Are you looking to buy medication online, but you are unsure how to do it safely? You are not alone.
Dangerous pharmacies boasting cheap medication from other countries pop up online every day. Unfortunately, many people fall into the trap and receive ineffective or unsafe medication.
When you decide to use an online pharmacy, you must do your homework to make sure they won’t put you in harm’s way.
Keep reading to learn how you can find a safe online pharmacy.
The Dangers of Online Pharmacies
While there are several laws in place to protect you while buying from online pharmacies, doing so still has its dangers. Some dishonest businesses do a lot of work to bend the rules.
When you buy from online pharmacies you risk buying counterfeit, unapproved, or incorrect meds. Additionally, as with any unsecured website, you risk giving out your personal and card information.
While the NAPRA regulates prescription drugs in Canada, it cannot do so for imported products from online pharmacies. These websites pop up overnight. It is impossible to catch them if you become a victim of their products.
Signs of a Bad Online Pharmacy
When you find an online pharmacy that looks untrustworthy you should trust your instincts. Yet, some hide their inadequacies well.
You should beware of online pharmacies that do the following.
- Allow you to buy prescription medication without a prescription
- Are located outside of Canada
- Do not have a licensed pharmacist to help you
- Send emails offering online medication at a low price
- Offer surprisingly low prices
- Offer shipping worldwide
If the pharmacy you are looking at has any of these problems on their website, you should move on. They may sell you medication with the wrong ingredients or harmful ingredients.
Signs of a Safe Online Pharmacy
Though there are many dangerous online pharmacies there are many safe ones too. It can be easy to spot a good online pharmacy when you know what you are looking for. They should have the following qualities.
- They require a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional
- They are located in Canada and provide an address
- Their prices make sense
- They have a licensed Canadian pharmacist to answer questions
- They are licensed by a Canadian pharmacy regulatory authority
One great way to double-check if your pharmacy is legit is to check the Canadian pharmacy regulatory authorities. Though, you will need their address to do so.
One example of a safe online pharmacy that passes these tests is onlinepharmaciescanada.com.
Shipping Medications Across the Canadian Border
The best online pharmacy will not ship medications over the Canadian border. You cannot legally import any prescription drugs unless you fall into one of the following categories.
- A practitioner
- A wholesale druggist
- A drug manufacturer
- A registered pharmacist
- A resident of a foreign country while visiting Canada
If you already bought medication online that you know or suspect is dangerous, you can report it. You can also report adverse side effects to a drug bought online.
Get Your Medication Safely
When you need medication, you want to get it through a safe online pharmacy. There are several risks associated with buying dangerous medication online including death.
If you want to learn more about how to safely buy medication online, check out the rest of our page for more articles like this one.