Chromatographic analysis of paracetamol: An essential tool for identifying counterfeit products

Paracetamol or acetaminophen is one of the world's most widely used medicines. An analgesic and antipyretic, it is recommended for the relief of mild to moderate pain (headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, painful menstruation) and to reduce fever. Because of its effectiveness, affordability and wide distribution, it has become a mainstay of self-medication in many countries.

However, its popularity also makes it a prime target for counterfeiters. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 10% of the world's medicines are falsified, and analgesics such as paracetamol are among the products most affected.

The active ingredient: the first flaw in counterfeit products

A counterfeit paracetamol drug may present various problems related to its active ingredient:

• Total absence of active ingredient: the tablet has no therapeutic effect.
• Underdosing: the dose is too low to be effective, allowing pain or fever to persist.
• Overdose: the risk is serious liver poisoning, as paracetamol is toxic to the liver above a certain dose. Fortunately, the principle of a drug is expensive, and overdosing is almost never the result of a quality defect.
• Presence of toxic substances: some fake medicines contain dangerous compounds, added to imitate the appearance or weight of the tablet.

Consumption of these falsified products exposes patients to major risks: lack of treatment, medical complications, even hospitalization in the event of intoxication.

What are the risks of using counterfeit paracetamol?

The consequences for health are manifold:

• Delayed treatment: pain is not relieved or fever does not subside.
• Acute intoxication: if the dosage is too high.
• Chronic liver damage: in the event of repeated ingestion of incorrectly dosed tablets. High-dose paracetamol (over 4 g per day for an adult) is toxic to the liver (hepatotoxic). 
• Unpredictable reactions: linked to the presence of unknown or toxic substances.

Vigilance is therefore essential, especially as counterfeiters know how to imitate official packaging perfectly, making visual detection almost impossible.

Liquid chromatography: a benchmark technique for identifying counterfeit goods

Po accurately assess the quality of a paracetamol-based drug and detect counterfeits, specialist laboratories use advanced techniques. Among these, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV-Visible spectrophotometric detection is a benchmark technique.

This analytical technique offers several advantages:

• Reliable identification of the active ingredient: this ensures that the tablet contains paracetamol and no other active ingredient.
• Accurate quantification: enables precise measurement of active ingredient concentration, detecting under- and overdosing.
• Impurity detection: reveals the presence of foreign or toxic substances, such as synthetic impurities.
• Reliability and reproducibility: the results obtained are scientifically and legally recognized.

Thanks to this analysis technique, it is possible to quickly distinguish between genuine and counterfeit drugs, thereby protecting consumer health.

PharmAnalyse: a service for the benefit of public health

Pharmanalyse laboratory offers patients and healthcare professionals its expertise in analyzing paracetamol-based drugs using liquid chromatography.

By sending your drug samples, you can :

• Check the authenticity of your tablets,
• Detect any dosage anomalies,
• Contribute to the fight against counterfeit drugs by enriching a citizens' database.

In conclusion, paracetamol, no matter how commonplace, cannot escape the scourge of counterfeiting. The health risks are considerable, and only rigorous scientific analysis, such as liquid chromatography coupled with UV-Visible detection, can certify its quality.

By using Pharmanalyse's services, you can protect your health and that of your loved ones, and play an active part in the fight against counterfeit drugs.

Photo credit to Louis Reed on Unsplash