Shopping safely with internet pharmacies
Before you buy prescriptions online, follow these online pharmacy safety tips.
Online pharmacies are popping up everywhere, and their ads make buying medicine online seem attractive. In a few clicks, you’ll have your medications — and you might save some money — all without ever leaving your house. Seems easy, right? Not so fast.
“With many online pharmacies, you don’t know what you’re getting,” says Jennifer Plummer, director of retail & mail-order pharmacy at Geisinger. “You may end up buying medication from an untrustworthy source.”
Want to know if the online pharmacy you’re looking at is safe? Check for these key things.
Know what to look for
Not all online pharmacies are created equal. When you’re looking for an internet pharmacy, finding a reputable one matters. Reputable online pharmacies will have a few key features, like:
Prescriptions required
“The Food and Drug Administration requires that online pharmacies ask for a valid prescription in the patient’s name from a licensed healthcare provider,” Ms. Plummer says. If a pharmacy says it doesn’t need a prescription to dispense your medication, it’s not legitimate.
Valid license with their state board of pharmacy
To be sure you’re dealing with a legal, reputable internet pharmacy, make sure they’re licensed in their home state. They also need to be accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Use their handy buy safely tool to verify that the pharmacy you want to use is the real deal.
A physical address based in the U.S.
Check the pharmacy’s website for a U.S. address. And do an internet search to verify that the location actually exists. Another tip: Make sure they provide a working U.S. phone number.
A licensed pharmacist on staff
“A reputable pharmacy will always have a licensed pharmacist available to answer questions or address concerns,” says Ms. Plummer.
If they don’t have one available to answer your questions, that’s a red flag.
Protecting your personal info
When you’re browsing an internet pharmacy, take a few moments to find out whether it’s secure. Look for these indicators of website security:
- A padlock icon in the address bar
- “Https” in the website URL
Other measures to protect your info include:
- Accepting standard payment options (like credit or debit cards)
- A secure online payment system
- A disclaimer that states they won’t sell your personal information
These security features encrypt this information, keeping it safe and secure while you browse the web. That means your personal data won’t fall into the wrong hands.
Keeping yourself safe online
Remember the phrase “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” when shopping for medication online.
“There’s a difference between an internet pharmacy and a retail pharmacy with an online shopping option,” Ms. Plummer says.
Many local drugstores offer online prescription renewal or refills. They also have physical locations you can visit to get your prescriptions. Some may even offer a mail-order option to deliver your medications right to your door.
Other online pharmacies may not be as trustworthy. Watch for websites that advertise deeply discounted prices that seem too good to be true.
If the website you’re buying from is in another country that doesn’t have the same regulations as the U.S., you could be vulnerable to buying counterfeit medicines.
Keep an eye out for unclear return policies, suspicious packaging or products that come with expired or missing expiration dates.
The bottom line: If something about a website doesn’t feel right, consider shopping somewhere else.
“By knowing what to look for, you can be sure you’re shopping with a trusted online pharmacy,” Ms. Plummer says.
Next steps:
Get to know Geisinger Pharmacy
Should you take expired medicine?
How to decipher your prescription labels
