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Online Pharmacies
& Weight Loss Pills
With hundreds
of drug-dispensing online pharmacies 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 online pharmacy 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 from online pharmacies
:
Check with
the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (www.nabp.net, (847) 698-6227)
to determine whether an online pharmacy 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 online pharmacies 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.
Don't purchase from foreign online pharmacy 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 online pharmacies 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 online pharmacies 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 an online pharmacy is illegal can report it
to FDA
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