(HealthDayNews) -- If competitive prices and convenience have persuaded you to purchase your medicines online, you need to be wary about where you shop.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions consumers:
- Never buy from an illegal Web site. Your order may be contaminated or counterfeit, the wrong product, or recommend an incorrect dose.
- Don't buy a prescription drug without first seeing a doctor. Filling out an online questionnaire does not provide sufficient information for a health-care professional to determine if a particular drug is safe for you to use.
Here are some buying tips:
- Check with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to determine whether a Web site is licensed, and in good standing.
- Don't buy from sites that have no access to a registered pharmacist to answer questions.
- Avoid sites that don't identify who they are and don't provide a U.S. phone number and address to contact if there's a problem.
- Talk to your doctor before using any medication for the first time.
