Pictured here, counterfeit versions of Adderall and packaging.
Adderall, a prescription medication given to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and narcolepsy, has been in short supply lately because the manufacturer has had trouble procuring ingredients. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that a counterfeit version is being sold online.
The counterfeit version of 30 mg tablets of the Teva Pharmaceutical Industries product contains the wrong active ingredients, according to FDA. Rather than Adderall’s four active ingredients – dextroamphetamine saccharate, amphetamine aspartate, dextroamphetamine sulfate and amphetamine sulfate – the counterfeit product contains just tramadol (a long-acting prescription pain reliever) and acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol).
Actual Adderall tablets are marked with "dp" on one side and "30" on the other.
The two products are also different in appearance. Authentic Adderall tablets are orange/peach in color and scored with “dp” embossed on one side and “30” on the other. The counterfeit tablets are white and have no markings. And while Adderall is packaged only in 100-count bottles, the fake tablets are sold in blister packages.
FDA considers the counterfeit product ineffective and potentially harmful, and warns consumers not to use it. Instead, anyone who believes they have purchased counterfeit Adderall should contact FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations at 800-551-3989 or www.fda.gov/OCI.
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