Tips and Warnings for Consumers
With hundreds of drug-dispensing Websites in business,
how can consumers tell which sites are legitimate
ones, especially when it is very easy to set up a
site that is very professional looking and promises
deep discounts or a minimum of hassles? If you buy
medical products online, be aware of the following
dangers:
* Purchasing a medication from an illegal Website
puts you at risk. You may receive a contaminated or
counterfeit product, the wrong product, an incorrect
dose, or no product at all.
* Taking an unsafe or inappropriate medication puts
you at risk for dangerous drug interactions and other
serious health consequences.
* Getting a prescription drug by filling out a questionnaire
without seeing a doctor poses serious health risks.
A questionnaire does not provide sufficient information
for a health-care professional to determine if that
drug is for you or safe to use, if another treatment
is more appropriate, or if you have an underlying
medical condition where using that drug may be harmful.
The American Medical Association has determined that
this practice is generally substandard medical care.
FDA agrees.
FDA offers these tips to consumers who buy
health products online:
* Check with the National Association of Boards
of Pharmacy (www.nabp.net, (847) 698-6227) to determine
whether a Website is a licensed pharmacy in good standing.
* Don't buy from sites that offer to prescribe a
prescription drug for the first time without a physical
exam, sell a prescription drug without a prescription,
or sell drugs not approved by FDA.
* Don't do business with sites that have no access
to a registered pharmacist to answer questions.
* Avoid sites that do not identify with whom you
are dealing and do not provide a U.S. address and
phone number to contact if there's a problem.
* Look for easy-to-find and understand privacy and
security policies. Don't provide any personally identifiable
information (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.
* Don't purchase from foreign Websites at this time
because generally it will be illegal to import the
drugs bought from these sites, the risks are greater,
and there is very little the U.S. government can do
if you get ripped off.
* Beware of sites that advertise a "new cure"
for a serious disorder or a quick cure-all for a wide
range of ailments.
* Be careful of sites that use impressive-sounding
terminology to disguise a lack of good science or
those that claim the government, the medical profession,
or research scientists have conspired to suppress
a product.
* Steer clear of sites that include undocumented
case histories claiming "amazing" results.
* Talk to your health-care professional before using
any medications for the first time.
(Source: http://www.fda.gov)
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