Use Caution When Buying Medications Online

Buying medicine online can be safe and convenient. It also can put your health and even your life at risk if you buy from a fraudulent Internet seller.

Even so, with prescription drug prices soaring, consumers who see potential savings from online suppliers can be tempted to make a deal.

"My advice is: Take your time and be very careful," says Christopher C. Kelly, a spokesman for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Legitimate online sellers do exist and can be recognized by their business practices and their credentials. However, buying from a fraudulent seller—no matter how good the price—can be dangerous if you receive drugs that contain toxic substances or incorrect doses."

The FDA offers the following information to help you purchase medications online with confidence.

Beware of counterfeits

Some Web sites sell counterfeit drugs. Although counterfeit drugs may look exactly like legitimate FDA-approved drugs, they're of unknown quality and safety.

Fake drugs can be dangerous because they could:

• Be made in unsafe conditions

• Be contaminated

• Contain the wrong active ingredient, no active ingredients, or too much or too little of an active ingredient to treat the condition

For example, the FDA determined some consumers who placed Internet orders for Ambien, Xanax, Lexapro, and Ativan received products that contained haloperidol, a powerful antipsychotic drug.

No information

Illegitimate sellers often don't provide the appropriate information required to be dispensed with a drug.

For example, sellers from outside the United States often don't follow U.S. standards in labeling drugs for safe and effective use, so consumers may not get proper information about dangerous interactions, how to take a drug, or what to do if certain side effects occur.

Other dangers

• Fraudulent sites often sell unapproved drugs or approved drugs without following required safeguards put in place to protect consumers.

• Illegitimate sellers don't know your medical history, drug allergies, or drug interactions and could supply you with a drug that could cause a dangerous or fatal interaction.

• Dishonest Web sellers may not protect your personal information, including credit card details.

The real deal

So what's a consumer to do?

"Because fraudulent sellers can have sophisticated Web sites that look legitimate, consumers must take the time to carefully investigate any online drug provider before placing an order," Kelly says.

According to the FDA, these are the marks of a legitimate drug Web site:

• Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) seal. This indicates that the site complies with state and federal laws and criteria of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). VIPPS-approved Web sites are listed at http://www.vipps.info.

• Licensed by the state board of pharmacy where the Web site operates. To determine if this is the case, visit the NABP Web site at http://www.nabp.info.

• Located in the United States.

• Licensed pharmacist available to answer questions.

• Rigorous privacy and security policies.

• Requires a prescription from your doctor.

"Protecting your health requires knowledge and vigilance," Kelly says. "Take a hard look at any online medication site before placing an order."