Around 250,000 children die every year because of fake medicine. One of the places you’re likely to get fake drugs is online pharmacies. You know the risks of buying prescription medicines online, so it’s important to know how to spot the red flags and find a reputable site. Don’t worry if you don’t know what to look for, that’s why we’re here.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Signs of a Rogue Website
When you’re buying prescription drugs online, thoroughly examine the site before making a purchase. A major red flag is that you can buy medicine without a valid prescription from your healthcare provider. Instead, many rogue sites give customers a questionnaire to fill out but this isn’t the same thing as getting a thorough evaluation from your doctor.
They also won’t have a U.S. state-licensed pharmacist available to contact about any queries you have. You should also be mindful of online pharmacies selling medicine at extremely low prices and sending junk emails with offers.
Beware of unsecured pharmacy websites; otherwise, your confidential health information could be accessed by unauthorized people. To check that it’s secure, see whether the web address begins with “HTTPS” instead of only “HTTP.”
Another way to spot a dubious site is if they make questionable claims. For instance, they may claim that a particular medicine guarantees “fantastic results” and promises to cure your ailment quickly.
Other Signs to Consider
Fake prescription drugs are dangerous typically because they contain too much or too little of the active ingredient. Consuming them can have devastating side effects on your health.
Because active ingredients are the key to tackling an illness, they must be legitimate. If not, your body may have a bad reaction to the fake active ingredient.
Criminals want to make a quick buck so they’ll often add ingredients like flour, sugar, or other chemicals that could harm you.
Further, fake medicine may not have been stored properly in a medical warehouse or at the correct temperature, which can affect the efficacy of the drug. Once the medicine has arrived, examine the packaging to see if there are spelling mistakes, whether it’s of poor quality, and if there are mismatched details on the outside and inner packaging.
You should also check that the medicine doesn’t have a strange smell or looks discolored. And don’t forget the verification logo that should be present on the site and prescription drugs. It’s a green cross that shows they’ve registered with the FDA.
Still unsure? Check the FDA’s site as they have a list of legitimate pharmacies in every state. If you’re buying from an overseas country like Canada, ensure the pharmacy is registered with the country’s relevant agency.
What to Look for in a Reputable Website
If you’re not sure how to buy prescription drugs online, then start by looking for signs that it’s safe. First, a reputable online pharmacy will ask for a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare professional or your doctor.
They will also have a licensed pharmacist you can talk to.
You should also look for the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) logo as it proves the pharmacy has met state licensing requirements, the NABP criteria, and is safe to buy from. If you notice any dodgy behavior and feel that the site isn’t licensed, then report it to the FDA.
Further, consider the site’s customer reviews. If there are negative reviews or comments, stay away from that pharmacy.
How to Buy Prescription Drugs Safely
Once you’re certain that it’s a safe site, then you can start buying drugs online.
First, schedule an appointment with your doctor or licensed healthcare professional to get a legitimate prescription and ask whether you need to follow a special procedure to fill it.
Taking prescription medicine without their consent means you’re putting yourself at risk because you could get improper treatment. Your doctor will consider facts like your age, condition, and health to determine the best medicine for you. Plus, physicians will consider your lifestyle habits and whether the medication you’re currently taking will interact negatively with the new one.
Then, decide whether to buy online prescription drugs with your insurance or by yourself. Note that there won’t be a drastic difference between the price of medicine in a brick-and-mortar pharmacy.
If you’re buying medicine through your insurance, inquire whether your provider has a mail-order pharmacies you could buy from. Can’t find the information on their website? Call their customer service and ask.
Don’t worry if you don’t have insurance. You should browse an array of sites and compare the prices so you can find the best deal and then double-check that they’ve been verified. As you check the various medicines, check the labels to see if there are any additional descriptions about the product.
That’s How to Safely Buy Prescription Medicines!
Hopefully, you know now how to safely buy prescription medicines online.
First, examine the online pharmacy site to check whether they make unrealistic claims, have a secure website, as well as the right certifications to prove they’re legitimate. You must have a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional and the site must be approved by the FDA and NABP.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
