Fake medication of anti-epileptic drug Levipil 500 seized in Hyderabad, Karimnagar

Hyderabad: The Drugs Control Administration (DCA) of Telangana has seized counterfeit batches of Levipil 500 tablets (Levetiracetam Tablets 500 mg), a commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drug, from two pharmaceutical distributors in Hyderabad and Karimnagar.

The fake medicines, falsely claimed to be manufactured by Sun Pharma Laboratories, were found during raids conducted on July 4 and 5 based on intelligence inputs.

Raids in Hyderabad and Karimnagar

A special DCA team carried out inspections at Arvind Pharma Distributors in SBI Colony, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad and Venu Medical Agencies in Sai Nagar, Doctors Street, Karimnagar. In both locations, the team discovered counterfeit versions of Levipil 500 tablets bearing Batch No. GTF1540A, with a stated manufacturing date of May 2024 and an expiry date of April 2026.

These tablets were falsely labelled as being manufactured by Sun Pharma Laboratories, Kokjhar, Kamrup District, Assam.

Clarification from Sun Pharma

Following the seizures, the Drugs Control Administration obtained a comparison statement from Sun Pharma, the registered manufacturer of the original drug. The company confirmed that the detected batch was a ‘counterfeit drug’ and not produced by them.

Details of the Drug

Levipil 500 is a prescription anti-epileptic medicine used to treat seizures (fits) in patients diagnosed with epilepsy. The use of counterfeit versions of such drugs poses serious health risks to patients, especially those reliant on precise dosages and formulations.

According to the Drugs Control Administration, investigations into the source and distribution network of the counterfeit batch are ongoing.