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People can be confident that Web sites that are VIPPS-approved are legitimate. Legitimate pharmacies that carry the VIPPS® seal are listed at www.vipps.info |
Drugs purchased over the Internet by an American patient who was told that the products were manufactured in the United States and were being sold from Canada. The drugs he actually received are "knockoffs" from India. |
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to warn consumers about the possible dangers of buying medicines over the Internet. Some Web sites sell prescription and over-the-counter drugs that may not be safe to use and could put people's health at risk.
So how can you protect yourself? FDA says that consumers should know how to recognize a legal Internet pharmacy and how to buy medicines online safely.
Buying prescription and over-the-counter drugs on the Internet from a company you don't know means you may not know exactly what you're getting.
There are many Web sites that operate legally and offer convenience, privacy, and safeguards for purchasing medicines. But there are also many “rogue Web sites” that offer to sell potentially dangerous drugs that have not been checked for safety or effectiveness. Though a rogue site may look professional and legitimate, it could actually be an illegal operation.
These rogue sites often sell unapproved drugs, drugs that contain the wrong active ingredient, drugs that may contain too much or too little of the active ingredient, or drugs that contain dangerous ingredients. Some Web sites sell counterfeit drugs that may look exactly like real FDA-approved medicines, but their quality and safety are unknown.
Signs of a trustworthy Web site
Another way to check on a Web site is to look for the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's (NABP) Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ Seal, also known as VIPPS® Seal.
This seal means that the Internet pharmacy is safe to use because it has met state licensure requirements, as well as other NABP criteria. Legitimate pharmacies that carry the VIPPS® seal are listed at www.vipps.info
Signs of an unsafe Web site
Before you get any new medicine for the first time, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any special steps you need to take to fill your prescription.
Any time you get a prescription refilled
Be aware that some drugs sold online
Counterfeit drugs are fake or copycat products that can be difficult to identify. The deliberate and fraudulent practice of counterfeiting can apply to both brand name and generic products, where the identity of the source is often mislabeled in a way that suggests it is the authentic approved product.
Counterfeit drugs may
For example, counterfeit versions of the FDA-approved weight loss drug Xenical, which contains the active ingredient orlistat, recently were obtained by three consumers from two different Web sites.
Laboratory analysis showed that the capsules that the consumers received contained the wrong active ingredient, sibutramine. Sibutramine is the active ingredient of a different medicine called Meridia, a prescription drug also approved by FDA to help obese people lose weight and maintain weight loss. In addition, sibutramine is classified as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) because of its potential for abuse and misuse.
Using medicine that contains an active ingredient that wasn't prescribed by your licensed health care provider may be harmful.
FDA also became aware recently of a number of people who placed orders over the Internet for one of the following products:
Instead of receiving the drug they ordered, several customers received a product that contained haloperidol, a powerful anti-psychotic drug. As a result, these customers needed emergency medical treatment for symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, muscle spasms, and muscle stiffness—all problems that can occur with haloperidol.
FDA continues to proactively protect consumers from counterfeit drugs. The agency is working with drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers to identify and prevent counterfeit drugs. FDA also is exploring the use of modern technologies and other measures that will make it more difficult for counterfeit drugs to get mixed up with, or deliberately substituted for, safe and effective medicines.
Report unsafe or suspicious sites to FDA by going to www.fda.gov/buyonline and clicking on “Report problem Web sites.”
ALERT: For a list of drugs that you should NOT buy online because of special safety restrictions, visit www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/dontBuyonNet.htm.
This article appears on FDA's Consumer Health Information Web page (www.fda.gov/consumer), which features the latest updates on FDA-regulated products. Sign up for free e-mail subscriptions at www.fda.gov/consumer/consumerenews.html.
Protect Your Health
Joint FDA/WebMD resource
www.webmd.com/fda
FDA Press Release: FDA Finds Consumers Continue to Buy Potentially Risky Drugs Over the Internet
www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01663.html
FDA Press Release: FDA Says Consumers Continue to Buy Risky Drugs Online
www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01735.html
FDA's Web Page on Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online
www.fda.gov/buyonline
FDA's Consumer Safety Guide on Buying Prescription Medicine Online
www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide
Updated: February 27, 2009
