Tips and Warnings
With hundreds of drug-dispensing Websites in business, how can consumers
tell which sites are legitimate ones, especially when it is very easy
to set up a site that is very professional looking and promises deep discounts
or a minimum of hassles?
If you buy medical products online, be aware of the following dangers:
• Purchasing a medication from an illegal Website puts you at risk.
You may receive a contaminated or counterfeit product, the wrong product,
an incorrect dose, or no product at all.
• Taking an unsafe or inappropriate medication puts you at risk for
dangerous drug interactions and other serious health consequences.
• Getting a prescription drug by filling out a questionnaire without
seeing a doctor poses serious health risks. A questionnaire does not provide
sufficient information for a health-care professional to determine if
that drug is for you or safe to use, if another treatment is more appropriate,
or if you have an underlying medical condition where using that drug may
be harmful. The American Medical Association has determined that this
practice is generally substandard medical care. FDA agrees.
FDA offers these tips to consumers who buy health products online:
• Check with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
(www.nabp.net, (847) 698-6227) to determine
whether a Website is a licensed pharmacy in good standing.
• Don't buy from sites that offer to prescribe a prescription drug
for the first time without a physical exam, sell a prescription drug without
a prescription, or sell drugs not approved by FDA.
• Don't do business with sites that have no access to a registered
pharmacist to answer questions.
• Avoid sites that do not identify with whom you are dealing and
do not provide a U.S. address and phone number to contact if there's a
problem.
• Be careful when buying from foreign Websites. It may be illegal to import the drugs bought from these sites, the risks
are greater, and there is very little the U.S. government can do if you
get ripped off.
• Beware of sites that advertise a "new cure" for a serious
disorder or a quick cure-all for a wide range of ailments.
• Be careful of sites that use impressive-sounding terminology to
disguise a lack of good science or those that claim the government, the
medical profession, or research scientists have conspired to suppress
a product.
• Steer clear of sites that include undocumented case histories claiming
"amazing" results.
• Talk to your health-care professional before using any medications
for the first time.
Consumers who suspect that a site is illegal can report
it to FDA.
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The information contained in these pages
is for educational / reference use only.
Sources:
FDA
