Looks Can
Be Deceiving: The Risks Of Buying Medicines
From Across The Border Or Around The World
(NAPS)—When it comes to buying medicines, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) believes that nothing is more important than
safety.
With this in mind, FDA is warning consumers not to purchase
medications from foreign countries, including Canadian Internet
pharmacies. Non-FDA approved products sold from these outlets can be
risky and
dangerous. The FDA’s warning follows a recent announcement by the
government of Canada that it
cannot assure the safety or effectiveness of medicines being
purchased by U.S. consumers from Canada.
In the U.S., FDA sets high standards to ensure that medicines are
high quality, safe, and effective products. Around the world, FDA is
considered the world’s gold standard. Because of FDA’s efforts and
science-based decisions, millions of Americans can get the medicines
they need and be assured of their safety
and effectiveness when they buy from pharmacies and pharmacists
licensed and located in the United States.
Outside the U.S., all bets are off. When buying medicines online
or from so-called “store-front” pharmacies, consumers enter the
world of what could be unsafe and risky products. Prescription
medicines bought outside of the U.S. may be old, poorly
manufactured, improperly stored or even counterfeit (fake or
tampered with). Crooked people from around the world are shipping
counterfeit, dangerous and illegal medicines every day. This safety
gap is real: the World Health Organization has determined that more
than 80 percent of medicines are counterfeit in some countries.
Bottom line: Buying medicines from outside the U.S. is risky
business. Don’t take the risk.
To make sure that an Internet site or pharmacy is a state-licensed pharmacy, is in good standing, and is located in the United States, check with your state board of pharmacy or with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) at www.nabp.net.
Consumer Education: Buying Medicine From Outside the United
States
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Date created: August 26, 2004; Updated October 4, 2006 |