Drugs
Buying Prescription Medicine Online: A Consumer Safety Guide
Buying your medicine online can be easy. Just make sure you do it safely.
The Internet has changed the way we live, work and shop. The growth of the Internet has made it possible to compare prices and buy products without ever leaving home. But when it comes to buying medicine online, it is important to be very careful. Some Web sites sell medicine that may not be safe to use and could put your health at risk.
Some Web sites that sell medicine:
- aren’t U.S. state-licensed pharmacies or aren’t pharmacies at all
- may give a diagnosis that is not correct and sell medicine that is not right for you or your condition
- won’t protect your personal information
Some medicines sold online:
- are fake (counterfeit or “copycat” medicines)
- are too strong or too weak
- have dangerous ingredients
- have expired (are out-of-date)
- aren’t FDA-approved (haven't been checked for safety and effectiveness)
- aren’t made using safe standards
- aren’t safe to use with other medicine or products you use
- aren’t labeled, stored, or shipped correctly
Meet and Talk with Your Doctor
- Talk with your doctor and have a physical exam before you get any new medicine for the first time.
- Use ONLY medicine that has been prescribed by your doctor or another trusted professional who is licensed in the U.S. to write prescriptions for medicine.
- Ask your doctor if there are any special steps you need to take to fill your prescription.
These tips will help protect you if you buy medicines online:
KNOW YOUR SOURCE to make sure it’s safe
Make sure a Web site is a state-licensed pharmacy that is located in the United States. Pharmacies and pharmacists in the United States are licensed by a state's board of pharmacy. Your state board of pharmacy can tell you if a Web site is a state-licensed pharmacy, is in good standing, and is located in the United States. Find a list of state boards of pharmacy on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Web site at www.nabp.net
.
The NABP is a professional association of the state boards of pharmacy. It has a program to help you find some of the pharmacies that are licensed to sell medicine online. Internet Web sites that display the seal of this program have been checked to make sure they meet state and federal rules. For more on this program and a list of pharmacies that display the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ Seal, (VIPPS® Seal), go to www.vipps.info
Look for Web sites with practices that protect you
A safe Web site should:
be located in the United States and licensed by the state board of pharmacy where the Web site is operating (check www.nabp.net
have a licensed pharmacist to answer your questions
require a prescription from your doctor or other health care professional who is licensed in the United States to write prescriptions for medicine
have a way for you to talk to a person if you have problems
BE SURE YOUR PRIVACY IS PROTECTED
Look for privacy and security policies that are easy-to-find and easy-to-understand.
Don’t give any personal information (such as social security number, credit card, or medical or health history), unless you are sure the Web site will keep your information safe and private.
Make sure that the site will not sell your information, unless you agree.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS
Report Web sites you are not sure of, or if you have complaints about a site.
Reporting Unlawful Sales of Medical Products on the Internet
Buying your medicine online can be easy. Just make sure you do it safely.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | Food and Drug Administration
www.fda.gov
1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)
In cooperation with the
National Council on Patient Information and Education
www.talkaboutrx.org
