FDA Warns Buying Drugs Over the Internet is a High-Risk Business

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public warning to Americans that buying pharmaceutical drugs over the internet is hazardous, and carries a high risk of obtaining products that can lead to detrimental outcomes for the paying healthcare consumer. The report also underscored the premise that drugs bought over the internet are not necessarily more economical than those purchased domestically at retail stores.

According to the press release, the FDA affirmed that their new data reveals that Americans need not take risks buying medications from foreign-based internet websites being that equivalent economical generic drugs are available nationwide.

The report underscored the notion that it is dangerous to buy drugs online to try to circumvent the need to get prescriptions from a doctor or other health care providers. In this manner, the FDA highly advised to obtain a prescription from a physician to ensure adequate medical treatment since most drugs require proper dosing and monitoring. In addition, the agency also impressed the idea that only a professional would be able to recognize if a patient is taking a combination of medications that have dangerous drug-to-drug interactions.

Among drugs that require close monitoring and attention, the FDA cited examples such as warfarin, a blood thinner that needs close monitoring to avoid life-risking strokes and Levothyroxine, a thyroid replacement hormone that needs careful follow-ups to ensure adequate efficacy. Officials also cited alendronate sodium, an osteoporosis drug that without careful administration guides or warnings, can have dangerous adverse effects.

With respect to other safety concerns, the FDA wanted consumers to be aware that when drugs are obtained online from non-regulated distributors, they may not have proper labeling and safety warnings. Drugs may also not be packaged adequately and therefore their integrity may be compromised.

FDA administrators also conveyed that consumers may inadvertently purchase medications that have been withdrawn from U.S. markets due to inefficacy or safety concerns. Of particular concern for the FDA, was the purchasing of controlled substances, such as narcotics, that require the utmost of care in administration being that their unsupervised use can lead to catastrophic consequences or the potential for abuse.

Officials emphasized that approximately 45% of foreign online orders for drugs have generic equivalents in the U.S. that have already been given full approval by the government. They noted that about 50% of generic drugs are readily available via national pharmacy-chain programs at an average cost of $4 dollars.

The agency also reminded citizens that it takes immediate action against foreign websites when it is discovered that they are selling counterfeit drugs.

For a complete list of all the drugs that have low-cost generic equivalents or that have specific associated risks please see: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01663.html

Sources: FDA: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/hpnews.html