Purchasing prescription drugs online is a very convenient method, and is often much cheaper than buying them in a store or pharmacy. This is especially the case if you want to buy your prescription medication in bigger quantities. If you have health insurance that comes with a limited prescription benefit or you are in need of drugs that aren’t covered by your plan then looking online can save you a substantial amount of money. However, when you do shop online for prescription medication you need to be cautious and ensure that your well being and health come before anything else. Here are ten tips in order to make sure you are receiving the highest quality and also saving money when purchasing prescription medication online.
Shop Around
It is a good idea to search around the web for the best prices on your pharmaceutical drugs. There are such websites as PharmacyChecker that will allow you to comparison shop on different online pharmacies. DestinationRx is also a good website to check out in order to find the best prices on your medications. You should also not automatically assume that the prices you find online will be better than those at your local pharmacy, as this isn’t always the case. Prices will often vary from pharmacy chain to pharmacy chain and website to website, and so checking with multiple sites and stores is highly recommended.
Purchase from a Legitimate Pharmacy
It is crucial that you verify that you can get in contact with a licensed pharmacist in order to answer any questions that you may have about your medications. This is because reputable pharmaceutical sites will offer you free access to pharmacists who are registered and certified. If you have any type of questions concerning your medication then don’t be afraid to ask. Additionally, make sure that the website you purchase from requires that you have a prescription from an authorized medical professional. This often means that you’ll have to have your doctor call or fax it in the order for a legitimate website to send you your medication. Look at the website you decide to use for specific instructions on how to go about this.
Purchase from a Licensed Online Pharmacy
It is highly recommended that you only buy from online pharmacies that have been certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). The main interest of the NABP focuses on protecting public health and ensuring proper pharmacy standards are carried out on a daily basis. It is not always easy to know which sites are potentially dangerous to your health so sites that are certified by the NABP take the concern and guesswork out of choosing a reputable site. You can visit the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s website in order to see a list of all the certified online pharmacies.
Ensure Pharmacy Has VIPPS Certification
VIPPS, which stands for Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites, was started by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy due to growing concerns over the regulation of Internet pharmacies. In order to be considered VIPPS certified, an online pharmacy must follow inspection and licensing requirements given by the website’s residing state, as well as every state that they dispense medication out to. They must also establish pharmacy practice criteria, and also have their site visited by a VIPPS certification team. You can tell whether or not an online pharmacy has been certified by a hyperlinked VIPPS seal displayed on its homepage. Clicking on this seal will take you to the NABP VIPPS website where you can look at verified information about the specific pharmacy.
Make Sure You Get a Prescription
Keep in mind that having a prescription is a confirmation that you have met with a physician and that you have gotten a physical assessment. Due to this, it is crucial that you get a prescription before venturing online in order to find your prescription medication. This will ensure that you are purchasing the proper drug that is prescribed for your specific diagnosis. If you are just basing the type of medication you need on your own research and then proceed to simply fill out a medical questionnaire and provide a credit card number, this is no where near sufficient for meeting medical practice standards, and can be extremely detrimental to your health.
Beware When Ordering from Non US Sites
Although many people do receive their pharmaceutical drugs from outside the country, and there are actually a few states that have set up government programs in order to help residents buy drugs from outside countries such as Canada, purchasing prescription drugs from pharmacies outside of the US can be extremely risky, and in some instances completely illegal. In fact, the highest chance of you receiving medication that is either tainted or counterfeit is from a foreign pharmacy. The Food and Drug Administration often reports cases of US citizens purchasing these drugs from foreign pharmacies, and so it is best to avoid it if at all possible. If you still want to purchase from outside the US proceed with extreme caution.
Read the Security and Privacy Policies
Before you place an order for your prescription drugs, it is recommended that you ensure that all of the personal information that you give out will be protected. This includes your personal health information, your credit card number and any other type of private information that you are required to give out. You will want to know exactly how this collected information will be used as this is required by law.
Be on the Look out for Counterfeit Drugs
Although chances are the prescription drugs you are purchasing online are completely safe, there are instances of drugs being purchased online that turn out to have zero active ingredients or even contain the wrong medication, which can be harmful to your health. Not only will you not be taking the medication that you need in order to get better, but also you could be taking medication that will make your health condition even worse. You can reduce this risk by ensuring that you only purchase your online medication from legitimate pharmacies.
Report Any Problems
If you come across any problems with your online pharmacy then you should immediately report it to the FDA. For instance, if your order has not arrived as promised or in a reasonable amount of time, check your credit card statement to see if there are any unauthorized charges. Also any other problems that may send up a red flag such as not receiving the medication you ordered or questionable quality issues. Not only can this help you resolve any problems that may arise, but you can also aid in promoting a safer online pharmacy market for everyone.
Plan Ahead
It is recommended that you give the pharmacy at least two weeks in order for your prescription order to be processed. If your order will not arrive to you on time then you may be required to purchase a fill-in that can cost you out-of-pocket. This is due to the fact that the majority of prescription plans won’t pay for additional doses on top of the amount that was prescribed to you.