Only 3 percent of online pharmacies are safe to use, according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

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The vast majority of web-based medication merchants fail to meet the U.S. standards for pharmaceutical quality and safety.

A recent Federal Drug Administration (FDA) survey found that 25 percent of internet shoppers have used an internet drugstore to purchase their prescription medication, despite the fact that almost one-third of respondents admitted that they weren't sure how to determine a website's authenticity and safety.

The online pharmacy model, with its cheaper, easy-to-obtain drugs, can be very attractive, particularly for seniors and their caregivers.

Older Americans, many of whom may find themselves homebound and floundering in the Medicare donut-hole, are lured by inexpensive medications that can conveniently be ordered from the couch.

But, taking advantage of this seemingly win-win situation can result in severe consequences, particularly for elders who take several different prescriptions to manage their numerous chronic health conditions.

According to the FDA, faux pharmacies present a variety of potential dangers for the unwary shopper.

A lot of online pharmacies aren't controlled by the FDA, so the medications they're selling don't have to meet the FDA's requirements for effectiveness and safety.

When a person purchases prescriptions over the internet, they run the risk of receiving medications that are expired, counterfeit, contaminated, or made with different ingredients than their federal and state-regulated counter-parts. Any one of these issues can drastically affect the effectiveness and safety of a particular prescription drug.


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Identity fraud is another hazard of using unknown online pharmacies.

Many web-based brokers don't have the necessary defenses in place to protect sensitive information. Some even exist solely as fronts to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting consumers.

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The FDA offers caregivers and seniors advice on how to determine whether an online pharmacy is legitimate.

Signs a web-based pharmacy shouldn't be trusted:

  • They are not based or licensed in the United States
  • They let you purchase medications without a doctor's prescription
  • They charge suspiciously low fees for prescription medications

Signs that a web-based pharmacy can be trusted:

  • They have a physical address and phone number in the United states
  • They won't sell you a medication unless you have a doctor's prescription
  • They provide an on-call pharmacist to answer questions and are licensed by your state's board of pharmacy

For more information on safely purchasing medications online, you can visit the FDA's BeSafeRx website .