WEDNESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Consumers purchasing the drug Adderall online may be buying a counterfeit version that could be ineffective, unsafe, and potentially harmful, according to a safety alert issued May 30 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The agency issued the alert after laboratory tests revealed that the counterfeit version of Teva's Adderall 30 mg tablets contained tramadol and acetaminophen, used to treat pain, rather than dextroamphetamine saccharate, amphetamine aspartate, dextroamphetamine sulfate, and amphetamine sulfa, the active ingredients used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy.
Authentic Adderall tablets, which are in short supply due to pharmaceutical ingredient supply issues, are round, orange, scored, and have "dp" imprinted on one side and "30" on the other. The fake tablets, distributed through rogue Web sites, are round and white and do not include such markings.
According to the FDA, "anyone who believes they have the counterfeit version of Teva's Adderall 30 mg tablets should not take, or should stop taking, the product. Consumers should talk to their health care professional about their condition and options for treatment."
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