Warning on imported drugs

Warning on Imported Drugs

FDA has asked the U.S. Postal Service and CustomsService to detain prescription drugs being imported to the United States by an Austrian company because the drugs are being sold without prescriptions and lack adequate directions for use. In some cases, these drugs could be lethal if taken without a physician's supervision.

Some of the drugs distributed by the "HauptmannInstitute" of Vienna can cause side effects such as dementia (mental impairment), life-threatening blood disorders, liver damage, low blood pressure, and congestive heart failure. Solicitations and price lists for Hauptmann products are mailed from several locations in the United States and Canada. Customers send their orders to Vienna and all shipments have been made from Luton, England.

Although several of the drugs distributed byHauptmann have FDA approval for specific uses, all of the products are improperly labeled, mainly because the labels list unapproved uses for the drugs. Other drugs sold by Hauptmann are unapproved in the United States for any indication.

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