Killer Discounts: Protecting Employees from Dangerous Online Drugs

For consumers looking to buy prescription drugs online, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) offers the following tips:

• Purchase ONLY from state-licensed pharmacies that are located in the United States, where the FDA and state authorities can assure the quality of drug manufacturing, packaging, distribution and labeling. This way, you know your medicine is coming from a reputable source, and you can get help if you have any problems with your medicine.
  
  
• Contact your local state board of pharmacy or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to see if a pharmacy is licensed, is in good standing, and is located in the United States. NABP runs a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS). The voluntary program verifies the legitimacy of Internet sites dispensing prescription drugs and gives a seal of approval to sites that apply and meet state licensure requirements and other VIPPS criteria. Contact NABP at http://www.nabp.net or 1-847-698-6227.
  
  
• Know your medicine. Any time you get a prescription refilled, check the color, texture, taste and shape of the medicine. Anything different? Talk to your pharmacist.
  
  
• Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of all medicines (over-the-counter and prescription) that you use. They will also want to know what dietary supplements you use, including vitamins and herbals.

Be aware of red flags such as:

• Websites that require no prescription;
• Companies that offer extremely low prices;
• Websites that have no phone or address contact information.

To learn more about counterfeit drugs, visit the FDA Web site at http://www.fda.gov/counterfeit.