5 Risks to Avoid When Purchasing Discount Medicines Online

With the increasing price of prescription medications, many consumers are finding it more difficult to afford the price of prescriptions. Due to this, a large number of such consumers are looking for alternate ways to find affordable medications. One of theses avenues is purchasing medicines online. While there is no doubt that it is possible to save a good bit of money by purchasing medicines online, consumers should be aware of all the facts; including risks, before proceeding.

Among the number one risks related to purchasing medicines online the possibility that you make receive medication that is not good quality. Even worse, the medication you receive could possibly be contaminated. In other cases, products that have been marketed on the internet have been eventually discovered to either contain no medicine at all or either a different medicine than the name under which it was marketed. In other cases, medication was sold stating that it contained a dosage that it did not. For example, it might have been marketed as a 500 mg dose when in reality, it only contained 100 mg. All of these possibilities pose a particular danger if you a reliant on a medication.

Another danger related to purchasing medications online involves the possibility of obtaining a medication without a prescription. Many medications are regulated by prescription for a number of very good reasons. First, most medications have properties which may interact adversely with other medicines. If you obtain medication online without a valid prescription and are unaware of the interactions it may have with other medications you are taking or conditions you may have; this can create a serious and life-threatening situation.

Some websites offer to sell medications that have not yet been approved by the FDA. While it can be a lengthy and time consuming process to wait for the FDA to approve a drug, the process is in place with good reason. Taking medications that have not yet been approved by the FDA can expose you to all sorts of health risks.

In some cases you have no way of knowing if the medications you are buying online are actually coming from foreign countries. It is actually illegal to import medications into the US from foreign countries. One of the reasons this is illegal is because medications that have been produced outside the United States have been manufactured without quality assurance guidelines. This means they may be unsafe and dangerous. By purchasing medications online from a foreign country you may be putting yourself at risk for health issues as wealth as legal problems.

These warnings are not to say that you should never purchase medicines online. There are some companies which are perfectly legitimate and provide safe products at a reasonable price. In order to make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company and not a company that is merely trying to run a scam by offering unsafe products, there are a few things you can do.

First, make sure that the company you are dealing with online is a licensed pharmacy. Don't just take their word for it. Check with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy at their website to find out if the company you are interested in is a member. Avoid dealing with companies that do not appear to be based in the US, offer to sell you medications without a prescription or to write you a 'prescription.' This is a recipe for disaster.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

---

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Steroid Injection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What is the role of steroid injection in carpal tunnel... Read More

The Controversy of Viagra® (Sildenafil Citrate), Other ED Medications, and Their Generic Counterpart

There has definitely been a good deal of controversy over... Read More

Amazing Shoulder Pain Reversing Secrets!

Whether you're a weekend athlete, or a gardener that overdid... Read More

?Ooohhh? my aching knee!!!? Insider Secrets on How You Can Get Relief Quickly and Easily!

When your knee hurts, getting relief is all that's on... Read More

The Highway to Health - Bumped Heads

I recently had a reader send me this comment:"As a... Read More

Pharmaceuticals: The Next Frontier in America?s War on Drugs

America's war on drugs, which has been fought in the... Read More

Bextra and Vioxx -- Alternative Medications Have Warnings, Too

At the urging of the Food and Drug Administration, the... Read More

Emotional Effects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome sufferers often find that they have to... Read More

OxyContin Addiction: Doctors & Drug Lords

OxyContin is a narcotic drug, an opiate, that has been... Read More

Over The Counter Pain Medication: How To Choose The Right Drugs

With the recent front-page news about the possible hazards of... Read More

Arizona Drug Rehab: Finding Help in Arizona

The state of Arizona has one of the worst drug... Read More

Are Drug Companies Destroying The U.S. Health Care System?

The U.S. government's annual bill for healthcare spending ? $3,925... Read More

Environmental Medicine

Our modern preservatives and other pollutants like yellow dye no.... Read More

Another Cold Sore! Why Me?

An estimated 85 million Americans have acquired the herpes simplex... Read More

High Cholesterol Prescription Medications Can Kill You

The World Health Organization declares that heart disease is the... Read More

Lunesta Tolerance

Lunesta is a newly released sleeping pill. Marketed as a... Read More

Hacking through the Medical Scheduling Software Jungle: Helpful Search Tips

It is the reality of the 21st century medical practice... Read More

Buy Electric Wheelchairs Online

Electric wheelchairs mobility for virtually any type of disability.Innovations have... Read More

Overview of FDA Recalled Drug - BEXTRA

Bextra, also known as valdecoxib, is a... Read More

Discipline Medicine

Most writers suffer from a lack of discipline. The urge... Read More

7 Tips to Keep Your Fluid Down on Dialysis

As any dialysis patient will tell you, keeping your fluid... Read More

Bextra, Some Facts To Consider

For those who take Bextra, there are many warnings out... Read More

Phenylpropanolamine (PPH) Lawyer: Decongestant Causes Stroke

Phenylpropanolamine, or PPH, used to be an active ingredient in... Read More

Lipitor Side Effects

Lipitor is a drug intended to help lower cholesterol. The... Read More

Generic Drug: Its Pros and Cons

A generic drug can be defined as an identical, or... Read More

Integrative Medicine And Its Future

The NBC National News, quoted the Washington Post in March... Read More

Treating Neuromas - Ten Tips

A neuroma is an inflamed nerve. In the foot, the... Read More

Viga Lies Cause Potential Fatalities

Viga and Viga for Women is a dietary supplement sold... Read More

How Distressing is Social Phobia?

I remember a friend in college who would blush, sweat,... Read More

Lunesta Dependence

Lunesta is a newly released sleeping pill. Marketed as a... Read More

Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness

As a physician specializing in psychiatry, I know that many... Read More

How Is Mold Like AIDS?

Don't laugh. Both get a lot of coverage in the... Read More

Acid Reflux and Your Diet

There is an undeniable connection between the occurrence of acid... Read More