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Concerns about Illegal Online Pharmaciesbrowse: prescriptions
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The issue of safety of online pharmacies has been in the media lately, with stories about illegal offshore pharmacies and reimportation of prescription medications. drugstore.com, inc. would like to provide guidelines on how to choose a reputable online pharmacy and to assure consumers about the quality and safety of our pharmaceutical services. How to Spot a Rogue Pharmacy
While the Internet is an incredible resource for consumers seeking lower prices and convenience, the Internet is also home to hundreds of illegal online pharmacies that can put your health at risk. Many of these illegal pharmacies create professional-looking Web sites and distribute convincing emails, making it difficult for consumers to differentiate between reputable and rogue online sites. How can consumers protect themselves and identify reputable online pharmacies? Here are some helpful tips on how to spot a rogue pharmacy:
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They are not currently licensed by federal or state regulatory agencies or are not certified by the NABP's VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site) program.
 They do not require you to visit your doctor to get a prescription. They advertise "NO PRIOR PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED" or "FREE ONLINE DOCTOR CONSULTATION."
They do not list their address. Even a site purporting to be "just across the border in Canada" may be located in Thailand, Sri Lanka, or China.
Rather than carry a full inventory of drugs as do legitimate pharmacies, they emphasize highly popular drugs, such as painkillers, weight loss, smoking cessation, and impotence drugs.
They inundate consumers with unsolicited e-mails (spam) and promote the illegal aspects of their services on large search engines.
The drugstore.com™ Pharmacy Difference
 With more than two million prescriptions filled, the drugstore.com™ pharmacy is a reputable, licensed pharmacy providing consumers with convenient home delivery of prescription medications. The following services and features distinguish the drugstore.com™ pharmacy from other online pharmacies:
We are one of only 14 pharmacies certified through VIPPS, the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site program administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (www.nabp.net/vipps).
We are licensed to dispense in all 50 states.
We require legal prescriptions from U.S.-licensed doctors.
We do not employ any physicians for the purpose of writing or re-writing prescriptions.
Our pharmacists and customer care specialists are available by phone or e-mail 24-hours-a- day, 7-days-a-week.
We dispense all of our prescriptions from a state-of-the-art, 290,000-square-foot national mail order facility located in Swedesboro, New Jersey.
We are a full-service pharmacy, carrying more than 4,800 medications.
We offer superior customer service and a host of value-added features, including eMedAlert™, which alerts members about drug warnings, updates, and recalls; the Drug Price Index, which shows consumers the price savings from purchasing larger quantities of a drug or choosing a generic version of the drug; the Drug Information Database, which lists all relevant data about the drugs stocked by the drugstore.com™ pharmacy; the Drug Interaction Checker, which provides information on drug interactions, including drug-drug, drug-food, drug-vitamin, drug-herb, and drug-alcohol interactions; the Generic Insider, which notifies customers if a branded drug they are taking becomes available in a generic form; the Ask Your Pharmacist Q & A, which allows customers to browse a database of more than 800 frequently-asked, health-related questions; and the Health Guide, which provides consumers with practical, science-based information on hundreds of common health concerns, including menopause, osteoporosis, breast health, nutrition, vitamins, herbs, supplements, natural products, sports nutrition, and weight loss.
We employ only licensed pharmacists and have extremely high safety and quality standards.
We are a publicly traded U.S. company (Nasdaq: DSCM).
Why Do Illegal Online Pharmacies Represent A Danger To Your Health?
Purchasing drugs from unlicensed and/or foreign sources is illegal under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Shipments may be seized by U.S. Customs officials.
Because drugs purchased from unlicensed or foreign sources are unregulated, there is no way of knowing whether the drugs have been contaminated, are sub-potent, super-potent, expired, or counterfeit. The drugs may not have been stored under proper conditions, which can greatly alter their effectiveness. Once a drug is outside the strictly regulated U.S. pharmaceutical distribution channel, there can be no guarantee of its authenticity or effectiveness.
Most illegal pharmacies do not require a physical visit to a doctor. Of those that do require a "doctor's visit," it is typically a brief online questionnaire or a phone interview. The doctor usually does not have access to your medical records and cannot take advantage of a physical exam to judge your overall health.
Many drugs sold on illegal pharmacy sites can be dangerous if not taken under strict medical supervision. If your own doctor did not prescribe the drug you purchased from an online pharmacy, it may difficult to get reputable medical advice.
Illegal sites typically do not have licensed pharmacists available to answer any questions you may have.
You have no assurance that your sensitive, private medical information will be protected. Reputable online pharmacies comply with the new federal HIPAA regulations, which deal with privacy safeguards for medical information. In addition, to be VIPPS certified, a company must comply with the NABP's strict criteria regarding a patient's right to privacy and authentication and security of prescription orders. Few, if any, illegal online pharmacies are HIPAA complaint, and only 14 online pharmacies have earned VIPPS certification.
Many illegal sites tack on additional fees and service charges you may not be aware of, such as an enrollment fee, medical fee, consulting fee, and other unlisted charges. These additional fees and charges often bring the price up to that charged by reputable pharmacies.
Many illegal sites are located outside the protection of the U.S. legal system. If anything goes wrong, you may be unable to sue for damages. Even Canadian pharmacies have limited legal liability.
FDA Guidelines On How To Protect Yourself When Purchasing Drugs Over The Internet
Check with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (http://www.nabp.net, (847) 698-6227) to determine whether a Web site is a licensed pharmacy in good standing.
Don't buy from sites that offer to prescribe a prescription drug for the first time without a physical exam, sell a prescription drug without a prescription, or sell drugs not approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Don't do business with sites that don't have a registered pharmacist available to answer questions.
Avoid sites that don't identify with whom you are dealing or don't provide a U.S. address and phone number to contact if there is a problem.
Don't purchase from foreign Web sites. It is illegal to import the drugs bought from these sites, the risks are greater, and there is very little the U.S. government can do if you get ripped off.
Beware of sites that advertise a "new cure" for a serious disorder or a "quick cure-all" for a wide range of ailments.
Be careful of sites that use impressive-sounding terminology to disguise a lack of good science or those that claim the government, the medical profession, or research scientists have conspired to suppress a product.
Steer clear of sites that include undocumented case histories claiming "amazing" results.
Talk to your health-care professional before using any medications for the first time.
Pharmaceuticals today are truly miracle drugs, but they are also very powerful and potent, and must be used under a physician's supervision. drugstore.com, inc. believes that legitimate online pharmacies offer the best service, the best prices, and the highest level of quality and safety for consumers. We urge consumers to first visit their local physician for an exam and, if prescription medication is necessary, have the prescription dispensed through a VIPPS-certified pharmacy. Continue to our Pharmacy homepage
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