Overseas Pharmacy Safety

Many overseas internet or mail-order pharmacies offer prescription drugs at a reduced cost or without requiring a prescription. Although filling prescriptions online can be inexpensive and convenient, overseas pharmacies are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may not be safe.

Features

Overseas internet pharmacies sometimes sell counterfeit, contaminated or expired drugs. Medicine may also be stored or shipped incorrectly, which can make drugs dangerous or ineffective. Some overseas drugs are not manufactured with safe standards and are not checked for safety or effectiveness. Finally, buying foreign drugs is illegal in many parts of the United States, according to the Maryland Board of Pharmacy.

Solution

If you want to buy medicine online, avoid overseas pharmacies and choose a state-licensed pharmacy located in the United States. Do not use pharmacies that dispense medication without a prescription.

Considerations

If you need to fill a U.S. prescription while you are visiting a foreign country, make sure you know the generic name of your prescription. U.S. brand names often sound similar or identical to foreign brand names for different drugs.

References

• Maryland Board of Pharmacy: Buying Drugs from Foreign Countries
• FDA: Consumers Filling U.S. Prescriptions Abroad May Get the Wrong Active Ingredient Because of Confusing Drug Names
• FDA: Buying Prescription Medicine Online: A Consumer Safety Guide

Resources

• United States General Accounting Office: Internet Pharmacies