Citing the widespread operations of illegal pharmacies who sell counterfeit prescription medications online, health regulators from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesdayurged public to take extra precautions while ordering prescription medicationsthrough internet.

The fake drugs sold by the unauthorized pharmacies contain a synthetic opioid called fentanyl, which can increase the risk of a drug overdose, the health experts said, while adding that fentanyl is "50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, and methamphetamine."

To attract more customers, these online pharmacies often offer heavy discounts and sell drugs without a doctor's prescription, quoting the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDCsaid.

The latest warning comes as a response to an indictment released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Sep. 30, 2024 against individuals running illegal online pharmacies.

Officials pressed charges against 18 defendants running illegal online pharmacies after nine individuals who consumed the counterfeit pillssold by the companies died of narcotics poisoning.

The report, while exposing the activities of the unlicensed pharmacies, said thatthey were producing, promoting, selling and shipping millions of unregulated, counterfeit or unsafe prescription pills in US.

Referring to an investigation conducted by the National Association of Boards of Pharmcy, which found that around 95 percent of online pharmacies claiming to sell prescription drugs were illegal, CDC recommended patients to buy medicines only froma state- licensed pharmacy.

"Individuals should only take medications prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy," the health agency, said.

In case of drug overdose, an opioid overdose reversal drug named naloxone should be used, they said.