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Consumers have lots of choices for buying prescription drugs these days.
But beware – counterfeit drugs are on the rise. You might throw your
money away on ineffective drugs, or even worse, you could be harmed by
taking drugs that aren’t what they pretend to be.
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Don’t buy from an
online seller that doesn’t require a prescription.
It's against the law to sell prescription drugs to people who don’t
have prescriptions for them. Reputable online drug sellers verify
each prescription they receive before filling the order. Always talk
to your doctor before taking any prescription drugs.
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If you don’t
already have a prescription, don’t deal with a Web site that will
provide one based on an online questionnaire, without an in-person
physical exam.
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According to
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Medical
Association, if you get a prescription without a physical exam, you
could receive a drug that is inappropriate, or even dangerous
because of a condition that you might not realize you have. Your
doctor will also have a record of any other drugs you are taking and
can make sure any new drug you take will not dangerously interact
with the drugs you are already taking.
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Don’t buy from a
site that advertises “miracle drugs” for a new cure for a serious
disease. These drugs are not usually approved by the FDA and could
be dangerous or not effective.
Other danger
signs include claims for a “new cure” for a serious disease, or use
of impressive sounding terminology to disguise a lack of good
science.
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Make sure a
licensed pharmacist is available to answer your questions.
Whether you’re buying prescription drugs online, through the mail,
by telephone, or in person, reputable sellers should have
pharmacists available to answer questions.
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Beware of online
pharmacies that don’t list an address or toll-free phone number to
contact in case of a problem. They may be deliberately attempting to make it harder to
track them down.
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Avoid Web sites
that only sell a limited number of medications, especially
“lifestyle” medications that treat obesity, impotence, herpes, pain
and acne.
Such Websites are designed to attract consumers who have privacy
concerns and wish to avoid an in-person doctor’s visit. The Websites
are more likely to sell prescription drugs without legitimate
prescriptions.
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When you buy
medications online, make sure the seller is properly licensed.
Check with your state board of pharmacy or the National Association
of Boards Pharmacy at
www.nabp.net (click on “Who We Are” on the left and then “Boards
of Pharmacy” for a list of state boards) or call 847-698-6227. These
sources can tell you if the online seller is licensed. You should
check the state board of pharmacy where the online seller is
located, and your own state board of pharmacy. Some sites display a
seal, such as the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s VIPPS
seal, as proof that the site has met state and federal requirements.
Dealing with pharmacies that display the VIPPS seal, or other
similar certification seals, gives you more confidence that they and
the products they sell are legitimate. See a list of VIPPS-accredited
pharmacies at:
http://www.nabp.net/vipps/consumer/listall.asp
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If you suspect
you have bought a counterfeit drug online, report it.
Notify the online drug seller. You should also report your
suspicions about counterfeit drugs bought online to the FDA. Use the
online reporting form at
http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/buyonlineform.htm or call the
FDA’s Medwatch program at 1-800-332-1088. In addition, ask your
doctor for medical advice if you believe you have taken a
counterfeit drug.
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If you believe an
online drug seller is selling prescription drugs without a license,
without prescriptions, or in violation of other laws, report it.
Use the FDA’s online form at
http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/buyonlineform.htm or call the
FDA’s Medwatch program at 1-800-332-1088. You should also report
your suspicious to your local state board of pharmacy, or the
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy at:
http://www.nabp.net/vipps/consumer/report.asp
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Be a well-informed
consumer.
The FDA has tips about buying drugs online at
http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/default.htm. There is also
information from the FDA about counterfeit drugs at
http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/counterfeit/qa.html.
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