Consumer Focus

Surfing Safely: Buying Drugs Online

There are no limits to what you can do on the World Wide Web-you can do everything from buy a new car to order your groceries. The latest service available on the web is ordering both prescription and over-the-counter drugs through online "drug stores." These new web sites offer many advantages: easy comparative shopping for the best prices and the ability to order medications and speak to a pharmacist in the privacy of your own home. But are the medications you receive safe?

Is the Site Legitimate?

Illegitimate online drug stores are popping up all over the Internet-these sites sell unapproved drugs and make approved drugs available to consumers without traditional safeguards. Buying medications from these sites can pose some serious health risks. You may receive a contaminated or counterfeit product, the wrong product or an incorrect dose. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine whether you are dealing with a legitimate site or a scam artist. Currently, these online drug stores are not required to disclose any information to the consumer. This includes information regarding whether the site is licensed or if it uses licensed pharmacists or doctors. Before you buy your medication, check the site out with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, www.nabp.net or call (847) 698-6277 to determine whether it is a licensed pharmacy.

There are few clues you can use to determine whether a site is licensed-avoid sites that do not identify the organization or company sponsoring the site and do not offer a U.S address and telephone number to contact if you have a problem. Other warning signs to watch out for include sites advertising "miracle cures" for serious illnesses. Beware of sites that use testimonials and undocumented case histories claiming amazing results or that use impressive sounding terminology. Illegitimate sites may also claim that the medical profession has tried to keep the product from the public. If you suspect a site is illegitimate, report it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administratioin (FDA).

For more information on other popular consumer issues check out our Consumer Focus Archive.

Are My Medications Safe?

When buying prescription medications online, be extra cautious. If it is a prescription drug, do not buy from a site that offers to prescribe a prescription drug for the first time without a physical exam or that sells you a prescription drug without a prescription from your doctor. Some sites may offer to prescribe a drug for you after you fill out a questionnaire-without requiring an additional physical exam from a doctor. This is very risky-these questionnaires do not provide enough information for a health-care professional to determine if the drug is safe for you to use or whether you have an underlying medical condition where using that drug may be harmful. Also, the information on the questionnaire may not reveal potential dangerous drug interactions or other serious health consequences. Make sure the site you are purchasing from has access to a registered pharmacist to answer your questions. Before you use the medication for the first time, consult your health-care professional.

Other Resources

This is just a brief overview. For more information on buying drugs online check out these resources on the World Wide Web:

• Buying Drugs Online: It's Convenient and Private, but Beware of 'Rogue Sites'
• How to Spot Health Fraud

• Questions to Ask Your Pharmacist

• Publications available for ordering from the Health Page

Web Sites*:

• The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• The Federal Trade Commission
• Annals of Internal Medicine

*If you click on these links, you are leaving our web site. Please bookmark us before you leave so you can return easily. We are not responsible for the content of these web sites.