacterial infection. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US and the recent rash of anthrax infections, there has been a run on drugs used to combat biological warfare.
, http://www.100md.com
In a statement released on its Web site, the FTC warned that hucksters traditionally tailor their offers to prey on consumer fears, and the recent anthrax worries are no exception.
"It is typical in the health area for marketers to push the consumer-concern button in terms of various types of products that are marketed for incurable diseases," Richard Cleland, senior attorney of the division of advertising practices at the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, told Reuters Health.
, 百拇医药
"The difference is that this is at a whole different level," he said. "I would describe it as a feeding-frenzy right now."
According to the FDA, it has issued letters to 11 Internet drug vendors located in various countries--from Canada to Malaysia--warning that it is unclear whether the drugs offered online "have been made in accordance with the US specifications and are the same products legally marketed in the US."
The FDA said in its letters that it has alerted the regulatory authorities of the countries in which the companies operate of possible violations, and has advised the US Customs Service that all shipments from the companies may be detained and refused entry into the US.
, 百拇医药
The FDA also said that it has identified five foreign-based Web sites that are continuing to sell ciprofloxacin despite previous warnings. The agency said it is taking additional measures to block these companies' imports, and to secure the assistance of foreign authorities.
The FTC and FDA both caution consumers not to purchase pharmaceuticals from sites that offer to prescribe them without a physical exam, especially when dealing with as serious an infection as anthrax.
, 百拇医药
"Some of (the drugs bought over the Internet) are very strong antibiotics, and people should consult with their physician before they ever use some of these products," Cleland said.
Additionally, the agencies recommend that consumers not purchase drugs from Web sites that do not offer their name, physical address or phone number, or with foreign Web sites in general.
"Particularly in terms of foreign sites...consumers may be getting adulterated products coming from sources that we don't know," Cleland noted. "Or they may not get anything at all."
Exception:java.sql.SQLException: Connection has already been closed., 百拇医药