How to Safely Buy Prescription Drugs Online

Buying prescription medications from a licensed online pharmacy can be a good option that offers convenience and privacy.[1] This can also save money and be helpful for finding prescription drugs that are not readily available in local pharmacies, for example because of drug shortages.[2] Unfortunately, buying prescription drugs online is not always safe. Below we describe some possible risks and what steps you can take to safely purchase prescription drugs online.

What makes some online pharmacies dangerous?

Selling fake or counterfeit medications can be a very lucrative business for criminal networks, generating billions of dollars in sales.[3] In fact, only about 5% of all online pharmacies follow U.S. pharmacy laws.[4] There are three main ways that buying from such pharmacies can put you in harm’s way:

Drugs purchased online may not be safe and effective

If you buy prescription medications from an unlicensed online pharmacy, you cannot be sure whether the drugs you receive are authentic or fake, especially because many counterfeit versions look exactly like the authentic drugs. Fake drugs can contain unknown amounts of the active ingredient necessary to treat your disease.[5] If the fake drug contains none or too little of the ingredient, the drug will not work as it should. In other instances, too much of an active ingredient can cause dangerous adverse effects. Some fake drugs are also produced or packaged in unsanitary conditions or are contaminated with undisclosed substances that can harm your health or interact with other drugs you are taking.

Even if the drugs you buy through an unlicensed online pharmacy are authentic versions of your prescription medications, they could be expired or may not have been stored under the necessary conditions for the active ingredient to stay effective.[6]

Internet safety

Purchasing prescription drugs from websites with the false, yet misleading appearance of a legitimate online pharmacy can also put your personal and financial information at risk.[7] For example, some websites may either not protect your information adequately or may even sell your data to third parties. Using unsafe websites also increases the risk that your computer will be infected with a virus.[8]

Illegal drug purchases

Some websites offer drugs illegally that are controlled substances (due to their high potential for addiction and abuse, such as stimulants, opioids or sedatives) without requiring a prescription.[9] Also, in many states, buying these drugs without a prescription is illegal. Importantly, prescriptions for these types of drugs typically require an in-person visit with a physical examination and therefore cannot be issued by a physician online.

How to spot an illegal pharmacy

Although online pharmacies can often look legitimate, there are several ways to spot unsafe ones.[10] Always be cautious if:

• an online pharmacy advertises medicines that you know are in high demand, difficult to find or are offered at prices that seem “too good to be true”;
• the online pharmacy does not require a prescription for a prescription medication or does not have a licensed pharmacist available to answer your questions;
• the physical address and phone number provided is not in the U.S.;
• you are being charged for medications you have not received or even ordered;
• the packaging of the drugs you received is damaged or looks different than you would expect;
• an online pharmacy sends you unsolicited emails or mail that offer very large discounts for prescription drugs.

How to safely order drugs online

Do not purchase drugs from an online pharmacy if you notice some or all of the above warning signs. If you are unsure, you can also use the “Buy Safely” tool (https://safe.pharmacy/) from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to check if the website you are planning to use is safe.[11] Additionally, always confirm that the pharmacy is licensed with the Board of Pharmacy in your state. You can find your state’s Board of Pharmacy here: https://nabp.pharmacy/about/boards-of-pharmacy/.

The FDA and state authorities can only ensure the quality of the drugs purchased in pharmacies that are licensed in the U.S.[12] If you order prescription drugs from an online pharmacy located outside the U.S., be aware that, even if the drugs you receive are authentic, the ingredients may differ from those approved in the U.S.[13]

As with all online purchases, make sure that you only enter your personal or financial information (such as your name and credit card details) if you are sure that the website is trustworthy and will handle your data securely and encrypt your information.[14] One way to check for encryption is to make sure that the web address begins with “https” rather than only with “http.”

What You Can Do

Do not use any prescription drug if the packaging is damaged or the product looks different from a previous package you bought. Also, make sure that your prescription drug is not expired and that the packaging provides adequate information on how to safely use the product. If you suspect that you have purchased a counterfeit medication, make sure to dispose of it safely. Report websites that you suspect of selling counterfeit drugs to the FDA by using this form: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/email/oc/buyonline/english.cfm.

If you are unsure about any of your prescription drugs, speak to your pharmacist or clinician.

However, if you carefully choose a safe online pharmacy, purchasing prescription drugs online can be a good alternative to regular pharmacies, especially to save money. For example, the non-profit consumer organization Consumer Reports[15] recently compared prices offered at several new and established licensed online pharmacies, including Amazon, Costco, HealthWarehouse, Honeybee Health and ScriptCo Pharmacy, and found that generic drugs and multi-month drug supplies were especially likely to be available at very low prices through these pharmacies. However, because licensed online pharmacies often charge membership fees and shipping costs or do not accept insurance, it is always worthwhile comparing prices at different licensed online and regular pharmacies.

References

[1] Food and Drug Administration. How to buy medicines safely from an online pharmacy. November 16, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-buy-medicines-safely-online-pharmacy. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[2] The persistent problem of drug shortages in the United States. Worst Pills, Best Pills News. September 2023. https://www.worstpills.org/newsletters/view/1552. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[3] National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Statement on prescription drug importation proposals. February 2019. https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/NABP-Drug-Importation-Statement-2019.pdf. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[4] Hertig JB, James SM, Hummel CJ, et al. Evaluation of pharmacists’ awareness of illegal online pharmacies and perceived impact on safe access to medicines. Med Access Point Care. 2021;5(April 18):23992026211005642.

[5] Food and Drug Administration. How to buy medicines safely from an online pharmacy. November 16, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-buy-medicines-safely-online-pharmacy. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Food and Drug Administration. BeSafeRx: Frequently asked questions (FAQs). September 21, 2020. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/besaferx-your-source-online-pharmacy-information/besaferx-frequently-asked-questions-faqs. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[9] Drug Enforcement Administration. Consumer alert. Report suspected unlawful sales of pharmaceutical drugs on the internet. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/scams/consumer_alert.htm. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[10] Food and Drug Administration. How to buy medicines safely from an online pharmacy. November 16, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-buy-medicines-safely-online-pharmacy. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[11] Food and Drug Administration. BeSafeRx: Resources for consumers. November 22, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/besaferx-your-source-online-pharmacy-information/besaferx-resources-consumers. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[12] Food and Drug Administration. FDA and DEA warn online pharmacies illegally selling adderall to consumers. April 12, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-and-dea-warn-online-pharmacies-illegally-selling-adderall-consumers. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[13] Food and Drug Administration. BeSafeRx: Frequently asked questions (FAQs). September 21, 2020. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/besaferx-your-source-online-pharmacy-information/besaferx-frequently-asked-questions-faqs. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[14] Food and Drug Administration. Quick tips for buying medicines over the internet. February 25, 2020. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/quick-tips-buying-medicines-over-internet. Accessed October 30, 2023.

[15] Consumer Reports. Online pharmacies can help you save big on prescription drugs. April 5, 2022. https://www.consumerreports.org/online-pharmacies/online-pharmacies-can-help-you-save-big-on-prescription-drugs/. Accessed November 1, 2023.