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Buying medicine on the internet increases riskBuying medicine on the internet increases risk
30 July 2007
Buying medicine from the internet is appealing to many people as a convenient and sometimes cheaper alternative but safety remains a risk factor.
An article in MedicinesTalk, a newsletter edited by consumers and published by independent medicines information provider National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS), alerts consumers to the dangers of buying medicines on the internet.
While for some people the website is a preferable way to access a range of medicines (such as consumers in remote areas), buying a medicine over the internet without talking to a pharmacist puts consumers at risk.
Buying and taking a medicine that is not appropriate can have serious effects and interact with other medicines.
“Although many websites selling medicines are legitimate, many are not,” says Hannah Baird, of NPS. “Fake sites selling out of date, poor quality, contaminated or even fake medicines exist and can be hard to identify.”
Overseas medicines may not meet Australia’s strict quality and safety standards and consumers should be aware that it is illegal for some medicines to be brought into Australia by post.
“Consumers can protect themselves by avoiding overseas websites,” said Ms Baird. “Even if the brand name is similar, medicines bought overseas may have different ingredients from the brand sold in Australia,”
Other safety advice consumers should heed include:
1. Never buy medicines from a website that does not give its full postal address. It could be a fake site.
2. If buying prescription medicines from online pharmacies, buy only from sites that ask you to produce a valid prescription from a doctor.
3. Beware of sites that offer revolutionary, new or miracle cures, or cures whose effectiveness is guaranteed. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Other articles published in the winter edition of MedicinesTalk include Managing the pain of osteoarthritis; ‘Moving on’ with chronic illness; and What’s in a name?
For a copy of MedicinesTalk, visit www.nps.org.au/consumers
ENDS
National Prescribing Service Limited an independent, non-profit organisation for the Quality Use of Medicines, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Buying medicine from the internet is appealing to many people as a convenient and sometimes cheaper alternative but safety remains a risk factor.
An article in MedicinesTalk, a newsletter edited by consumers and published by independent medicines information provider National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS), alerts consumers to the dangers of buying medicines on the internet.
While for some people the website is a preferable way to access a range of medicines (such as consumers in remote areas), buying a medicine over the internet without talking to a pharmacist puts consumers at risk.
Buying and taking a medicine that is not appropriate can have serious effects and interact with other medicines.
“Although many websites selling medicines are legitimate, many are not,” says Hannah Baird, of NPS. “Fake sites selling out of date, poor quality, contaminated or even fake medicines exist and can be hard to identify.”
Overseas medicines may not meet Australia’s strict quality and safety standards and consumers should be aware that it is illegal for some medicines to be brought into Australia by post.
“Consumers can protect themselves by avoiding overseas websites,” said Ms Baird. “Even if the brand name is similar, medicines bought overseas may have different ingredients from the brand sold in Australia,”
Other safety advice consumers should heed include:
1. Never buy medicines from a website that does not give its full postal address. It could be a fake site.
2. If buying prescription medicines from online pharmacies, buy only from sites that ask you to produce a valid prescription from a doctor.
3. Beware of sites that offer revolutionary, new or miracle cures, or cures whose effectiveness is guaranteed. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Other articles published in the winter edition of MedicinesTalk include Managing the pain of osteoarthritis; ‘Moving on’ with chronic illness; and What’s in a name?
For a copy of MedicinesTalk, visit www.nps.org.au/consumers
ENDS
National Prescribing Service Limited an independent, non-profit organisation for the Quality Use of Medicines, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Media enquiriesJournalists & editors Contact Stephanie Childs,
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0419 618 365
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Date published: 2007-07-30 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
