“You’ve Got Prescriptions”
TIPS FOR SAFELY BUYING MEDICINES ONLINE
By Christy Wiebe, Pharm.D.

The Internet has dramatically changed the way that we live, work, and even manage our health. It is estimated that nearly 1,000 Web sites dispense prescription medications online. Many legitimately offer convenient, private, and sometimes less costly ways for individuals to obtain needed medicines. However, modern technology has also made it easy for “rogue” Web sites to operate under professional-looking disguises. The following information will help you protect yourself while using online pharmacy providers.

RECOGNIZE THE RISKS

Remember the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Be wary of e-mails or Web sites touting prescription drugs available without a prescription, drugs that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, products that claim to be a “cure-all” for multiple ailments, or generic versions of drugs for which generics are not available in the U.S. Purchasing medications from these sites increases your risks for obtaining contaminated, counterfeit, impure or outdated drugs; incorrect drugs or doses; products that have not been manufactured or stored properly; or possibly even no product at all.

GENERAL THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Sites that offer prescription drugs without a prescription, or that require only completion of an online questionnaire to obtain prescription drugs, bypass a valuable safety net—examination by a licensed practitioner. Questionnaires and surveys do not provide enough information to ensure that a particular drug is really necessary, safe, or appropriate for you. It is important to discuss your medication needs with a health care provider that is already familiar with your health in order to help you avoid drug interactions, prevent drug duplications, and use only medicines that will not harm any underlying conditions that you may have.
   
• Ensure that you are using a legitimate pharmacy provider. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has developed a highly reputable program to recognize licensed online pharmacies that have met strict criteria for legal operation. Look for the Verified Internet Pharmacy Provider Site (VIPPS) seal of approval on the pharmacy Web site and click on the seal to double-check their certification. You can learn more about the VIPPS program at http://www.nabp.net/vipps/consumer/faq.asp, or call NABP at (847) 698-6227 for additional information.
   
• SquareTrade, an online service to help consumers identify trustworthy businesses, has also created an online pharmacy qualification program. Similar to VIPPS, the SquareTrade program confirms that online pharmacies are licensed, law-abiding, and legitimate. Qualifying pharmacies may display the SquareTrade seal as evidence that they have met the program criteria.

Avoid Internet pharmacies that do not provide access to a licensed pharmacist to answer questions or sites that do not list a valid U.S. address and phone number for resolving problems. Look for pharmacy sites that have privacy and security policies that are easy to locate and understand. Be sure to buy medicines only from sites that require prescriptions from authorized health care providers and that verify prescriptions before they are dispensed. Also, although this is currently a hotly debated topic, be cautious about purchasing medicines from foreign websites at this time.  Obtaining prescriptions from a foreign site increases your risk that transactions may not be safe or legitimate. In addition, it is still generally illegal to import medicines purchased from such sites and it is more difficult to pursue legal recourse if problems arise.

Using online pharmacies can still be a valuable resource for many consumers as long as they combine careful research and common sense to help guarantee safe and successful transactions. For more information and online resources, or to report a suspicious Internet pharmacy, visit the FDA Web site at http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline.