Online pharmacies: are they safe?

Online pharmacies: are they safe?

By Howard Seidman, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth

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More people are buying prescription drugs through the Internet. Convenience and cost are two factors. But is it safe to order drugs online?

That depends.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says many online pharmacies are licensed and serve people with the same expertise and reliability as brick-and-mortar companies. But the agency reports that many others are not reliable or safe to use.

To start, beware of medicines bought over the Web from outlets that hide their physical address. They may be using counterfeit medications. Many fake medications are made in Asia, South America and Eastern Europe. These may look like the real thing. Or they can be a strange mix of glue, chalk and sugar.

Some people may feel safe buying drugs from Canada. Canada is known for having the same drugs available in the U.S. at lower cost. But some Web sites that claim to be Canadian pharmacies are really selling drugs made elsewhere. This may include places where laws are lax and counterfeiting is high.

Counterfeit medicines are an obvious health danger. But without an on-site chemical analysis, you have no real means to find out if a purchase is harmful.

Best online sources

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) reviews and accredits online pharmacy practice sites. Entities that qualify are given the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) seal of approval. The VIPPS seal should be on the Web site of an approved online pharmacy.

The seal identifies Internet pharmacies that are properly licensed for online trade and have passed criteria review. The review includes inspections of all facilities that are used to receive, review and dispense medicine. VIPPS also has compliance standards for:

• Patient privacy rights
• Authentication and security of drug orders
• Quality assurance and improvement programs
• Consultation between patients and pharmacists

Be a smart consumer

Even if you think that an online pharmacy is reliable, it is important to look for any signs of crooked practices. Be wary of online sites where:

• No prescription is required.
• Prescriptions are dispensed solely on the basis of an online questionnaire. Sites that don't need evidence that you saw a doctor are probably illegal. They also usually fail to meet U.S. standards of care.
• There is no way to consult with a pharmacist.
• You are requested to sign a waiver. Lawful pharmacies don't ask patients to sign documents that waive all rights or put people in legal jeopardy.
• You hear about them through spam solicitations. Don't trust entities that advertise through unsolicited e-mail (spam). This is illegal.

Being a smart consumer can help ensure that the medication you buy is safe. To find out if an online pharmacy holds VIPPS accreditation, visit the VIPPS Web site at http://www.vipps.info.

View the original Online pharmacies: are they safe? article on myOptumHealth.com 

SOURCES:

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The possible dangers of buying medicine online. Accessed: 06/30/2008

• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Buyer beware: Protect yourself when buying medications online. Accessed: 06/30/2008

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Buying prescription medicine online: A consumer safety guide. Accessed: 06/30/2008

• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS). Accessed: 06/30/2008