Did you know that Americans pay more for prescription drugs than citizens of most other high-income nations?
In fact, one in four Americans who take prescription drugs report difficulties affording their medications.
It’s no wonder that many Americans have turned to online pharmacies to fulfill their prescriptions. Many online pharmacies offer reduced prices for some of the most frequently prescribed medications. The question is, how do you find a reliable online pharmacy?
The last thing you want is to get scammed when you’re in need of medication.
We’re going to talk about some of the signs you will want to look for when searching for a legitimate online pharmacy. Keep reading to find out when to trust an online pharmacy and when to keep looking.
How Do Online Pharmacies Work?
Online pharmacies are intermediaries between your physician and the medications you are prescribed. It’s like a drugstore, but you don’t have to travel to a physical location or wait in a line to be spoken to.
Online pharmacies don’t have to pay a huge staff to run several locations, allowing them to keep their costs low. Users from all over the United States can get in contact with a pharmacist who can send them their prescription from one location, or a smaller number of locations.
There are typically a few ways you can contact your online pharmacist. For example, you can reach us over the phone or online, and your prescription can be sent to our pharmacists via fax or mail. Once your order is placed, it will be delivered directly to your mailbox.
You will find that there are tons of online pharmacies out there. Finding an online pharmacy that works for you and has a good reputation can seem a little tricky, but it’s not as hard as it seems.
What to Look for in a Reliable Online Pharmacy
Now that you know how online pharmacies work, let’s talk about how to find a pharmacy that suits your needs and can be trusted.
There are several questions you will need to keep in mind as you browse the web for the right pharmacy.
What Does an Online Pharmacy Need from Me?
Just like any drugstore, an online pharmacy should require a real prescription from a real doctor. If you find a website that is willing to send out medications without a legitimate prescription, do not orderyour medication from that site.
Remember, online pharmacies are selling prescription medications, not just over-the-counter medicine. If they don’t require proof of prescription, they are not operating legally.
Even if you do have the prescription, it is not advisable to trust any pharmacy that would just as quickly send you your medication if you didn’t.
Can Anyone Answer Questions I Have About My Medication?
You may want more information. People often have questions about proper administration and dosage or possible side effects. If you have questions regarding your medication, you’re going to want someone to ask them to, right?
A legitimate online pharmacy should always have a way to get in touch with health care professionals. Check to make sure that your online pharmacy has listed hours of operation and a number that you can call for assistance or information.
Is My Online Pharmacy Selling Experimental or Unapproved Drugs?
There are many safe and reliable online pharmacies. There are also illegally operating pharmacies that put their customers at risk. In a recent study, the FDA found nearly 500 online pharmacies that were selling drugs that were not approved or legal to sell.
Many online pharmacies, just like walk-in pharmacies, distribute generic drugs in place of name brand drugs. These generic drugs should have undergone the same certifications as their name brand counterparts. If a pharmacy is selling either unapproved generic drugs or experimental drugs, do not purchase anything from them.
Is My Information Protected?
You are sharing sensitive information when you are required to send in your prescriptions. It’s in your best interest to know the privacy policy of your online pharmacy.
If there is no privacy policy listed on the website, it’s most likely not a reputable online pharmacy. If you give them your information without knowing that you are guaranteed privacy and security, you may have put your information at risk.
Can I Use My Insurance?
If you are using a reliable online pharmacy, you should receive an invoice with your medication. This invoice will list the price, quantity, and dosage of your medication, and can be sent to your insurance company.
As long as you are being provided legitimate paperwork from a legitimate pharmacy, your insurance should cover some of the cost.
Is My Online Pharmacy Certified?
This is the most important question to verify when looking for a reliable online pharmacy. In fact, making sure your online pharmacy is certified will answer most of the above questions.
One certification you will want to look for is CIPA, indicating that the website represents a Certified Safe Online Pharmacy. This certification ensures that you can get your prescriptions filled at a lower cost than what many walk-in pharmacies offer. More importantly, it means that you’re guaranteed safety and quality.
Our online pharmacy is CIPA certified. Our owner, Licensed Pharmacist Dawn Polley, is actually a former president of CIPA, and works closely with CIPA and the FDA to monitor the safety and reliability of online pharmacies.
What’s the Next Step After Finding a Reliable Online Pharmacy?
You’ve answered the above questions and know that you have found an online pharmacy that you can trust. Now it’s time to figure out what prescriptions you get can filled there.
Some medications have higher risk factors and more serious side effects. These may not be purchasable through a reputable online pharmacy. This is for the safety and protection of the consumer.
Finding out what is available is simple enough! Visit our online catalog to search for your prescription and discover what we can do to help you.
If we have what you’re looking for, please reach out to us. Let us help you achieve a healthier life without spending more than you have to.