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Buying
Prescription Medicine Online:
A Consumer Safety Guide
Buying your medicine online can be easy.
Just make sure you do it safely.
The Internet has changed the way we live, work and shop. The growth
of the Internet has made it possible to compare prices and buy
products without ever leaving home. But when it comes to buying
medicine online, it is important to be very careful. Some websites
sell medicine that may not be safe to use and could put your health
at risk.
Some websites that sell medicine:
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aren’t U.S. state-licensed pharmacies or aren’t pharmacies at all
-
may give a diagnosis that is not correct and sell
medicine that is not
right for you or your condition
-
won’t protect your personal information
Some medicines sold online:
-
are fake (counterfeit or “copycat” medicines)
-
are too strong or too weak
-
have dangerous ingredients
-
have expired (are out-of-date)
-
aren’t FDA-approved (haven't been
checked for safety and effectiveness)
-
aren’t made using safe standards
-
aren’t safe to use with other medicine or products you use
-
aren’t labeled, stored, or shipped correctly
MEET AND TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR
-
Talk with your doctor and have a physical exam before you get any
new medicine for the first time.
-
Use ONLY medicine that has been prescribed by your doctor or another
trusted professional who is licensed in the U.S. to write
prescriptions for medicine.
-
Ask your doctor if there are any special steps you need to take to
fill your prescription.
These tips will help protect you if you buy medicines online:
KNOW YOUR SOURCE to make sure it’s safe
Make sure a website is a state-licensed pharmacy that is located in the United States. Pharmacies and pharmacists in the United States are licensed by a state's board of pharmacy. Your state board of pharmacy can tell you if a website is a state-licensed pharmacy, is in good standing, and is located in the United States. Find a list of state boards of pharmacy on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) website at www.nabp.net.
The NABP is a professional association of the state boards of
pharmacy. It has a program to help you find some of the pharmacies
that are licensed to sell medicine online. Internet websites that
display the seal of this program have been checked to make sure they
meet state and federal rules. For more on this program and a
list of pharmacies that display the Verified Internet Pharmacy
Practice Sites™ Seal, (VIPPS® Seal), go to
www.vipps.info.
Look for websites with practices
that protect you
A safe website should:
-
be located in the United States and licensed by the state board of pharmacy where the website is operating (check www.nabp.net for a list of state boards of pharmacy)
-
have a licensed pharmacist to answer your questions
-
require a prescription from your doctor or other health care
professional who is licensed in the United States to write
prescriptions for medicine
-
have a way for you to talk to a person if you have problems
BE SURE YOUR PRIVACY IS PROTECTED
Look for privacy and security policies that are easy-to-find and
easy-to-understand.
Don’t give any personal information (such as social security number,
credit card, or medical or health
history), unless you are sure the website will keep your information
safe and private.
Make sure that the site will not sell your information, unless you
agree.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS
Report websites you are not sure of, or if you have complaints about
a site.
Go to www.fda.gov/buyonline and click on
“Notify FDA about problem websites.”
Buying your medicine online can be easy. Just make sure you do it
safely.
For more information
on buying medicines and medical products
over the Internet, go to www.fda.gov and click on “Buying
Medicines Online,” or go directly to
www.fda.gov/buyonline.
For related
information, go to:
Imported medicine
www.fda.gov/importeddrugs
Counterfeit medicine
www.fda.gov/counterfeit
Generic drugs
www.fda.gov/cder/ogd
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
Food and Drug Administration
www.fda.gov
1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)
In cooperation with the
National Council on Patient Information and
Education
www.talkaboutrx.org
Consumer Education: Buying
Medicines and Medical Products Over the Internet
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Date created: January 11, 2005; updated August 14, 2008 |