FDA Databases: How to Verify Medications and Spot Counterfeit Drugs

Every year, millions of people around the world take medications they believe are safe. But what if the pill in your bottle isn’t what it claims to be? Counterfeit drugs are a real and growing threat - and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) runs the only official system in the country that can help you confirm whether a medication is legitimate.

What the FDA Databases Actually Do

The FDA doesn’t just approve drugs - it tracks them from factory to pharmacy. Three main databases work together to make this possible: the NDC Directory, the Drug Establishments Current Registration Site, and the Electronic Drug Registration and Listing System (eDRLS). These aren’t just government files - they’re the backbone of drug safety in the U.S.

The NDC Directory is the most important tool for verifying a drug. Every FDA-approved medication gets a unique 10- or 11-digit National Drug Code (NDC). This code breaks down into three parts: the labeler code (who makes it), the product code (what the drug is), and the package code (how it’s sold - like 30 tablets or 100 mL). If a drug doesn’t have a matching NDC in the FDA’s database, it’s not approved.

For example, if you see a bottle of metformin labeled as “500 mg tablets” but the NDC doesn’t appear in the NDC Directory, that’s a red flag. The same goes for any drug you buy online or from a foreign pharmacy. The FDA updates this directory every single day, so outdated or fake listings get caught fast.

How to Check a Drug Using the NDC Directory

You don’t need to be a pharmacist to use the NDC Directory. Here’s how to do it:

1. Find the NDC on the drug packaging. It’s usually printed near the barcode or in small print on the box or bottle.
2. Go to the FDA’s NDC Directory at accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ndc/.
3. Enter the full NDC number - no dashes, no spaces.
4. Check the results. If it shows the drug name, manufacturer, dosage, and active ingredient - it’s real.
5. If nothing comes up, or the details don’t match what’s on your bottle, the drug may be counterfeit.

Pro tip: Don’t trust the NDC if it’s handwritten or looks smudged. Legitimate manufacturers print NDCs clearly and consistently. If the label looks like it was printed on a home printer, walk away.

Who’s Allowed to Make and Sell Drugs?

Not every company can legally make or distribute medicine in the U.S. The Drug Establishments Current Registration Site lists every facility registered with the FDA. That includes factories, repackagers, and wholesale distributors.

Want to know if your pharmacy’s supplier is legit? Search the establishment’s name or address in the registry. If it’s not there, they’re operating illegally. And here’s something most people don’t realize: even if a drug has a real NDC, if it came from an unregistered facility, it’s still unsafe.

Since June 2009, all drug companies must submit their product information electronically through eDRLS. That means the FDA has a digital paper trail for every approved drug. If a company hasn’t submitted their listing, or their registration expired, their products shouldn’t be on the market.

The Big Change: DSCSA and Product Identifiers

Before 2023, the FDA system could track drugs by type - but not by individual package. That meant two identical bottles of the same drug could come from different sources, and there was no way to tell which was real.

That changed on November 27, 2023, with full implementation of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). Now, every prescription drug package must have a unique 2D barcode - a product identifier - that links to a digital record. Pharmacies and distributors scan these barcodes to verify each package before it’s sold.

This doesn’t mean you need to scan your pills at home. But it does mean that if you’re buying from a pharmacy, they’re legally required to check the barcode. If they don’t, they’re breaking the law. If you’re buying online, ask if they verify each package. If they can’t answer, don’t buy.

What Counterfeit Drugs Look Like

Counterfeit drugs aren’t always obvious. Some look identical to the real thing. Others have slight differences: wrong color, misspelled name, odd smell, or packaging that feels cheap.

Common red flags:

• Price that’s way lower than normal - if it’s too good to be true, it is.
• Foreign packaging with no English labeling.
• No lot number or expiration date.
• Seals that look tampered with or don’t match the brand’s design.
• Online sellers who don’t require a prescription for controlled drugs.

According to the FDA’s 2022 report, counterfeit drugs are rising 18% per year. Most come from overseas suppliers - especially from countries with weak regulation. Fake versions of diabetes, heart, and cancer drugs are the most dangerous because they can kill silently.

Why This Matters for You

Counterfeit drugs don’t just fail to work - they can poison you. In 2021, the FDA found fake versions of metformin containing toxic chemicals. Another batch of counterfeit blood pressure pills had no active ingredient at all. Patients taking those pills had strokes and heart attacks because their condition went untreated.

Real medications are tested for safety, purity, and effectiveness. Counterfeits aren’t. They might contain rat poison, chalk, or even other drugs. The FDA estimates that 1 in 10 drugs sold online globally are fake. That number is higher for specialty medications like insulin or erectile dysfunction pills.

Using the FDA databases isn’t just about avoiding fraud - it’s about protecting your life.

What You Can’t Do With FDA Databases

These tools are powerful, but they have limits. You can’t check over-the-counter supplements. You can’t verify drugs sold outside the U.S. unless they’re FDA-approved. And you can’t use them to check compounded drugs - those made by pharmacies for individual patients.

Also, the system only works if everyone plays by the rules. About 98% of manufacturers are compliant, but only 65% of small pharmacies are. That means if you’re buying from a small independent pharmacy, they might not be scanning barcodes - even though they’re required to.

If you’re unsure, ask your pharmacist: “Do you verify every prescription using the DSCSA system?” If they hesitate or don’t know what you mean, it’s time to find another pharmacy.

What’s Coming Next

The FDA is upgrading the NDC format to a standardized 12-digit system by 2026. That will make it harder for counterfeiters to guess or fake codes. They’re also adding product photos to the NDC Directory - so you can compare the real image of your drug with what’s on your bottle.

AI tools are starting to help too. Companies like IBM and Google are building machine learning models that scan supply chain data for anomalies - like a sudden spike in orders from an unknown supplier. These tools will help the FDA catch fakes before they reach stores.

But the best defense is still you. Knowing how to check an NDC, asking questions, and avoiding shady online sellers saves lives.

Final Checklist: Are You Safe?

Before taking any prescription or OTC drug, ask yourself:

• Did I get this from a licensed U.S. pharmacy?
• Can I find the NDC in the FDA’s NDC Directory?
• Does the packaging match the FDA’s official product image (when available)?
• Is the price realistic? (Too cheap = too risky.)
• Did the pharmacy scan the barcode before giving me the drug?

If you answered no to any of these, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t take the risk.

What to Do Next

Take five minutes today. Find one prescription you take. Look up its NDC in the FDA’s database. If you’ve never done it before, you’ll be surprised how easy it is - and how much peace of mind it gives you.

Share this with someone you care about. Someone older. Someone who buys meds online. Someone who doesn’t know how to check if their pills are real. You could save their life.