In today’s market there are literally hundreds of different websites that sell prescription drugs and that number seems to be growing by leaps and bounds daily. While it is true that many legitimate pharmacy sites can provide consumers with a practical, private, and convenient way to receive their prescription medications, those that choose to buy prescription drugs online need to take precautions. These precautions are necessary to ensure that the medications that they are buying are safe and that the seller is reputable.
There are some things that a consumer can do to ensure that they are buying from a website that is legitimate. Before making any purchases from a pharmacy online, visit the National Association of Boards of Pharmacies website.
They have developed a list of all of the online pharmacies that are state licensed and safe to buy from online.
The sites that are included on the NABP list are easily identified by the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites seal, or VIPPS Seal. This seal was developed as part of a program to ensure that individuals would be able to easily identify the sites that are in compliance with any state and federal regulations that are required to dispense medication.
This program also includes a seal that was developed specifically for pet medications. Sites that sell pet prescriptions online will feature a Vet-VIPPS seal. Look for this seal before you buy prescription drugs online to ensure that you have chosen a reputable seller.
Other ways to ensure safety are to buy only from online pharmacies that require a prescription from your doctor, that have an actual pharmacist available to answer your questions, and that are able to provide their customers with contact information. Having the name and phone number of someone that the customer can speak with is vital in the event that there are any problems or questions that need to be addressed.
Using an illegal online pharmacy may be tempting because of lower pricing, however it can also cause some serious risks in regards to your health. Prescription medications sold by an illegal pharmacy may be expired or outdated, manufactured in facilities that are below standards, and may even contain dangerous ingredients. Consumers have even been sold fake medications by some of the illegal pharmacies that are online and others have received the wrong medication.
One service that many online pharmacies offer is a prescribing service. This simply requires the user to fill out an online questionnaire and, based on the results, the online pharmacy will issue a prescription. This practice is not only putting the patient at risk of an improper diagnosis but also can result in the patient receiving medicine that is potentially harmful to them. Unscrupulous online pharmacies are also known for selling patient information including financial and personal information.
Nearly half of the pharmacies that sell medications online use this prescribing service. Most of them are physically located in areas outside of the United States and so buying medications from them can actually be illegal for US residents. Often the drugs that are being sold are not FDA approved in the US or they may not meet the standards of quality the US requires by law.
If you purchase your prescription from a website, when they arrive at your home, do not take anything that comes in an open package or that looks as though it was tampered with. If anything is questionable, contact the website that you ordered from. If you are not able to resolve your issue satisfactorily, report the site to the FDA. By reporting these unscrupulous sites to the FDA you will be helping to make the Internet a safer place for everyone. By using an online pharmacy that is legitimate, you will reduce your risk of receiving drugs that have been tampered with.
Most Internet pharmacies claim that they can offer the best prices claiming to save consumers anywhere from 20 to 30 percent and more. Recent studies have shown that the savings are not as substantial as many online retailers claim, usually averaging only around 10 percent when compared to pharmacy chains and supermarkets that sell prescription drugs.
As you might expect, there are pros and cons of purchasing prescriptions online. Some of the pros for buying medication this way include the convenience of online shopping and the money that may be saved. With some research, it is possible to find legitimate online pharmacies that accept your insurance, leaving you with the cost of your co-pay.
Caution is always the rule when making an online purchase, but this is especially true when you decide to buy prescription drugs online. It is important to do your research about any online pharmacy before you make a purchase and if there is any doubt, move on and make your purchase elsewhere.