By Cara Murez
health day reporter
FRIDAY, Nov. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) — It can be tempting to buy prescription drugs online, but shoppers should beware, warns the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
While some pharmacy websites operate legally and may offer convenience, privacy and lower costs, others may sell unapproved, counterfeit and unsafe drugs, advises the FDA.
There are many unsecured online pharmacies, offering prescription drugs without a prescription and selling them at “deeply discounted” prices.
These pharmacies may use fake “windows” designed to imitate licensed pharmacies. They may imply or say that their drugs come from countries with high safety standards, according to the FDA.
Yet what they sell could be made anywhere without safety or efficacy. The medications could also be fake or expired.
Beware if the online pharmacy does not require a doctor’s prescription, the FDA warned. Other red flags: The pharmacy is not licensed in the United States or by your state board of pharmacy and does not have a licensed pharmacist on staff to answer questions.
You should also be wary of medications that look different from what you get at your usual pharmacy, that arrive in damaged packaging, that are labeled in a foreign language, that don’t have an expiry date, or that are expired.
A price that seems too good to be true is another warning sign.
An unsecured online pharmacy may not provide clear written safeguards about protecting your personal and financial information, may charge you for products you never ordered or received, or may sell your information to others.
Medicines from these pharmacies may contain too much or too little of the active ingredient that treats your condition. They may contain a different active ingredient or a harmful substance.
These drugs may not help you, but may also unexpectedly interact with other drugs you are taking, cause an allergic reaction, or have a dangerous side effect. They may not have been stored properly, which could render them ineffective.
Despite all these problems, it is still possible to find a safe online pharmacy.
The FDA suggests looking for one that still requires a doctor’s prescription, provides a physical address and phone number in the United States, and has a licensed pharmacist to answer your questions.
This online pharmacy should be licensed by a state board of pharmacy. You can check the pharmacy’s license in the state board of pharmacy licensing database using the locator tool on the FDA’s BeSafeRx website. Do not use a pharmacy that is not listed.
More information
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has more information on efforts to shut down illegal online pharmacies.
SOURCE: US Food and Drug Administration, press release, November 16, 2022