Although there have been multiple attempts to secure the distribution of prescription drugs in the US, there continues to be challenges to our safety due to counterfeit drugs. Too many people have scarce funds and are unable to meet the cost that is required for the purchase of safe, effective FDA approved drugs. The purchase of prescription drugs over the internet is convenient, has the capability to compare prices of products with ease, provides almost total privacy when consulting a pharmacist, and it also has the possibility of taking your life or a loved one’s. This is why it is a matter of life or death to armor yourself with knowledge when considering purchasing prescriptions online.
Guidelines for buying online:
· Check for the VIPPS seal (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site)—this program makes sure online drug stores are legal and honest.
· Look into websites with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy before purchasing to ensure that the seller is properly licensed.
http://www.nabp.net/
· Beware of sites that sell prescription drugs without a prescription and/or products that are not approved by the FDA (this is illegal and unsafe).
· Make sure the site provides a pharmacist to answer questions online that are based in the U.S.
· Always talk to your primary healthcare provider before taking any medicine for the first time.
· Don’t try to self-diagnose or rely on questionnaires to decide on which medication to take; prescription drugs require a physical exam. Plus, there are many adverse drug interactions that may occur if you take a drug without knowing the proper associated precautions.
· All reputable online pharmacies should provide an address or toll-free phone number to contact in case of a problem.
Many choices exist for buying prescription drugs today. You might be gambling with your health and life when you throw your money away on ineffective drugs or even worse, harmful drugs that are just pretending to help you.
Guidelines for avoiding counterfeit drugs:
· Know your medications—color, size, taste, and side effects
· Pay close attention to the packaging—check altered or unsealed containers, or changes in packaging or labels
· Only buy prescription drugs from reputable sellers—check National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
· Make sure seller is properly licensed
· Know your medications—color, size, taste, and side effects
· Pay close attention to the packaging—check altered or unsealed containers, or changes in packaging or labels
· Only buy prescription drugs from reputable sellers—check National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
· Make sure seller is properly licensed
Well it is real easy to say not to buy from the internet and pharmacies not in the U.S., but those are the places that have reasonable prices. My dad takes about 9 medications, and is on Medicare. Before he started buying his prescription drugs in Mexico he could only afford two of the nine. TWO! He has never had any problems with the drugs since they have kept him healthy and are obviously serving their purpose. So what do you suggest? Getting him off all 9 drugs that may possibly be counterfeit or not taking them at all since he can’t afford U.S. prices.
ReplyDeleteFirst, you should always consult your primary healthcare provider before considering taking or disocontinuing the use of any prescription drugs. This is a sad predicament that a lot of other people face everyday. There needs to be a some change to make prescriptions more affordable for everyone--universal healthcare maybe?? One more word of caution: I'm so happy to hear that Your father is safe and unharmed from the questionable drugs he's currently taking, but ultimately the percieved safety of these drugs could be changed at any moment. There is probably noone to monitor the distribution and manufacturing of these drugs.
ReplyDeleteMy doctor recently changed the prescription of a drug I take regularly and didn’t tell me about it. When I filled my new prescription, the pills looked totally different! After calling around I found out that a generic brand of my medication came on the market and my prescriber felt comfortable putting me on it. My mom okayed the switch, little to my knowledge. I hope that everyone is attentive to their medications and is able to notice when something about them changes (this includes the dosage). So many Americans just take what their doctors tell them too and never second guess.
ReplyDeleteAngie Wallis, SN, UTA SON
This is such a great topic! There are sooo many "fake" products out there these days and it can be easily done in drugs too! It absolutely drives me crazy to think that someone out there would actually want to make a fake drug that could really harm someone. But there are people out there that are like that. I wish there was a way we could stop people from doing it but it's just impossible to do that. I will definately keep a look out on my meds from now on and be sure I can trust where I get them from. I will never buy drugs off the internet. If my pills ever look different then what I'm used to taking, I will definately be sure to check up on it!! Thanks for all the information!
ReplyDelete