The State - News from April 5, 1987

The Food and Drug Administration warned of counterfeit bottles of a prescription pain killer used to treat gout and various kinds of arthritis. The FDA said Syntex Laboratories of Palo Alto identified fake bottles of Naprosyn, a nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory drug. The counterfeit tablets appear to contain the common over-the-counter ingredients aspirin or acetaminophen. Counterfeit tablets were purchased by pharmacies and wholesalers in the FDA’s Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Dallas districts in 500-tablet bottles labeled as Naprosyn 375 mg. tablets. Officials said the counterfeit bottles can be distinguished by improper expiration dates in 1990. The genuine product will have expiration dates in 1988, followed by the letters A, B or C on the bottle label.