October 2, 2012

While buying medications from an online pharmacy can be convenient, many patients don’t realize they may be running the risk of receiving a counterfeit or sub-par product. A recent press release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the agency is working to educate the public of these risks by promoting a new campaign called “BeSafeRx.”

The campaign aims to educate consumers on the dangers of purchasing medications through online pharmacies, as the medication may be counterfeit or improperly manufactured. Using such defective products can be hazardous to a patient’s health, as it may not provide the needed drug or may provide an inexact dosage and could result in a Drug Injury. Also, patients put their personal and financial information at risk when submitting prescriptions and payments to online pharmacies.

An illegitimate online pharmacy can be recognized as such if they allow a patient to buy medications without a written prescription or offer discounted medications. Another sure sign is if the pharmacy is not located or licensed in the United States.

The FDA is helping patients find online pharmacies by providing a database of approved companies on their website.

The Austin Personal Injury Lawyers with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers encourage anyone who uses an online pharmacy to do research before placing an order. Taking a few minutes to ensure it’s a legitimate business could save your life.