Prescription medication is essential to staying healthy and managing chronic illnesses. With the increased popularity of online shopping, it’s only logical that pharmacies would transfer their platform online as well. According to Zion Market Research, global e-pharmacy is expected to generate 107.53 billion by the year 2025.
However, with the influx of internet pharmacies has also come the growing danger of illegitimate pharmaceuticals. That opens the door for unsuspecting consumers to run the risk of buying harmful medication. Since your health and well-being depend on the medication you take, it’s vital to know which pharmacies can be trusted.
If you need tips on buying medications online, the information below will help you weed out the unsafe websites.
The Risks of Buying Medications Online
Counterfeit medication that claims to treat cancer, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses can be found on an internet pharmacy. The drugs sold on untrustworthy websites are not tested and considered unsafe by regulatory agencies.
Even worse, ordering prescriptions online could mean getting ahold of fake drugs. Counterfeit medication may not contain enough active ingredients, or it has too many of them. It might also be the wrong prescription or not be a medication at all.
Investigations have discovered that fake drugs contain harmful ingredients like arsenic, wax, fentanyl, and paint. Unfortunately, counterfeit meds aren’t created with the patient’s health in mind.
Signs of a Sketchy Online Pharmacy
When you buy meds online, there are some tell-tale signs to look for, such as:
- Extremely low prices
- Sends spam mail offering inexpensive meds
- Allows patient’s to buy medication without a valid prescriptions from a doctor
- No licensed pharmacist available to answer questions
Signs of a Reputable Pharmacy
If you buy prescription pills online, a safe internet pharmacy will:
- Have a licensed pharmacist available to answer patient questions
- Require an authentic prescription from a physician or other licensed medical professional
- Be licensed by a state board of pharmacy, or a similar state agency
What to Look for If You Buy Meds Online
Buying medications online isn’t a bad thing. However, the retailer you purchase from makes all the difference. Also, when you receive for prescription, do the following:
- Make sure your name is printed correctly on the medication bottle
- Check that the packaging isn’t damaged
- Make sure the dosage matches the prescription
- Ensure the expiration date is printed clearly on the packaging
- Examine the pills to see if they are the same shape, size, and color of the meds you usually get
- Ensure the name of the medication is correct
Why Have Online Pharmacies Become So Popular?
Despite potential dangers, there are many perks to buying meds online. For instance, when a person can buy Neurontin from a website, instead of a pharmacy, it makes life easier. Here are some other advantages:
Privacy
Believe it or not, some people don’t like being around others when they get their prescription filled. It could be because of the medication they’re taking or preferring to keep their condition private. Either way, ordering meds online provides a sense of confidentiality that isn’t provided at a traditional pharmacy.
Convenience
It’s so much more convenient to have meds delivered than to go out and get them. There aren’t any long lines to stand in, and it’s one less errand to run.
Not to mention, it’s very beneficial to those who have mobility issues or are homebound. Even for those who are sick and in pain, going to a pharmacy is a task. But if it’s delivered to the doorstep, that’s a lot better.
Ability to Speak to a Pharmacist
Another advantage of using an internet pharmacy is having access to a pharmacist. Sure, you can speak to one at a local drugstore, but it isn’t the same. If there’s a line waiting, communication might be rushed, which leaves you with unanswered questions.
Plus, it all goes back to privacy. Speaking with an online pharmacist allows you to ask questions in the privacy of your home.
Access to More Products
Have you ever went to the drugstore and the pharmacist said, “We’re out of that medication, but the pharmacy up the street might have it in stock”?
Well, that’s less likely to happen with an online drugstore. Not to mention, there’s typically a larger inventory of products on a website than there is at a physical location.
Ease of Comparing Prices
If you look at one website and determine that the prices are too steep, it’s easy to hop on another one to check medication costs.
On the contrary, if you want to compare amounts at local pharmacies, you’d have to call around or walk into each one for pricing. But who wants to do that? Online shopping takes the cake in this category too!
Keeping Yourself Healthy and Safe
As tempting as some online pharmacies might be, don’t give in. When it comes to your health, you’d rather be safe than sorry.
Understandably, medication costs can get expensive, especially if you have a chronic illness. But buying medications online from an unreliable source isn’t the way to go.
Don’t misunderstand, not all internet pharmacies are bad, but if you’re going to purchase from them, do your research. If you follow the rules in this guideline, it’ll save you a world of trouble.
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