 Surfing
Safely: Buying Drugs Online
There are no limits to what you can
do on the World Wide Web-you can do everything from buy a new car
to order your groceries. The latest service available on the web
is ordering both prescription and over-the-counter drugs through
online "drug stores." These new web sites offer many advantages:
easy comparative shopping for the best prices and the ability to
order medications and speak to a pharmacist in the privacy of your
own home. But are the medications you receive safe? |
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Is the Site Legitimate?
Illegitimate online drug stores are
popping up all over the Internet-these sites sell unapproved drugs
and make approved drugs available to consumers without traditional
safeguards. Buying medications from these sites can pose some serious
health risks. You may receive a contaminated or counterfeit product,
the wrong product or an incorrect dose. Unfortunately, it can be
difficult to determine whether you are dealing with a legitimate
site or a scam artist. Currently, these online drug stores are not
required to disclose any information to the consumer. This includes
information regarding whether the site is licensed or if it uses
licensed pharmacists or doctors. Before you buy your medication,
check the site out with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy,
www.nabp.net or call
(847) 698-6277 to determine whether it is a licensed pharmacy.
 There are few
clues you can use to determine whether a site is licensed-avoid
sites that do not identify the organization or company sponsoring
the site and do not offer a U.S address and telephone number to
contact if you have a problem. Other warning signs to watch out
for include sites advertising "miracle cures" for serious illnesses.
Beware of sites that use testimonials and undocumented case histories
claiming amazing results or that use impressive sounding terminology.
Illegitimate sites may also claim that the medical profession has
tried to keep the product from the public. If you suspect a site
is illegitimate, report it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administratioin
(FDA). |
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more information on other popular consumer issues check out FCIC's
Consumer
Focus Archive. |
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Are My Medications Safe?
 When
buying prescription medications online, be extra cautious. If it
is a prescription drug, do not buy from a site that offers to prescribe
a prescription drug for the first time without a physical exam or
that sells you a prescription drug without a prescription from your
doctor. Some sites may offer to prescribe a drug for you after you
fill out a questionnaire-without requiring an additional physical
exam from a doctor. This is very risky-these questionnaires do not
provide enough information for a health-care professional to determine
if the drug is safe for you to use or whether you have an underlying
medical condition where using that drug may be harmful. Also, the
information on the questionnaire may not reveal potential dangerous
drug interactions or other serious health consequences. Make sure
the site you are purchasing from has access to a registered pharmacist
to answer your questions. Before you use the medication for the
first time, consult your health-care professional.
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 Other
Resources
This is just a brief overview. For
more information on buying drugs online check out these resources
from FCIC and on the World Wide Web:
Publications available for viewing from FCIC:
Publications
available for ordering from FCIC:
Web
Sites*:
*If you click
on these links, you are leaving FCIC's web site. Please bookmark
us before you leave so you can return easily. FCIC is not responsible
for the content of these web sites. |
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