| Safety concerns regarding buying prescription | | | | this practice is compliant with the telemedicine laws of |
| medications online pharmacy revolve around issues | | | | the state in which it is based since the definition of the |
| pertaining to your personal health, the legality of | | | | establishment of a doctor/patient relationship varies |
| transactions, and protection of your personal | | | | from state to state. Also obtain the credentials of the |
| information. Online pharmacies provide convenience | | | | doctor providing the telephone consultation including the |
| and other advantages such as privacy and in some | | | | state in which he or she is licensed and the license |
| cases cheaper prices compared to the traditional brick | | | | number, then verify that information through the |
| and mortar pharmacy, but without due diligence the | | | | medical board of the state in which the doctor is |
| buying of prescription medication online can be fraught | | | | licensed to make sure that a valid license is held for |
| with a number of deleterious pitfalls. | | | | the state in which you are located at the time of the |
| To ensure the safety of prescription medications the | | | | telephone consultation. Otherwise the alleged |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that | | | | relationship established by telephone and Internet would |
| medications go through safety clinical trials, and that the | | | | not be a legitimate one inasmuch as the interaction |
| benefits outweigh the risks associated with a drug | | | | would be tantamount to the practice of medicine |
| before it is approved for marketing and sale in the | | | | without a license. The take-home message is avoid |
| United States. Unfortunately pharmacists outside the | | | | buying prescription medications online without the order |
| United States that dispense drugs manufactured | | | | of a physician who is thoroughly familiar with your |
| outside of the United States are not bound by federal | | | | health history based not only on subjective information, |
| regulations, posing a health hazard for those who | | | | but objective data as well including a physical |
| choose to purchase from them. Because some | | | | examination, laboratory tests and x-rays if warranted. |
| pharmacies, even within the United States, import and | | | | A doctor's order also prevents the unauthorized |
| distribute non-FDA approved drugs manufactured | | | | substitution of generic prescription medication for |
| outside of the country, it is important to make sure that | | | | brand-name medication, so make sure you know |
| the online pharmacy you choose only dispenses FDA | | | | whether or not their doctor has authorized generic |
| approved prescription medications. The main concerns | | | | substitution, and if not be sure to know what the |
| about purchasing prescription medication from rogue | | | | brand-name pill looks like before it arrives following |
| online pharmacies that dispense drugs not approved | | | | shipment. The best way to be familiar with what |
| by the FDA approved are, the drugs you receive | | | | brand-name pills look like is to order the first |
| might be counterfeit, contaminated, sub-potent, super | | | | prescription from a local pharmacy and keep one or |
| potent or the wrong drug, all of which could jeopardize | | | | two of the pills in their respective bottles for |
| your health. In the worst-case scenario, you may not | | | | comparison when your shipment arrives. |
| receive any medication at all despite paying for it. | | | | Although the legal ramifications of not being compliant |
| Therefore, it is important to make sure that the online | | | | with federal and state laws regarding the sale, |
| pharmacy is licensed and based in the United States | | | | importation and distribution of pharmaceutical |
| and if not that it is accredited and dispenses drugs | | | | medications generally rest with the pharmacy, the |
| approved by its government. | | | | purchase and possession of controlled substances |
| Since rogue pharmacies tend to want to be invisible | | | | such as narcotics without a doctor's prescription can |
| and unreachable except in cyberspace, it is important | | | | result in legal consequences for the buyer, depending |
| to obtain up-to-date contact information in the form of | | | | on the state of residence. Thus, the message is the |
| a physical address and telephone number. With that | | | | same. Do not buy prescription medications, particularly |
| information you can attempt to obtain a Better | | | | controlled substances, without a doctor's prescription. If |
| Business Bureau report. If a Better Business Bureau | | | | you are elect to purchase medication not available in |
| report is not available you can then do an advanced | | | | the United States and not approved by the FDA from |
| Dun & Bradstreet search to make sure that the | | | | a foreign Internet pharmacy for treatment of a |
| business does in fact exist. Avoid doing business with | | | | condition for which your doctor feels it is indicated, be |
| operations that only provide you with an e-mail | | | | sure to obtain and keep on record a letter or note |
| address as a form of contact. In addition to possibly | | | | from your physician stating that. |
| precluding you from obtaining credentials and | | | | After you have conducted the above research and |
| information about business practices, the provision of | | | | you are satisfied with the results the final step should |
| just an e-mail address might be an indicator of the | | | | be to make sure that any private personal information |
| quality of customer service you can expect or not | | | | submitted is protected and that your online transactions |
| expect. Also obtain the license number and any | | | | are secure. Make sure that the particular website has |
| accreditation credentials from the pharmacy then | | | | a well stated privacy policy assuring you that your |
| verify the information through the state pharmacy | | | | information will not be shared with or sold to anyone |
| board of the state in which the pharmacy is based, an | | | | for the purpose of marketing thus making you a target |
| all important step because some of the alleged Internet | | | | for spam e-mailing. Also make sure that your online |
| pharmacies are not really legitimate licensed | | | | credit card purchase is secure to protect yourself |
| operations. In addition to verifying license status and the | | | | from identity theft. This can generally be done by |
| fact that the pharmacy is located in the United States | | | | looking for the lock icon to the right of the address bar |
| and meets quality standards, state boards of | | | | of your browser before entering your credit card and |
| pharmacy or the National Association of Boards of | | | | other transaction information. Since credit card |
| Pharmacy (NABP) can also let you know if an online | | | | transactions can never be 100% secure because of |
| pharmacy is accredited by Verified Internet Pharmacy | | | | what might happen to the information after is retrieved |
| Practice Sites (VIPPS) or other recognized | | | | from the system, it is reasonable to find out whether |
| accreditation programs. VIPPS pharmacy sites can | | | | or not the pharmacy will accept other forms of |
| also be identified by the VIPPS hyperlink seal displayed | | | | payment or even file with your insurance company. |
| on their Web sites. | | | | In summary, do the necessary and appropriate |
| Many pharmacies online advertise the filling of | | | | investigation of an online pharmacy before buying |
| prescriptions without a doctor's order which can | | | | medications online so as to optimize the likelihood of a |
| certainly be a health hazard if a prescription is filled | | | | medically, legally, financially and emotionally safe buying |
| without a thorough knowledge and understanding of | | | | experience. |
| your health record. The pharmacies that do this tend to | | | | Disclaimer: This article is for informational purpose only |
| hurdle the legal requirement of a doctor/patient | | | | and is not intended to be legal advice or a substitute |
| relationship by having you fill out a questionnaire which | | | | for medical consultation with a qualified professional. If |
| is supposedly reviewed with you by their doctor during | | | | you are seeking legal advice or are unsure about your |
| a telephone consultation. If you elect to participate in | | | | medical condition you should consult an attorney and |
| this type of interaction and relationship (which I do not | | | | or physician. |
| recommend) be sure that the pharmacy engaging in | | | | |