Before buying prescription medicines online, you should make sure that you’re in good hands. Here’s how to find a legitimate online pharmacy that you can trust.

Are you in need of a prescription from an online pharmacy?

Many people use online pharmacies to get medicine because they’re convenient and affordable. However, it’s difficult for most people to notice the difference between a fake pharmacy and a legitimate one.

The best online pharmacies are out there, but you’ll have to be sure that you’re not dealing with a fake one because you can end up with dangerous products. By following this guide, you’ll be able to easily find a safe online pharmacy.

Read on to learn how to search for a legitimate online pharmacy and avoid the fake ones.

Why You Need a Legitimate Online Pharmacy

Finding a reputable online pharmacy like this website is essential if you care about your health. Buying something that has the incorrect dosage can come with strong side effects or do nothing at all.

When you buy a product from an illegitimate pharmacy, it’s impossible to know what the contents are. You could be buying a drug that has harmful contents, which can lead to a variety of health problems.

Many of the illegitimate pharmacies that try to sell real products typically don’t store them in the proper conditions. Improper temperatures can cause drugs to lose their potency, resulting in you buying a dud.

Red Flags to Avoid

When it comes to looking for a reliable online pharmacy, there are several ways to tell that a pharmacy isn’t legit. Legit online pharmacies would never show these red flags:

The Option to Buy Under-The-Counter Medicine Without a Prescription

If a pharmacy is willing to sell you under-the-counter medicine without a prescription, you should immediately turn away. Every legit pharmacy asks for a valid prescription because it’s against the law to use the medicine without one.

Some examples of prescription medicines are drugs like Xanax, Vicodin, Lisinopril, etc. While many pharmacies distribute over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol through their websites, it will be rare to see one sell prescription drugs online.

The Prices Are Dramatically Low

Another major red flag is seeing prices that are low compared to other pharmacies. If you see an online pharmacy that’s offering deals and discounts, it’s most likely safe to say that it’s too good to be true.

Pharmacies are businesses, but prescription drugs don’t go “on-sale” as OTC drugs would. Even though some OTC drugs will have occasional discounts, they’re usually the store’s generic versions.

They Spam You With Advertisements

A pharmacy that’s encouraging you to buy drugs is not legitimate. If you receive spam mail about discounts and promotional offers, you should block the sender’s email address.

Some pharmacies will offer newsletters to subscribers that want to know about deals for things like cleaning products or food, but not prescription drugs. If you ever see a newsletter that includes drugs, look it to ensure that there aren’t any prescription medications.

There Are No Certified Specialists to Speak to

Every pharmacist has certified pharmacists that are knowledgeable about medicine. The reason why it’s a red flag if an online pharmacy doesn’t have them is that people need to know about instructions, what the drug is, how to avoid side-effects, etc.

Pharmacists can also make recommendations for OTC drugs that you can take should you have minor problems. Legally, prescription drugs cannot be obtained unless they come from someone that’s certified.

Pharmacists must be licensed in order to dispense pharmaceuticals. Board of Pharmacy licenses are publicly disclosed and it is easy for you to visit a pharmacist’s page on their State Board of Pharmacy website to see if they have any license complaints.

Things to Look for

Spotting the red flags is the best way to avoid online pharmacies, but how do you go about looking for one? Here are some ways to ensure that you’re dealing with a safe online pharmacy:

Sites That End with “.Pharmacy”

Visiting a site that ends with “.pharmacy” means that you’re visiting a reputable online pharmacy. Not all legit pharmacies have this, but numerous legal requirements must be completed before obtaining this kind of address.

FDA Approval

Every drug that’s sold in a reputable online pharmacy must be approved by the FDA. Whenever you’re browsing a site, ensure that you look for FDA approvals to know that you’re not on a fake site.

Legitimate pharmacies also don’t sell experimental drugs because they’re not approved and haven’t been thoroughly tested. You can look into the FDA’s site to see what the process is like for being approved.

Location

When finding a safe online pharmacy, you’ll want to make sure that they’re from the US. Pharmacies in foreign countries follow different laws, so you’ll be unable to purchase things from them. Not only that, but you’d have to spend more on shipping.

Reliable pharmacies deal with customers from their region, so check the NABP to see if a pharmacy is registered and legal. You can also ask for a consultation with someone from the pharmacy to learn more about them.

Start Looking for a Legitimate Online Pharmacy Today

Getting involved with online pharmacies can seem like a daunting task, but it’s only scary if you don’t take the necessary precautions. By staying alert for any red flags, you’ll prevent yourself from getting scammed or buying dangerous drugs.

A legitimate online pharmacy can provide you with the medicine that you need. Be sure to find the right one by researching their products and where they’re located. You should also speak with their employees to learn more about the products and services they offer.

Feel free to browse our other articles to find more advice about how to prevent yourself from getting scammed. We also provide a variety of content that can help you increase your quality of life!