Variety of Medicine Bottles Behind Pills Spilling From Fallen Bottle.
About 96% of all online pharmacies fail to meet federal and state laws. Neglecting to complete a little research first could put your private information at risk.
Don’t buy medication online from the cheapest option. Instead, learn how to recognize safe, legitimate web pharmacies from the rest. With this guide, we’ll help you learn how to buy medicine safely online.
Keep reading to learn how to spot legitimate online pharmacies. The next time you shop online, you’ll have the peace of mind that your private information (and health) are both safe!
Why It Matters
Many people choose to buy from web pharmacies to save time and money. That convenience, however, could cause a number of inconveniences later.
Why should you buy from legitimate web pharmacies? Here are a few risks to consider before you start shopping. Buying prescription drugs online from an unverified website could:
· Make you a victim to fraud or identity theft
· Leave you with medication that isn’t FDA-approved
· Lead you to buy drugs with dangerous filler substances
· Expose your device to dangerous malware
· Cause you to purchase drugs that don’t work as advertised
Many of these illegitimate websites will promise they sell safe, high-quality medications. Don’t trust every claim you read online, though. Even if a medication is legitimate, the online pharmacy might follow unsafe practices.
For example, let’s say the medication you purchase wasn’t stored at the right temperature. By the time the medication reaches you, it could become ineffective. As a result, you’re wasting money and putting your health at risk.
Many of these online pharmacies advertise their products on social media and search engines. You could even see an ad on a website you’ve trusted for years. According to a recent study by the National Association Board of Pharmacies (NABP), 38% of these ads promote illegal online pharmacies.
As a result, many companies, including Snapchat and Google, have altered their advertising requirements.
Learning how to recognize legal web pharmacies from the rest can help you protect your best interests. Otherwise, you could unintentionally put your health and private information on the line.
Choosing Legal Online Pharmacies
Instead of falling for a scam, it’s important to learn how to recognize legal online pharmacies from the rest. Once you find an online pharmacy you can trust, you can enjoy the ease and convenience of shopping online.
However, it’s important to know that the “best” online pharmacy can depend on your location. For example, you might want to look for a local pharmacy. Choosing a local pharmacy can reduce delivery times.
Otherwise, look for an online pharmacy that requires a prescription. By US federal law, online pharmacies need to prove patients have a relationship with the doctor who wrote the prescription. If the pharmacy doesn’t ask for a doctor’s prescription, keep searching.
Before you buy medication online, verify that the pharmacy asked for a doctor-signed prescription. If they did, make sure they’re licensed in the state the pharmacy is located in.
Next, make sure the pharmacy has a licensed pharmacist you can speak with. If not, keep searching. These first three steps are crucial. About 95% of consumers aren’t aware of the tools they can use to find safe pharmacies online. Here are a few additional steps you can take when searching for legal online pharmacies.
Make Sure They’re Recommended
Remember, only 4% of online pharmacies meet federal and state laws. In order to suss out the other 96%, the NABP created the Not Recommended List (NRL).
This list can help you determine which pharmacies aren’t following NABP patient and pharmacy best practices.
Many of the websites on this list are operating without the required licensure. Some are selling medication that wasn’t approved for sale in the area. Others, however, sell prescription-only medication without requesting a prescription from the patient.
These web pharmacies are operating illegally. Many don’t even sell drugs directly. Instead, they might send you to another website that also fails to follow the NABP’s standards.
Before you buy medication online, make sure the pharmacy you choose isn’t featured on the NRL list.
Make Sure the Price Is Right
Does the price you’re seeing appear way too cheap? Before you buy medication online, compare prices. Look at other web pharmacies to gauge the average price.
When shopping online, many people choose the cheapest option. However, remember, the cheapest pharmacy isn’t necessarily the safest or best option for your health. It’s crucial to get proper medications from a regulated pharmacy with experts, not just the cheapest ones. A reliable online pharmacy like Quick Meds can ensure you receive authentic medicines dispatched safely after consultation with qualified pharmacists.
You might also want to look for a website that will compare different prices for you. Once you have an average, you can determine whether or not a price is too good to be true.
Comparing prices will give you peace of mind you’re making a choice that’s smart for your health and wallet.
3. Explore the Site
Take a little time to explore the online pharmacy’s website. Do they seem to know their stuff? Do they offer access to a consulting doctor?
Look for websites that also offer informative details about the products they’re selling. For example, the page for this product details benefits, ingredients, side effects, and dosage.
While you explore, look for the NABP’s Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ (VIPPS®) seal. Sites with the VIPP seal are approved by the NABP and therefore meet licensure requirements.
If you’re still unsure about buying prescription drugs online from a specific pharmacy, visit the VIPPS website. They list a number of reliable online pharmacies that meet NABP criteria and have the VIPPS® seal. Choosing a site with this seal will give you peace of mind that you’re making a smart choice.
Study the Domain
Take a look at the website’s URL. Does “.pharmacy” appear at the end of the web address? If so, the online pharmacy is considered a safe choice.
The NABP reviews online pharmacies to make sure they follow state and federal legal practices. While a company might try to forge a seal, they can’t forge the “.pharmacy” domain name.
Safe Shopping: How to Buy Medication from Safe Web Pharmacies
Don’t choose the pharmacy at the cheapest price! Instead, use these tips to buy medication from safe web pharmacies the next time you shop. With these tips, you can protect your health and private information without stress!
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