Can I buy medication outside the U.S.?
It is illegal in most cases for people to import drugs into the U.S. for personal use.
There are two concerns about having pharmacies in other countries fill prescriptions:
- Some products have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use and sale in the U.S.
- The FDA cannot ensure the safety and effectiveness of medicine purchased over the internet from a foreign country.
When buying medication online, consumers should know where the product is coming from and that the medicine is being sold by a pharmacy that is located and licensed in the United States.
Canadian online pharmacies
Canada does have a reputation for having safe and affordable medicines. But the FDA found that nearly 85 percent of drugs sold from pharmacies claiming to be “Canadian” actually come from other countries. The medicines consumers receive from these fraudulent websites are not inspected by Canadian health officials and may not be up to the same standards legal American and Canadian pharmacies must meet.
