Many folks have been asking - “Is it safe for me to order drugs online?”

Well, the quick answer is yes AND no.

Let me explain...

You should always be judicious when giving out your personal information over the Internet. Names, addresses, Social Security Numbers, and your medical history are all important pieces of data that could easily be used for illegal reasons by identity thieves.

Most online drug stores nowadays offer many layers of protection when you’re ordering through their websites. Some of the more popular security services include: Hacker Safe, Geo Trust, VeriPay, and Safe Shopping Network. It’s a great idea to verify ahead of time that the site you’re ordering is protected by one or more of these services.

Also, you should be aware that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned consumers about ordering medication online, especially about ordering prescription drugs without a valid prescription.

There are a few different kinds of Internet pharmacy portals, and some of them do practice safe medication practices. In the best-case scenario, a valid, legal prescription from a licensed prescriber is transmitted to the Internet pharmacy, which then fills the prescription and mails it to the patient.

In contrast, legitimate prescriptions may be transmitted to pharmacies outside the USA, and may be filled with counterfeit drugs, expired drugs, illegally diverted pills, or adulterated drugs. Even more frightening, consumers may order prescription medications online without first acquiring a legitimate prescription, giving them access to potentially dangerous or addictive medications without seeing a healthcare provider.

Occasionally, packages are confiscated by US Customs if officials suspect they contain medications. While this may protect the consumer from harm, they probably will not recover their prepaid charges.

The dangers of bypassing a licensed US prescriber and obtaining medications overseas are myriad. Perhaps the most troubling is the lack of a valid prescription, because the consumer may be self-diagnosing and self-treating. Purchased medications may be addictive, be potentially toxic, or require special monitoring. There is often no validity that the dosage is correct, nor is there screening for drug-drug or drug-disease interactions.

It must be obvious to healthcare providers though, that most consumers are using online pharmacies simply to bypass the prescription process and save money. We all know that the United States has the highest priced prescription drugs in the world.

In conclusion, although ordering medication online will never be 100% secure (case in point - Microsoft Windows releases security patches almost daily!), you can reduce the risk of having your personal information compromised by checking that the site you’re ordering from has made steps to ensure its safety and security. You should also make sure that the drugs you are ordering are safe and have been prescribed by a physician.

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