Purchasing drugs online can save money. But it could also lead to harm, especially if you receive a counterfeit drug or a generic drug that doesn’t contain the dosage you need or contains no active ingredients at all.
Stay Safe When Buying Medicine Online
One tip to avoid suffering serious illness or injuries from an online drug purchase is to make sure you only buy from an accredited pharmacy. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recommends only buying from U.S. pharmacies. You can verify the legitimacy of your online source through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
Also avoid any online source that allows you to purchase prescription medication without a doctor’s approval. Before taking any drug, you should discuss the risks and benefits with your physician, and online pharmacies should have a pharmacist available with whom you may discuss your prescription.
Whenever you are dealing with an online pharmacy – or making any other significant online purchase – trust your instincts. If something feels off, leave the site and certainly do not trust it with your credit card information or your prescriptions and health.
Always remember the saying, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” If you come across an online pharmacy selling brand-name or generic drugs at prices significantly lower than other pharmacies, it’s probably best to stay away. Such drugs may be counterfeit. The FDA notes that counterfeit medication may be contaminated, may contain incorrect ingredients or may have no active ingredient at all, in some cases.
If at any time you experience adverse health effects or reactions after taking a drug – whether purchased online, from a traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacy, or over the counter – see your doctor right away. This could indicate an allergy to the drug or other side effects.
Finally, if after the drugs arrive they are not what you expected for whatever reason – e.g. difference dosage, different name, different label or even different size, shape, color, etc. – or they appear damaged in some way, don’t take them. Bring them to your doctor and contact the pharmacy with any concerns you may have about the product.
You can’t be too careful when it comes to online drug shopping. According to the FDA, there aren’t statistics that show how many people have been harmed by online drug purchases. However, they do know of some individuals harmed by drugs purchased online.
Contact an attorney at Gacovino, Lake & Associates to discuss your case if you believe you have been harmed by counterfeit drugs, whether purchased online or from a traditional pharmacy. Call us today at 1-800-246-HURT (4878).
