Is It Safe to Buy Medications Online? The internet has changed the way we buy goods.For about four million Americans, the internet is where they go to buy medications, mainly because it is often cheaper, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Other reasons include the convenience and time-savings.

But buying drugs online on a website likely hosted in a different country can be risky business.How Does the U.S.Rx Spending Stack Up with Other Countries? The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that prescription drug expenditure in the U.S.

came to about in 2018.The chart below compares the U.S.with other countries.

Retail Rx spending per capita each year Of the countries shown below, Sweden spends the least for pharmaceuticals per capita, at $351, while the U.S.spends the most at $1,011.Country Spending Per Capita Sweden $351 Norway $401 Netherlands $417 Australia $427 United Kingdom $497 France $553 Canada $669 Germany $686 Switzerland $783 United States $1,011 These kinds of numbers have made Americans aware of how prescription drugs cost us more than consumers in other countries.

This is a powerful motivation for buying drugs online considering the high drug price.What Are the Risks of Buying Drugs Online? Unfortunately, there are those who buying take advantage of online consumers.Since the drugs they sell are generally manufactured in a foreign country, buying medications online that have not been approved by the FDA can be dangerous.

Even when drugs are purchased from a web site based in Canada, you can’t be sure if they were manufactured there.or more of drugs actually made in certain regions of Asia, Africa and Latin America have been found to be counterfeit.Some of the risks to the consumer include: The drugs purchased can be fake, outdated, unapproved, low quality ingredients or harmful.

Since ingredients and processes can be different, there is a risk that the drug will be harmful with your other prescriptions.You can pay and not receive the medication.The drugs you receive can be the wrong medications.

Information on the label can be wrong or non-existent.Buying prescription drugs online from a fake pharmacy means you could receive counterfeit medications, which can be ineffective or have side effects not seen in FDA-approved drugs.Digital Consequences Buying on a fake site can be dangerous in other ways.

The site could: Sell your financial information Sell your personal information Infect your computer with a virus Lead to internet scams How to Tell That an Online Pharmacy is Fake So, what should you look for to make sure you are dealing with a legitimate site? Here are some signs that an online pharmacy is fake: No prescription required Cheap prices are too good to be true The site sends out spam touting cheap prices They ship from a foreign country They are not licensed by a state board of pharmacy or other state health authority A legitimate, and safe, online pharmacy, on the other hand: Requires a prescription Has a state-licensed pharmacist you can speak with Has a real, physical address in the U.S.that is not a fake storefront Holds licenses from your state’s state board of pharmacy as well as the state where the pharmacy is operating FDA Tips if You Buy Health Products Online To make sure a website is “real” be extremely cautious: Contact the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to verify that the online pharmacy is licensed.Or look for an NAVP-certified symbol.

Go to nabp.net to speak with someone, use the Live Chat or call 847-391-4406.Don’t buy if the site offers to prescribe a drug for the first time, without requiring a physical exam.Don’t buy if the site is selling drugs not approved by the FDA.

Be sure there is a registered pharmacist to consult.Avoid a site that can’t give you a physical address or phone number.Be leery of a site that pushes a new “cure” or a cure-all.

Beware a site that tells you that the medical profession, government or research scientists have conspired to suppress a product.Lookout for sites that have case histories that use words like “amazing results!” Always ask your doctor if it is okay for you to take any supplement or medication first.Before Buying from an Online Pharmacy Before you decide whether or not to buy from an online pharmacy, watch for certain red flags.

Don’t buy from a site that makes unbelievable claims that a drug has incredible results (i.e.it is a cure).If the site doesn’t require valid prescriptions, don’t buy.

Only buy from sites based in the U.S.Only buy drugs that are approved by the FDA.Instead of assuming the online price is the best you can get, check with your local drug store in case their prices are better.

What to Do if You Suspect an Online Pharmacy is Illegal Contact the FDA to Complain If you feel that a site might be illegal, report it to the FDA: Here is an for finding out what is required in your state.Keeping a Regulatory Eye on Online Pharmacies The FDA is responsible for regulating the safety, manufacturing and effectiveness of pharmaceutical drugs.Because of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the FDA can go after web sites that do not require a valid prescription.

Experience has shown that oversight and regulation of online pharmacies are most effective at the federal level, as opposed to the state level.However, the FDA is now teaming up with state regulatory and law enforcement groups to deal with illegal domestic sales of prescription drugs.The agency also has signed agreements with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and the Federation of State Medical Boards.

All of these groups have committed to helping enforce federal and state laws against illegal internet sellers and prescribers of drugs in the U.S.As part of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection, a program called Operation Cure.All works to stop false internet claims for that products and treatments cure various diseases.

One study found that 37 of the 46 online pharmacies considered required a prescription or offered to prescribe a medication based only on a questionnaire they provide consumers.As we’ve discussed prescribing meds without an actual prescription is against the law.