Before ordering any medication online, it is important to know the risk of buying from fake online pharmacies that can be dangerous and even deadly. Below are some important tips to keep in mind when purchasing prescription medications online.
Counterfeit and/or Substandard drugs
When ordering prescription drugs online they may look real but they might be counterfeit, expired or contaminated which could cause the user to stay sick or get worse.
Slight differences equal big differences
Medications approved in the U.S. have been reviewed by the FDA. However, medications in other countries are produced by unknown sources and may have slight variations that can cause the user to get sick, develop a resistance or cause new side effects. Additionally, if taking more than one drug, these differences could also affect the other meds.
Personal data at risk
In addition to health concerns, fake online pharmacies don’t have proper safeguards in place to protect your financial information. Many of these sites can infect your computer with a virus and then sell your personal information to other fake sites.
Signs of a fake pharmacy
The site allows you to buy drugs without a proper prescription
Discounts and prices so cheap they are too good to be true
Constant spam emails offering cheap drugs
They are located outside the US and not licensed within the US
Signs of a safe online pharmacy
The site requires a doctor’s prescription
Provides a physical address and phone number within the US
A pharmacist is available to answer questions
Has a license with your state board of pharmacy. You can verify your state’s pharmacy licensing database. This is not an exhaustive list of safety measures but a good start. The FDA has BeSafeRx for more information.
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