Cyberspace Chat: When Finasteride Suddenly Stops Working—Is It Counterfeit?

In 2013, Dr. Sharon A. Keene reported on the issue of counterfeit medications, specifically focusing on finasteride, a drug used to treat hair loss. She noted that some patients who switched from brand name to generic finasteride experienced increased hair shedding, which stopped when they returned to the brand name drug. This led to the suspicion that counterfeit medications were being distributed among the generic brands. The article highlighted that counterfeit medication distribution is a significant problem, with a high percentage of online medication purchases, especially those that are offshore and don't require a prescription, being counterfeit. The World Health Organization estimated that medications purchased from online pharmacies that conceal their physical address are counterfeit over 50% of the time. The article concluded by recommending healthcare providers to raise awareness among consumers about the risks of purchasing cheap medication online without a prescription.