How can you tell fake vs genuine Viagra Cialis medicine? Our guide outlines what to look for so you don’t get fooled by counterfeits.
Sildenafil citrate (Most popular brand names are Viagra from Pfizer and Cialis from Lilly) has been heavily counterfeited since it first was launched on the market. Most of the fakes are simply useless, but some of them are also dangerous — particularly those manufactured in unhygienic conditions.
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Best ways to tell fake vs genuine Viagra Cialis
Hologram on the Cialis folding carton
On Cialis packs there is a hologram in which stylized outlines of Cialis® tablets animate back and forth when the box is moved. If the hologram is missing or the hologram does not change when moving, this may indicate a falsification of medicines.
In August 2012, the safety features of Cialis® packaging were updated and the packaging with the new safety features is now on the market.
Cialis® packaging have had grey oval safety holograms since 2012.
Seal as Cialis closure
Both tabs are sealed with a transparent seal bearing a colored logo. If the seal is missing or damaged, this may indicate a counterfeit medicinal product.
The seal used since 2012 bears the Cialis®logo and two opposite lock symbols.
Seal as original closure on Cialis packaging
Lilly logo on the Cialis Blister
The foil side of the blister bears an ink logo of Lilly, which shows the lettering “Lilly”. When a blister edge is moved, the color of the oval changes from green to blue to pink.If the logo is missing or the color of the logo does not change when turning, this could indicate a counterfeit medicine.
Also pay attention to the number of tablets in the pack. Only packs of 4, 8, 12 or 28 (active ingredient 5 mg) tablets are available from Lilly.
Almond-shaped tablet form
Cialis® tablets are light yellow and almond-shaped And Viagra are blue and almond-shaped. In the tablets of the strength 5 mg “C 5” is imprinted on one side, in the tablets of the strength 10 mg “C 10” is imprinted on one side. Tablets of the strength of 20 mg have a corresponding “C 20” embossing. The back of the tablets does not have any embossing.
Cialis® is available worldwide only as a light yellow, almond-shaped tablet And Viagra as the blue tablet. The active substance is not available as capsule or powder. If your product does not match this figure, it is likely to be a forgery.
However, there are also fakes of those colours, so look carefully at the colour — is it even and matches the real thing? Or is the colour faded or patchy, showing that it is a fake.
Also look at the embossed text on both sides. Is it clear and sharp or does it look too faint and Izzy? If the latter, that’s another sign that you’re looking at potentially fake medicine.
