Although some online pharmacies are legitimate businesses, patients must be cautious when purchasing drugs over the Internet. Patients should not buy drugs from web sites that: are not registered on a search engine; offer to prescribe a prescription drug without a physical exam; sell drugs not approved by FDA; do not offer the opportunity to ask questions of a registered pharmacist; require that you link to another web site to purchase the drug; and do not provide an U.S. phone number and address to contact for questions.
Before buying a prescription drug over the Internet, patients should check with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to see if the online pharmacy possesses a valid pharmacy license and has met state practice standards. Patients who believe that a web site is unlawfully selling a drug should report it to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy or to the FDA.
