5 things you didn't know about ... buying medication online

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - Cynthia Reilly, director of the practice development division of the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, offers advice for shopping online:

Risks: There's an increased chance of receiving a counterfeit medication from a noncredible source. Other countries don't have the same safeguards in place that the United States does to prevent counterfeit medications. Patients also eliminate the face-to-face interaction with a pharmacist when purchasing online. Filling all your prescriptions at the same pharmacy allows your pharmacist to check for possible drug interactions.

What to do: It can be extremely difficult to identify a counterfeit medication just by looking at it. If your medication doesn't work as expected, you should contact your doctor or pharmacist, whether or not you think the product is counterfeit.

Safety: The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (www.nabp.net) reviews Internet sites and has accredited 15 sites to use to purchase medications. The organization also lists sites they do not recommend. To stay safe, buy medications from pharmacy websites that post the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) symbol.

Saving money: Your health care provider or pharmacist can suggest several alternatives to help save on prescription costs including switching to a generic drug, reviewing your current medications for unnecessary or duplicated medications, or applying for a patient assistance program.

Case report: The Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate warned consumers in early 2006 not to buy Tamiflu through the Internet, after counterfeit capsules were found in the Netherlands containing lactose and vitamin C, and no active substance.

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© 2008, The Miami Herald.