Consumers Still Buy Potentially Risky Drugs over the Internet

Filed in archive Cases , News on July 6, 2007

What is it that makes people buy drugs over the internet, I am beginning to wonder. It is already somewhat dangerous if one is overdoing buying OTC drugs, how much more dangerous it is if you buy over the internet potentially risky drugs that haven't even been approved by the FDA, much less been prescribed to you by a doctor.

I am chemist and I tend to self-prescribe myself with cold and cough medicines that I can just buy over a drug store's counter. Though I know that it isn't always good not to consult your doctor first, because for all you know you may be allergic to some drugs or you could be in need of an antibiotic prescription that shouldn't be administered without the doctor's prescription.

But I still rely on my previous knowledge (i.e. old prescription) for common ailments like (as I've already mentioned) cough and colds and sometimes headache. Antibiotics and antihistamines I dare not buy OTC. These I do for myself but not on my four year old. I make sure to go to the doctor first.

Fortunately, I don't have an allergy to any drug and I have never self-prescribed myself beyond the common cough and colds. I swear!

Going back to people buying drugs over the internet, what is it that make them do so despite the warnings that they could be buying potentially risky drugs, especially in cases of drug supplements and prescription drugs?

According to the FDA:

New data collected by the FDA show that consumers who are trying to save money on prescription drugs don't need to take chances by buying prescription drugs from foreign Internet sites, because low-cost generic versions are available in the United States.

This finding also may be an indication that some consumers are likely buying foreign drugs this way to avoid getting a prescription from their doctor or health care professional, since many Web sites do not require a prescription.

Once again, the FDA is warning the consuming public that the use of prescription drugs without prescription is unsafe and dangerous and should be aware of safety concerns of drugs purchased from unregulated Internet sellers since some of these drugs might:

• require careful dosing and monitoring


• not have adequate labeling for safe use


• be inappropriately packaged, therefore product integrity is uncertain


• have been withdrawn from the U.S. market for safety or efficacy reasons


• may carry risks that require initial screening and/or periodic patient monitoring


• cause harm-such as a controlled substance (narcotic), whose use should be supervised by a doctor or health care professional due to abuse potential


• have clinically significant drug-drug interactions

Read the FDA's full report on this matter.

What about you, would you buy drugs/medicine over the internet?