Hi florida_worker,
First, read the information I've listed below about what you need to
know before buying prescription drugs online (click on the links for
full details), then see my last link for "the only website with
regulatory approval from a U.S. state to operate as an online pharmacy
engaging in remote consultations between doctors and patients."
Use Caution Buying Medical Products Online
"Tips: For consumers who want to buy prescription drugs online, the
FDA recommends purchasing only from state-licensed online pharmacies
that are located in the United States. This helps to assure that the
consumer will receive drugs that are manufactured, packaged,
distributed, and labeled properly. Some legitimate Internet pharmacies
are extensions of traditional brick-and-mortar chain drug stores such
as Walgreens, Eckerd, and CVS.
"There are also smaller, and still legitimate, Web sites that
consumers can use with confidence," says Linda Silvers, who leads the
Internet and health fraud team at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation
and Research. "Legitimate sites require valid prescriptions."
'A Web site can look very sophisticated and legitimate, but actually
be an illegal operation," Silvers says. "If there is no way to contact
the Web site pharmacy by phone, if prices are dramatically lower than
the competition, or if no prescription from your doctor is required,
consumers should be especially wary.'
People should check with their state board of pharmacy or NABP to see
if an online pharmacy has a valid pharmacy license, meets state
quality standards, and is located in the United States . NABP's
Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program, also known as
VIPPS, is a voluntary program that 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.
To find out if an online pharmacy is licensed, is in good standing,
and is located in the United States, contact NABP at www.nabp.net.
Legitimate pharmacies that carry the VIPPS seal are listed at
http://www.vipps.info/. For a list of state boards of pharmacy, visit
www.nabp.info."
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2005/105_buy.html
FDA: Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online
Quick Tips for Buying Online
* Make sure the site requires a prescription and has a pharmacist
available for questions.
* Buy only from state-licensed pharmacies. The National Association
of Boards of Pharmacies has more information about licensing and its
program to certify online pharmacies.
* Don't provide personal information such as credit card numbers
unless you are sure the site will protect them.
http://www.fda.gov/buyonline/
Look for websites with practices that protect you.
A safe website should:
1. be located in the United States and licensed by the state board of
pharmacy where the website is operating (check www.nabp.info for a
list of state boards of pharmacy)
2. have a licensed pharmacist to answer your questions
3. require a prescription from your doctor or other health care
professional who is licensed in the United States to write
prescriptions for medicine
4. have a way for you to talk to a person if you have problems
http://www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide/
7. Some Websites offer to prescribe medication based only on a
questionnaire. Is this a safe practice? Is it legal?
"Unlike the traditional relationship between a patient and the
patient's health care professional, some online practitioners issue
prescriptions in the absence of a physical examination or direct
medical supervision. According to the American Medical Association, a
health care professional who offers a prescription for a patient the
practitioner has never seen before and based solely on an online
questionnaire generally has not met the appropriate medical standard
of care. As a result, patients may receive a drug that is
inappropriate for them to use and may sacrifice the opportunity for a
correct diagnosis or the identification of an underlying medical
condition for which use of the prescription drug may be dangerous.
It is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to
dispense prescription drugs without a valid prescription. FDA will
work with the states to determine the validity of online prescriptions
and to bring enforcement actions under state law, federal law, or
both, as appropriate. In addition, several state boards of medicine
have ruled that such practice is medical misconduct and have fined and
suspended the licenses of health care practitioners who have
prescribed drugs in this manner.
8. How many states have acted against web sites selling prescription drugs?
Several states have taken or are contemplating taking action against
illegitimate online sellers of prescription drugs. Fourteen states
(Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan,
Kansas, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and
Wyoming) have already taken some action against physicians prescribing
drugs over the Internet. Although most of these cases involve cease
and desist orders, some states have assessed fines and are
contemplating stiffer penalties. One state has issued a temporary
restraining order against an Internet pharmacy selling drugs without a
valid prescription."
http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/faqs.html#faqs7
Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites? (VIPPSŪ)
Anthem Prescription http://www.anthemprescription.com
Caremark.com http://www.caremark.com
DrugSource, Inc http://www.drugsourceinc.com
drugstore.com http://www.drugstore.com
Familymeds.com http://www.Familymeds.com
HOOK SUPERX, Inc http://www.cvs.com
Medco Health Solutions http://www.medco.com
Omnicare, Inc http://www.careforlife.com
Prescription Solutions http://www.rxsolutions.com
Tel-Drug, Inc/CIGN http://www.teldrug.com
Walgreen, Co http://www.walgreens.com
WellDyneRx http://www.welldynerx.com
http://www.vipps.info/
Pharmacy Ratings and Profiles
http://www.pharmacychecker.com/rating.asp
Search by drug
http://www.pharmacychecker.com/
PharmacyChecker.com Comments
"Kwikmed.com is the only website with regulatory approval from a U.S.
state to operate as an online pharmacy engaging in remote
consultations between doctors and patients."
http://www.pharmacychecker.com/profile.asp?WId=89
I was glad to work on this for you, I hope it helps. As noted below,
joining a group like http://www.drugbuyers.com/ would be helpful.
Thank you,
hummer
Some Google search terms used: online pharmacies physician
consultation u.s. remote physicians mail order |
