In the face of rising health care costs, many consumers have looked to the internet in search of better prices on their prescription medications. But are these sites safe? According to a new report by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, (NABP) the vast majority are either risking your health or operating illegally—sometimes both.

Of the over 8,000 internet sites reviewed by the NABP, 96% were considered “rogue” sites which appear to be operating out of compliance with state and federal laws or patient safety and pharmacy practice standards:

• 85% do not require a valid prescription.
• 46% offer foreign or non-FDA-approved drugs which are illegal to import into the U.S. with one exception (see below).
• 64% use an online questionnaire to evaluate patient health and medication needs, which can be very dangerous. This practice is sometimes called a “prescription service.”
• 27% are located outside of the United States and selling drugs illegally to patients in the U.S.

According to the NABP, rogue internet sites selling prescription drugs are typically unlicensed pharmacies or operating from foreign countries where medicines shipped to the United States may not be FDA regulated or approved. About half of online pharmacies that offer a prescribing service are located outside the U.S.

When you purchase drugs through a licensed pharmacy selling FDA regulated drugs, you have some assurances of quality. When buying from a rogue site, there may be no way of knowing whether the medicine you receive is contaminated, sub-potent, super-potent, expired, or counterfeit, or whether it has been stored and shipped under proper conditions to maintain its effectiveness.

And if the health risks weren’t bad enough, some rogue sites exist merely to acquire your credit card information to commit further fraud.

How do you know if an online pharmacy is safe?

Legitimate pharmacies:

• Require a prescription from a licensed doctor, usually by mail (if they accept a fax copy, they will always call your doctor to verify the prescription)
• Are licensed by a U.S. State Board of Pharmacy and, if applicable, have the appropriate authorizations (DEA) to sell controlled substances
• Have a pharmacist available to answer questions
• Provide full contact information such as their address and phone number
• Clearly state their payment, privacy, and shipping fees on their sites and use secure or encrypted website connections for transactions.

You can also look for the NABP accreditation symbol: VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) or Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites). See if your pharmacy is accredited or your pet’s veterinary pharmacy is accredited.

Links

People: http://www.nabp.net/programs/accreditation/vipps/find-a-vipps-online-pharmacy/

Pets: http://www.nabp.net/programs/accreditation/vet-vipps/find-a-vet-vipps-online-pharmacy/

Is it ever legal to import foreign drugs?

In some circumstances, the FDA does allow an individual entering the U.S. to import a 90-day supply of an unapproved drug only if the following conditions are met:

1. The intended use of the medication is for a serious condition for which effective treatment may not be available in the U.S.
2. The medication will not be sold by the person bringing the medication into the U.S.
3. The medication is considered not to represent an unreasonable risk.
4. The individual seeking to bring the medication into the U.S. affirms in writing that the drug is for his or her own use and provides the name and address of the doctor licensed in the U.S. responsible for his or her treatment with the medication; or, the individual provides evidence that the medication is for the continuation of a treatment begun in a foreign country.

The FDA notes that this exception is intended for non-FDA approved drugs only as a way to allow U.S. citizens access to treatment options not available in the U.S. or for foreign visitors to continue use of a drug they use in their home country.  This exemption does not apply to U.S. citizens re-importing an FDA-approved drug or a similar foreign-made drug.

Sources:

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

FBI

U.S. Food and Drug Administration