Buying Prescription Medicines Online: A Consumer Safety Guide.The Internet is rapidly changing the way we live, including how we work and shop. The growth of the Internet in recent years has enabled many consumers to purchase medicines online. There are online pharmacies  This article or section may deal primarily with the U.S. and may not present a worldwide view. that provide legitimate prescription services. Unfortunately, there are
also questionable sites that make purchasing medicines online risky.Potential risks include: * Fake, unapproved un·ap·proved adj. Not approved or sanctioned: an unapproved vaccine; an unapproved protest march. , outdated, or sub-standard products * Little or no quality control (packaging, purity of ingredients, storage) * Possibility of an incorrect diagnosis (i.e., those sites that inappropriately diagnose and prescribe pre·scribe v. To give directions, either orally or in writing, for the preparation and administration of a remedy to be used in the treatment of a disease. online) * Obtaining an inappropriate medicine (e.g., inappropriate for condition, interaction with other drugs) * Lack of assurance of confidentiality and security issues To purchase medicines online safely and securely, here are some basic do's and don'ts: Meet with Your Doctor to Obtain Any New Prescription DO: Take only medications that have been prescribed by your doctor or other authorized au·thor·ize tr.v. au·thor·ized, au·thor·iz·ing, au·thor·iz·es 1. To grant authority or power to. 2. To give permission for; sanction: health care provider. DO: Consult with your doctor on whether you need to take any special steps in filling your prescription. DON'T: Buy online from sites that offer to prescribe a medicine for the first time without a physical exam by your doctor or that sell a prescription medicine without a prescription. Ensure that You are Dealing with a Legitimate Pharmacy DO: Buy only from sites that require prescriptions from a physician or other authorized health care provider and that also verify each prescription before dispensing dispensing provision of drugs or medicines as set out properly on a lawful prescription. A prescription can only be filled, the drugs supplied, by a registered pharmacist, veterinarian, dentist or member of the medical profession. the medication. A written verification policy is usually posted on the site. DO: Use sites that provide convenient access to a licensed pharmacist pharmacist /phar·ma·cist/ (fahr´mah-sist) one who is licensed to prepare and sell or dispense drugs and compounds, and to make up prescriptions. phar·ma·cist n. who can answer your questions. DO: Make sure that the site is a licensed pharmacy in good standing in your state. Check with your state board of pharmacy or with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP NABP National Association of Boards of Pharmacy NABP Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted ) at www.nabp.net. Some sites display the NABP VIPPS VIPPS Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites [TM] (Verified Internet Pharmacy internet pharmacy Online A website that offers prescription drugs from the comfort of home Cons The IP or prescribing physician may not be qualified or licensed to prescribe drugs in all states. See Operation Cure-All, VIPPS. Practice Sites) seal, an assurance that such sites are meeting all applicable state and federal requirements. DON'T: Buy from sites that sell prescription medicines without a prescription. DON'T: Buy from sites that sell medicines not approved by FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. . Know from Whom You are Buying DO: Buy only from U.S.-based sites. DON'T: Buy from sites without posted customer service policies. Safeguard Your Privacy and Security DO: Look for easy-to-find and understand privacy and security policies. DON'T: Provide any personally identifiable information In information security and privacy, personally identifiable information or personally identifying information (PII) is any piece of information which can potentially be used to uniquely identify, contact, or locate a single person. (social security number, credit card, and health history) unless you are confident that the site will protect them. Make sure the site does not share your information with others without your permission. Trust Your Instincts DO: Use common sense when purchasing prescription medications online. Apply the same standards you'd use for any place of business when looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a reputable pharmacy site. DON'T: Buy from sites that include undocumented case histories claiming amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. medical results. Take Action to Protect Yourself and Other Consumers DO: Report problems. If you suspect a site is not a licensed pharmacy, do not buy from it. Report the site and any complaints to FDA at www.fda.gov/oc/ buyonline/buyonlineform.html. To purchase medicines online safely and securely, here are some basic do's and don'ts: Meet with Your Doctor to Obtain Any New Prescription DO: Take only medications that have been prescribed by your doctor or other authorized health care provider. DO: Consult with your doctor on whether you need to take any special steps in filling your prescription. DON'T: Buy online from sites that offer to prescribe a medicine for the first time without a physical exam by your doctor or that sell a prescription medicine without a prescription. Ensure that You are Dealing with a Legitimate Pharmacy DO: Buy only from sites that require prescriptions from a physician or other authorized health care provider and that also verify each prescription before dispensing the medication. A written verification policy is usually posted on the site. Buying prescription medicines online may be a beneficial option for you and your family. Just make sure you know all the facts before making a purchase. For additional information, go to www.fda.gov and click on "Buying Medicines and medical Products Online" or call 1-888-INFOFDA (1-888-463- 6332). A public service message from the CybeRx-Smart Safety Coalition: Working to provide information about online medications. American Pharmaceutical Association American Society of Consultant Pharmacists American Society of Health-System Pharmacists CornerDrugstore.com CVS.com drugstore.com Federal Trade Commission National Association of Boards of Pharmacy National Association of Chain Drug Stores National Community Pharmacists Association National Council on Patient Information and Education National Patient Safety Foundation PlanetRx.com U.S. Food and Drug Administration Health and consumer organizations and businesses are encouraged to join and participate in the CybeRx-Smart Safety Coalition. Call (301)656-8565 for details. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research is a division of the FDA that deals with the approval of drugs. CDER reviews New Drug Applications to ensure that the drugs are safe and effective. It is one of five Centers at the United States Food and Drug Administration. FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Last Updated: December 13, 2000 Originator: OTCOM HTML by PKS, WW |
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