Took a Fake or Expired Medicine? What to Do Now
Calm, step-by-step guidance on symptoms to watch, when to see a doctor, how to replace your treatment and how to report the product.
6 min readUpdated
Table of contents9 sections
Quick answer
If you think you took a fake medicine, stop taking it, keep the pack and receipt, and contact your doctor, especially for antibiotics, heart, diabetes, epilepsy or cancer medicines where missed treatment is risky. Seek emergency care for breathing problems, swelling, severe rash or fainting. Then report it to DRAP on 0800-03727.
Key takeaways
- The biggest risk is usually missed treatment, not poisoning: fake products often contain no active ingredient.
- Get emergency help for breathing difficulty, facial swelling, severe rash, chest pain or fainting.
- Don't double up doses from a new pack without asking a doctor or pharmacist.
- Keep the evidence and report it.
What to do in the next hour
- 1
Stop taking it
Put the pack aside. Don't throw it away: it's evidence.
- 2
Check for danger signs
Difficulty breathing, swelling of lips or face, severe rash, chest pain, confusion or fainting need emergency care immediately (call 1122).
- 3
Call your doctor or pharmacist
Explain what you took, when, and why you suspect it. Bring the pack.
- 4
Confirm the suspicion
Check the batch on our batch checker and run the pack checklist.
How serious is it? Depends on the medicine
| Medicine type | Main risk if fake | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics | Infection not treated, resistance | See doctor within 24 h |
| Insulin / diabetes | High blood sugar | Check glucose now; same-day care |
| Heart / blood pressure | Uncontrolled BP, rhythm problems | Same-day care |
| Epilepsy | Breakthrough seizures | Urgent |
| Cancer / transplant | Treatment failure | Contact specialist today |
| Painkillers, vitamins | Usually ineffective rather than harmful | Routine |
What to tell your doctor
- The medicine name, strength and why it was prescribed
- When you started and how many doses you took
- Batch number and where you bought it
- Any symptoms, or lack of improvement
- Whether the batch matched a DRAP alert
This helps your doctor decide whether you need tests, a change of medicine or extra monitoring.
If a child or elderly relative took it
Children and older adults are more vulnerable to both missed treatment and harmful contaminants. Seek medical advice the same day, take the pack with you, and watch for drowsiness, vomiting, breathing changes or confusion.
Getting safe replacement treatment
Buy a replacement from a different, licensed pharmacy and check the new pack's batch before use. Ask whether the original pharmacy will refund. Reputable pharmacies will, and they should quarantine the remaining stock.
Common questions
Can a fake medicine be poisonous?
Sometimes. Some falsified medicines contain wrong or toxic ingredients, but most contain little or no active ingredient. Either way, stop using it and seek medical advice. See also: Report a fake medicine.
Should I keep the fake medicine?
Yes. Keep the pack, remaining doses and receipt for DRAP. They may need it for laboratory testing.
Sources & references
This guide is general information, not medical advice. DrugTrace.pk is independent and not affiliated with DRAP.
Topic hub
Reporting & Patient Help
What to do, who to call and how to report a fake medicine or side effect.
- Report a fake medicine ★
- DRAP helpline 0800-03727
- How to report fake medicine
- Report side effects
- Took fake medicine? (this page)
- Drug Trace FAQ
- Glossary of terms
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