According to the Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) approximately 97% of all online pharmacies are not in compliance with the United States pharmacy laws and standards of practice.
Online shopping is convenient and becoming a growing part of our daily lives. It is perfectly reasonable to want to order prescriptions the same way that we do groceries or other products for our home.
But how can you tell the difference between a legal online pharmacy and an illegitimate online pharmacy? Below are five of the best tips to help you make the right choice when choosing a legal online pharmacy.
1. No Prescription Required
Some online pharmacies advertise that no prescription is required to purchase medications. According to the FDA, this is the first sign that the pharmacy is a fraud. No prescription pharmacies that allow you to call in a prescription on your own accord or a pharmacy that allows one of their doctors to prescribe for you are a major red flag.
This practice is extremely risky consumer behavior because there is no way to tell if the drug you receive is legitimate. Illegitimate drugs could contain wrong or harmful ingredients. It is also possible that these fake drugs could interact with other medications you are taking and cause dangerous side effects.
Purchasing a drug without a prescription or having an online pharmacy’s doctor prescribe for you may seem convenient but it is much safer to purchase medications online from a pharmacy that requires a prescription from your doctor.
2. Prices That Seem to Good to be True
You know the old idiom, if it seems to good to be true it probably is. This rings true for online pharmacies. A legitimate Canadian Pharmacy will not have unrealistically lower prices than a brick and mortar pharmacy.
Many of these rogue pharmacies may also send out a lot of unsolicited emails or spam messages advertising medications at prices that seem too good to be true. If you are receiving a lot of spam email from an online pharmacy it may be a sign that the pharmacy is illegitimate.
One reason these prescriptions are priced so low is that the medications they ship could be fakes, out of date, or even contaminated. It is also possible that the medications may have been improperly stored which would render the medications useless for their intended purpose.
However, it is possible to shop around and get a good deal on your prescription medications online. A prescription price search tool can help you compare prices and find a good deal at a reputable pharmacy. If you find a prescription medication substantially lower than the normal price, be wary of the site.
3. Online Pharmacies Without a Physical Address
If the pharmacy website only provides a P.O. box this could be a sign that it is not what it claims to be. One of the first signs of an illegal pharmacy is that it doesn’t have a physical address or it has a physical address located outside of the United States.
In the United States pharmacies, and pharmacists are licensed by state boards. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) is a nonprofit association that assists in public health by promoting safe pharmacy practices. They work with the FDA to maintain a list of verified internet pharmacy sites that are safe to use.
Many people choose to buy their medications from Canada because they may have cheaper prices on prescription drugs than the United States. But keep in mind just because an online pharmacy has Canada in the name of the company or on the website doesn’t mean that the medications come from a Canadian pharmacy.
Always look for pharmacies that provide a physical address. When in doubt double check the pharmacy with the NABP’s list of verified internet pharmacy sites.
4. It’s Not Approved by Your Health Insurance
If you have drug benefits as part of your health insurance ask your insurance provider for a list of legitimate online pharmacies. Health insurance providers vet individual pharmacies before accepting them as a supplier.
However, keep in mind that sometimes a pharmacy will not make it on your health insurer’s list simply because the insurer and the pharmacy do not have a business relationship, not because the pharmacy is an illegal online pharmacy.
Ask your health insurance provider if they have a list of legitimate online pharmacies that they could provide you with.
5. Legal Online Pharmacies Answers Questions
Legal online pharmacies will have a state-licensed pharmacist available to answer any questions you may have just like they do at a brick and mortar pharmacy. It is a pharmacist’s job to alert you to possible medication interactions and instruct you on how and when to take the medication.
If consultations are not provided by your online pharmacy it may be a fraud. Always be sure to ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about your medications before you begin use.
Report Illegitimate Online Pharmacies
If you believe an online pharmacy is selling prescriptions illegally report the website to the FDA using their MedWatch reporting form. The agency evaluates all the complaints that they receive and will take action if necessary.
With thousands of illegitimate online pharmacies on the internet, it is a big task to track them all down and you can do your part to help report fraudulent online pharmacies as you come across them.
Use Caution When Buying Prescriptions Online
These days there are many convenient ways to get medications and lots of pharmacies to choose from. An online pharmacy can provide the convenience of having your prescriptions delivered to your door and many offer discounts for shopping online. You can purchase prescriptions safely online. All it takes is a little investigative work before you make a purchase. Use these five tips and share this article with your friends and family to help you identify between legal online pharmacies and a rogue pharmacy.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind