It’s smart to be skeptical when ordering from online pharmacies. Here’s how to order prescription medications online safely and securely.
Type the name of any popular drug and the word “online” or “buy” into a search engine, and you’re likely to be inundated with search results from obviously-shady operators, many of them from foreign countries. While there are, of course, perfectly reputable online pharmacies in other countries, if you’re ordering prescription drugs in the United States, you run several risks by ordering from foreign pharmacies, including the fact that importing prescription drugs is technically illegal.
If you would like to safely and legally order prescription drugs online, you should research several online pharmacies first and look for these 5 signs that a pharmacy is a trustworthy online source.
1. They’re Located in the US and Give a Real Street Address
As mentioned above, there are plenty of reputable online pharmacies in other countries, but if you live in the US, you are better off ordering from a US pharmacy. The FDA works with similar agencies in other countries to shut down rogue online pharmacies, but they are able to regulate pharmacies within the US more readily, so you reduce your risk of encountering a rogue pharmacy if you use one with an actual street address and phone number in the United States.
2. They Require a Valid Prescription from a Doctor
It’s easy to find online “pharmacies” that sell what they claim are prescription drugs without a prescription. This is illegal in the United States, and the FDA tries to shut these rogue websites down. Many of these websites thrive in other countries, selling what they purport to be prescription drugs without asking for a prescription. Many of these websites sell counterfeit drugs that look exactly like the genuine article, but contain no active ingredient, or contain unproven or dangerous ingredients. Never order from a “pharmacy” that doesn’t require a prescription.
3. They Let You Speak With a Licensed Pharmacist if You Have Questions
Whenever you take a prescription drug, you should understand what it’s supposed to do and exactly how you’re supposed to take it. If you are confused about any aspect of a prescription drug you plan to order or have already ordered, you should be able to take your questions directly to a licensed pharmacist. Reputable online pharmacies post a phone number specifically for this possibility so that customers get the answers they need.
4. They Are HIPAA Compliant and Have a Strong Online Security Policy
You shouldn’t have to search hard to find an online pharmacy’s policies on personal medical and financial information. A certain amount of personal medical information is necessary in a transaction involving prescription drugs, and your online pharmacy should make it clear how they protect that information. They should not sell, rent, or otherwise share this information with a third party (like a data mining company), even if it is legal to do so. The pharmacy’s website should make it clear how they protect your credit card data as well, so you can be confident financial information won’t make it into the wrong hands.
5. They Have Earned a Good Rating from the BBB
While there are reputable online pharmacies that have not submitted their information for a BBB rating, those that have done so demonstrate that they have shared extensive information about their business to the Better Business Bureau. The BBB assigns letter ratings from A+ to F based on:
- Complaint history (or lack thereof) with the BBB
- Type of business
- Length of time in business
- Business background information
- Adherence to BBB standards and any licensing requirements
- Advertising standards
You’re wise to thoroughly vet any online pharmacy you consider buying from. At eDrugstore.com, we invite you to explore our site and learn about our strict privacy and security policies. Our registered pharmacists dispense FDA-approved medications prescribed by physicians and ship them quickly, securely, and discreetly to your home. Pharmacists are also available by phone to answer your questions. eDrugstore.com is HIPAA compliant and does not share your information with third parties, and we are proud to have earned an A+ rating from the BBB.
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