The Quest for Generic Viagra: A Prescription for Disaster

Part V - Calling the U.S. FDA

What started out as a few junk emails and searching the web for Viagra, led me to the heart of the Internet black market for generic Viagra. I had called Canada, Asia and India, which were ready to send me cheap Viagra alternatives without a hassle. There was only one place left to go to see if all this was really legal... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

After dialing the number I am put through to voicemail after having my call dropped twice and navigating the automated maze for 20 minutes a call.  I leave a message and am devastated that this experiment will end without any follow-up, when I get a call at my office six hours later. 

She has a silky young voice and most importantly she speaks English, unlike my previous three encounters.

FDA: Hi this is Christie and I received your message.

Mung: Hi Chris, I had some questions and hope you can help.

FDA: Yeah, Sure. Fire away.

Mung: OK, I have a prescription for Viagra and was looking to save some money. So I was researching and calling companies to find out if they could send me these drugs at a discount. The companies were in Canada, Asia and India. Each told me they could send me cheap, generic Viagra to my house in NY and that t was perfectly legal to do so. I figured I better call you to verify before I make any purchase. 

FDA: Well I am sorry to burst your bubble but no, it isn’t legal. And no, there isn’t a generic form of Viagra.

Mung: It’s illegal… wait… did you say there isn’t a generic form of Viagra?

FDA: I am sorry but there is no generic Viagra on the market.

Mung: What? Am I in the Matrix? Every company I called says there is a generic form of Viagra and I have about 1000 junk emails, which list generic Viagra. I have three websites I am looking at right now. Should I forward these to you?

FDA: I believe you, but we don’t have an FDA approved generic for Viagra. There is patent protection until 2019.

Mung: So, whatever it is they are sending or claim to be sending isn’t legitimate Viagra?

FDA: Well perhaps it is approved in the county they are sending from, but I am not sure if it is therapeutically equivalent. And with online pharmacies you really have to be careful, because they can send you pretty much whatever they want. You know as soon as we investigate, these places close down and then they pretty much pop up somewhere else. It’s really hard to track them down because they are everywhere. 

Mung: So when these places say they are legitimate and claim they can mail it to you here in the US legally, they are just lying? And there is nothing you can do to stop them?

FDA: Yes. Unless you go through the board of pharmacy and inquire to see the legitimacy of the actual site you are looking at.  But typically they are not. And anyone that is willing to send you a prescription drug without a prescription. Well that’s a problem and will lead to trouble.  

Mung: And the fact that they are coming from India I mean that…

FDA: Exactly and it’s a matter of safety. You can’t be certain as to what you are getting. And there is the possibility that they will be detained in customs anyway so you’d be wasting your money. And these companies end up with people’s credit card number and identity theft and fraud are the result. 

Mung: All I wanted to do was get hard and save some cash. You know an erection can cost more than a gallon of gas these days.  Of course it’s a different pump, but you get the analogy. 

FDA: I totally understand the desire to save money, but if you look at the big picture, it’s pretty damaging for some people.  And I would advise against it.

Mung: There is one company in Canada that said they needed a prescription after the fact and claim to be FDA approved. So I just assumed they were legit.

FDA: Yeah, some people put that on their website and make claims, but it’s not necessarily the case.

Mung: How do they get away with selling generic Viagra here in the US?

FDA: I am not even sure what that really is. Like I said, there is no therapeutic equivalent currently besides Viagra. You are probably getting bad drugs.

Mung: What do you think they are sending?

FDA: Well it could be a sugar pill or loaded with something that is much more damaging.

Mung: So, then, where do I get the good stuff?

FDA: Certainly not those internet sites claiming to sell generic Viagra.

Mung: What can the FDA possibly do to stop this? It seems like they are everywhere. 

FDA: Yeah we do our best to stay on top, but it’s almost impossible. Because they can close one day and open up with the same thing the next day in a completely different address. With a different website URL and phone number. You know, it’s so hard to track them sometimes.

Mung: So the government can’t do anything! It’s not helpful if I give you these websites then? 

FDA: Sure, if you find a website you think is selling illegal or counterfeit products, or if you receive emails promoting these products, we can investigate it. Forward us the information, or the email that you received. You can email us at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mung: I am glad I called cause obviously…

FDA: Yeah I wish more people would call.  

Mung: Do you get as many junk emails about Viagra as I do?

FDA: Yeah I get a ton!

Mung: And you don’t get upset when they constantly ask if you want to get your penis hard? I probably get 50 a day and it is a constant reminder that I have trouble pitching a tent. 

FDA: In my personal e-mail account, I get like 75 a day and here at the office we have people trying to sell us Viagra by email. We get hundreds and hundreds of emails a day to the work account for every drug imaginable. Can you believe that?

Mung: You’d think you would be the one group of people to stay away from when selling illegal drugs. I guess they just figure somebody at the FDA can’t get it up and might need a cheap Viagra alternative.

FDA: Ha Ha. Yeah people sometimes call here and ask for Heroin, it’s really crazy.

Mung: You got the connection I guess.

FDA: Yeah it’s kind of entertaining.

Mung: I am sure you have your stories.

FDA: Oh you have no idea.

Mung:  Well maybe sometime we can talk about it. I got your direct number here and thanks to you I’ll stay away from these online pushers that don’t have the good stuff. 

FDA: That sounds like a good idea.

Mung: So, I don’t have any more questions, but thank you and the government for answering my questions. Of course I can’t thank you for affecting the online pharmacy market. But good luck with all that. 

FDA: Sorry for the let down and the bad information you were getting.

Mung: Is there anything people should consider when looking at these online pharmacies? I want to warn my friends.  

FDA: Yeah , well, buyer beware is the bottom line! And stay on top of it and know what you’re getting into. Well thank you Craig and I wish more people were as inquisitive as you.

Mung: Ciao.

There you have it. The FDA is powerless to stop these companies from selling you whatever, whenever. The results are clear in my mind: unless you are dealing with doctors here in the U.S., your drugs are clearly coming from India or some other place illegally where you put your health in the hands of God knows who. The best advice from the FDA is buyer beware.

Next: Part VI - “Do”s and “Don’t”s of Buying Medications Online