All you need to know about buying medicines online

ONLINE medicine buying certainly has its perks: it’s quick, you can do it from anywhere, it circumvents discussions with medical professionals and with fewer overheads. It’s cheaper than shopping at regular pharmacies. E-commerce for medication makes sense, especially when those you purchase wouldn’t normally be sold without a prescription. Many online stores that skip some of the prevailing regulations are not only illegal, but can be deadly.

Dangers of purchasing online

British student, Liam Brackell, committed suicide in 2001, aged 24. According to his mother, there was more to the case than Liam’s own issues. With a history of drug abuse and depression, he bought up to 300 antidepressants a day via online pharmacies – without a prescription. If he’d consulted a professional, Liam might have lived.

However, unmanaged medication buying isn’t the only danger. When it comes to drugs bought online, you never know exactly what you’re getting. Here’s what could go wrong:

The wrong drug

Unregulated medicine purchased online could contain the incorrect amount of the active ingredient, but it could also be the wrong active ingredient altogether. Some unregulated drugs are even laced with dangerous substances like rat poison.

Bad handling

Even authentic medicines can be a risk when acquired online. Medicines that haven’t been manufactured, packaged, or stored correctly, could have expired, lost their effectiveness, or even become poisonous over time.

Untested ‘miracles’

Terminal patients are often desperate. They’ll try anything to stay alive and this can mean taking untested, experimental medicines – the kinds of substances that some online pharmacies market as ‘miracle’ drugs. Doing so is not only dangerous to their health, but any bad press from uncontrolled use can also badly undermine the efforts of formal clinical trials.

Limited insight

Without professional medical advice, drugs can interact with other medications you might be taking, and have a negative effect, based on your own medical history. These are the kinds of factors that trained medical professionals are able to pick up during a consultation.

Some online pharmacies ask customers to complete a questionnaire before they dispense medication, which creates the impression of authenticity.

What are the regulations?

South African law states that any Schedule One substance (and those above Schedule One) can only be sold in a pharmacy. It’s therefore illegal to sell any scheduled substance online, in addition to the ones that require a prescription. There are also restrictions in place for other things, like the way medicines are stored and distributed.

The problem with the internet is that it’s borderless. All one needs to do is register a website in a country where the laws are more flexible and they will appear to be above board. Furthermore, if they are caught, they can simply start a new website on another domain.

Purchasing medicine online

Of course, not all online pharmacies are bad. There are some (like the ones connected to a physical, in-store pharmacy) that are safe and reliable. But how can you tell which are trustworthy? Here are seven things to look out for when buying medicine online:

1. A prescription requirement

One thing that’s standard in most countries is the requirement of a script for a controlled substance.

2. An available pharmacist

A pharmacist with verifiable credentials should be available.

3. Only approved medicines

Legitimate pharmacies will only sell approved, tested substances. Anything that claims to be a ‘wonder drug’ – without having passed strict human clinical trials – is not an approved substance and is therefore not safe to take.

4. Location specificity

Pharmacies must be licensed in their own country and in the patient’s country. Buying controlled substances from abroad is illegal and dangerous.

5. Feedback from others

People who’ve been scammed will report it on the internet, so search for reviews of the website to find out what people are saying.

6. Information security

Read the company’s privacy policy so you know how they plan to use your information. Don’t give your credit card information before you’re ready to pay, and don’t enter information unless the screen has the SecureSign lock symbol in the address bar or you are sure that it is legitimate.

7. Unbelievable deals

An online store’s prices can be different to those of a physical pharmacy, but there shouldn’t be an extravagant difference. If the drug you can’t afford in-store is surprisingly cheap online, there’s a good chance it’s too good to be true.

Safeguarding your health

With the unregulated nature of the internet, anything’s possible. So, at the end of the day, when it’s your or your family’s health you’re bargaining with, it’s safest to stick with the legitimate, real-life professionals who are accountable to the law and to you.

A bit more about SMASA

The Self-Medication Manufacturers’ Association of South Africa (SMASA) aims to promote self-care and to enable consumers to responsibly and appropriately self-medicate and self-treat ailments wherever possible. The SMASA represents companies involved in the provision, distribution and sale of healthcare products and also engages actively in legislative and regulatory policy development.

Read more:

· Barnett, A. ‘Deadly cost of the trade in online prescription drugs’ 2003. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2003/aug/10/health.drugs. Accessed on 26 June 2017.

· Hoogendijk, M. ‘How Do I Find a Legitimate Online Pharmacy?’ 2015. Available at: https://www.legitscript.com/blog/2015/01/find-legitimate-online-pharmacy/. Accessed on 26 June 2017.

· Whitaker, R. ‘Buying pills on the net’ 2009. Available at: https://www.health24.com/Medical/Meds-and-you/Using-medicines/Buying-pills-on-the-net-20120721. Accessed on 26 June 2017.

· Svicevic, M. ‘Online drug trading: the digital age of drug syndicates’ 2013. Available at: https://www.perdeby.co.za/sections/features/3301-online-drug-trading-the-digital-age-of-drug-syndicates. Accessed on 26 June 2017.

· Rogers, J. ‘5 Things to Consider Before Purchasing Medicines Online’ 2015. Available at: https://www.medicalisland.net/health-guide/5-things-to-consider-before-purchasing-medicines-online. Accessed on 26 June 2017.

· Caring Village, ‘What to Consider When Buying Prescription Drugs Online’ 2017. Available at: https://www.caringvillage.com/2017/04/05/buying-prescription-drugs-online/. Accessed on 26 June 2017.

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