Although last year has shown us that virtually anything can be ordered online and shipped to our door, some things require more caution. One of those concerns is buying medications online; it seems convenient, but it also includes many risks you should be aware of.
There are several reasons why people order their medications online. Apart from the obvious causes (shopping at the comfort of your home), it’s more common now that people do self-diagnosis based on their symptoms and the information they find online. In addition, getting their desired medications without a prescription is way more accessible online than in a regular pharmacy. Other reasons for buying medicines online include:
- Obtaining discounts that online pharmacies tend to offer,
- Having an opportunity to order medications from across the border (often at a lower price),
- Feeling free and more secure when buying certain medications (some people want to keep their medication prescriptions private and avoid getting their drugs at their local pharmacy, etc.
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- The risks of buying medications online
Medicines that can be found online are sometimes sold through an official pharmacy website. However, building a website and making it seem legit is not that difficult these days, so there are a few things you should be cautious about. For instance, you should find important information regarding the pharmacy’s registration number in its country of origin. A legitimate online pharmacy should be licensed by the pharmacy regulatory authority, no matter where it’s located. Also, finding contact information (such as a phone number and, more importantly, an address of a brick-and-mortar store) can add up to the overall legitimacy of an online pharmacy. Some medications can be found on an online marketplace that specializes in selling medicines.
You can also find websites offering consultations regarding health, which then advise you which pills to take. However, it’s in your best interest to go along with the instructions from your doctor to avoid the interactions between the medicines that may cause side effects. Without further adieu, let’s get into the risks and concerns of buying medications online:
- The risks of buying medications online
- You don’t know what you’re getting. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for pharmaceutical frauds to use the advantages of the internet and sell drugs that are fake, outdated, etc. One of the most common examples of counterfeit medications sold online is the weight loss pills or injections (such as lipo C injection) that turn out to be useless.
- You risk getting robbed. There are cases of people getting robbed when ordering medications online, especially if they’re ordering from another country. After all, you are required to input your credit card number and other valuable information.
- You may risk your health. Whether you’re prone to self-diagnosing or are looking to get a prescription medicine without the actual prescription, you’re exposing yourself to the risk of side effects that are not harmless. Unless your doctor prescribes you medicine, you should stay away from deciding which pills to take. Keep in mind that some medications mustn’t be mixed, as they can sometimes cause serious complications.
Final thoughts
Unless you know all about the online pharmacy laws and can differentiate a legitimate pharmacy from the fake one, we strongly advise you to stay away from buying medications online. No convenience is worth the risk of being harmed by medicine or getting robbed. If you are by any means forced to purchase drugs in an online pharmacy, make sure to check its legitimacy thoroughly. In case you need to buy medicines prescribed by a healthcare professional, you’ll be asked to deliver your prescription by post or mail (in case you have an electric prescription).
