FDA Orders 10 Web-Marketed Drugs Seized

The government on Monday ordered 10 prescription drugs to be confiscated at the border if patients buy them abroad instead of through their doctors, calling the medications too risky for unsupervised use.

At issue are drugs ranging from the acne treatment Accutane to a version of the date-rape drug GHB that is used to treat narcolepsy. All can cause serious side effects and are sold in the U.S. only under severe restrictions, such as curbs on which doctors can prescribe them and which patients qualify.

But the Food and Drug Administration noticed Internet advertisements for some of the drugs that entice patients to order the medications directly, ignoring safety restrictions.

It is illegal to sell prescription drugs without a doctor’s OK, so the FDA is taking steps to shut the sites -- and warned consumers Monday not to buy the drugs in question over the Internet. Because some of the Web sites are foreign, the FDA also asked U.S. Customs Service officials to seize shipments from abroad. The drugs include Accutane, Actiq, Clozaril, Lotronex, Mifiprex, Tracleer, Thalomid, Tikosyn, Trovan and Xyrem.

“This is a loophole we’re seeking to plug,” FDA drug chief Dr. Janet Woodcock said.