|
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.
Consumers who suspect that a site is illegal can report
it to FDA. |
|
|
|
|
|
|