This diazepam – generic Valium – is really haloperidol.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning last week that a drug product sold in Central Africa, mislabeled as diazepam, which was actually the drug haloperidol (for schizophrenia), had caused 700 adverse reactions, such as acute contractions of the muscles in the face and neck. While there are no reports that the product entered the U.S., FDA cautioned Americans who take diazepam that it could, potentially, be sold over the Internet and to be on the lookout for the pills you see in the image to your left. Sound advice!

For the backstory checkout the World Health Organization’s Medical Product Alert.

Diazepam is the generic name for the anti-anxiety medication commonly known as Valium. It is a controlled prescription drug, meaning one associated with abuse use and addiction.

We recommend to U.S. and all consumers that you not buy controlled medication internationally from an online pharmacy. Online pharmacies that sell Valium, and all controlled drugs, internationally are not eligible for the PharmacyChecker.com Verification Program.

Drugs of abuse, especially prescription narcotics, like codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, or oxycodone, but also anxiety medications like diazepam, are ones that people often seek to obtain without a valid prescription. Overdoses of legal, controlled prescription drugs kill more Americans each year than illegal drugs, according to the CDC. That’s why the sale of these medications, in person and online, must be highly restricted.  Most abused prescription narcotics are obtained from family and friends, lawfully but unethically written prescriptions, and street dealers.

The Internet, in contrast, is the source of less than 1% (.2% to be exact) of abused prescription narcotics, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. But the rogue online drug dealers are out there! Not only do they sell controlled meds without a prescription but you may get a fake or completely different drug that could hurt or kill you – so stay away!!

The problem of prescription drug abuse, and potentially counterfeit medications, should not be used to deter consumers from online options to obtain safe and affordable medication. In FDA’s warning about the potentially counterfeit but clearly mislabeled diazepam, they also warn Americans against purchasing medication of any kind, including non-controlled lower cost medication, from foreign pharmacies over the Internet, and a blanket warning against foreign pharmacy purchases is potentially dangerous to a consumer’s health. This is the case especially if the prescribed, non-controlled, medication is not affordable in the U.S. Clearly, going without a prescribed medication, such as one for asthma or diabetes, is far more dangerous than obtaining a lower cost real medication from an international online pharmacy.

But here’s the thing about Valium (diazepam): If you live in the U.S., you do not need a foreign pharmacy to afford generic Valium, as it will be relatively inexpensive, often under $10 for 60 tablets with a prescription coupon at a neighborhood pharmacy  – cheaper than in Canada and many other countries.