Fake Medicine Checker
Check a medicine by its name, its NDC code or the numbers under the barcode on the pack. We look it up in the official U.S. FDA directory and show what the genuine product should look like.
Is it officially listed?
Every medicine marketed in the U.S. must be listed with the FDA under a National Drug Code. A code that is missing, or that belongs to a different product, is a major warning sign.
Does it look right?
We show the official description from the FDA label: tablet colour, shape, imprint and packaging. Counterfeits often get small details wrong.
Has it been recalled?
We list FDA recalls for the exact product and for the same active ingredient, with the reason and the batches affected.
How to spot a fake medicine
Counterfeit medicines are among the most dangerous fakes in circulation. The World Health Organization estimates that around 1 in 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified, and fake versions of weight-loss injections, erectile-dysfunction pills, antibiotics, painkillers and malaria treatments are sold online everywhere. A fake can contain no active ingredient, the wrong dose, or something toxic.
Check the pack before you open it
- Spelling and print quality. Misspelled words, blurry printing, a slightly different logo or colour, or a label stuck over another label.
- Codes and dates. A batch (lot) number and expiry date should be printed on the pack and match the blister or bottle inside. Missing or mismatched codes are a red flag.
- Seals. The tamper seal should be intact, and the pack should not look re-glued.
- The code itself. Check the NDC or barcode here. A code that is not in the FDA directory, or that belongs to a different medicine or company, means the pack needs a pharmacist's eye.
Check the medicine itself
- Compare the tablets with the official description (colour, shape, size and the letters or numbers pressed into them) shown on each product page here.
- Pills that crumble, smell odd, have uneven colour, or dissolve differently from your usual supply are warning signs.
- A medicine that suddenly stops working, or new side effects after switching supplier, should be reported to your doctor or pharmacist.
Where you buy matters most
Most fake medicines reach people through unlicensed online pharmacies and street markets. Real pharmacies require a prescription for prescription-only medicines, show a physical address and a licence number, and do not sell "no prescription needed" weight-loss injections at half price. Read our guide to buying medicine online safely.
How to check a medicine in your country
This checker uses the U.S. FDA directory. Outside the U.S., use your national regulator's official tools:
| Country | Official way to check |
|---|---|
| United States | NDC lookup (this page), and BeSafeRx (FDA) for online pharmacies. |
| Nigeria | NAFDAC Greenbook, the online list of registered products, and the scratch-and-text code (Mobile Authentication Service) on many packs: send the PIN to the short code printed on the pack. |
| Ghana | Food and Drugs Authority (FDA Ghana) product register; scratch-code verification on many packs. |
| Kenya | Pharmacy and Poisons Board registers of products and licensed pharmacies. |
| India | The QR code printed on the packs of the top-selling medicine brands (required since 2023): scan it to see the manufacturer, batch and expiry. |
| European Union | Prescription medicine packs carry a 2D DataMatrix code and an anti-tamper seal, verified by the pharmacy when dispensed (Falsified Medicines Directive). Online pharmacies must show the EU common logo, linked to the national register. |
| United Kingdom | MHRA product information, and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) register for online pharmacies. |
If you think a medicine is fake, stop taking it, keep the pack, and report it to your pharmacist and your national regulator (in the U.S., FDA MedWatch). In an emergency, contact a doctor or poison control immediately.
Common questions
What is an NDC?
The National Drug Code is the U.S. product identifier for medicines: a labeler (company) code, a product code and a package code, printed like 0573-0164-30. It is usually on the box and inside the barcode.
How do I find the NDC on a box?
Look for "NDC" near the drug name or barcode. On U.S. packs, the 12-digit barcode starts with 3 and the next 10 digits are the NDC, so you can also type the barcode numbers.
If the code matches, is my medicine genuine?
Not necessarily. Counterfeiters copy real codes and packaging. A match proves the product exists, so compare the pills and pack with the official description and buy from a licensed pharmacy.
Is this medical advice?
No. This is information from public FDA databases, which the FDA itself says should not be used alone for medical decisions. Always ask a pharmacist or doctor about your medicines.