Can I buy medication outside the U.S.?

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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.  

How to safely buy medicine online

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Only use legitimate websites when purchasing your medicine online. If you are buying your medication online, use these tips to protect yourself from counterfeits.

Verify the online pharmacy

If you are buying your medication online, check out this website—safe.pharmacy—to verify whether a site is safe or not recommended.

Check the website

Legal online pharmacies have websites that clearly list:

  • A physical business address with a street and city in the U.S.
  • Contact information including a phone number
  • State license information

Legitimate pharmacies will always require you to submit a prescription from a health care provider before they sell any medicine that requires a prescription.

Know the red flags

To stay safe, avoid websites that:

  • Allow consumers to buy prescription medications by simply completing an online question­naire
  • Offer drastically discounted prices
  • Offer drugs that make exaggerated claims of providing a cure for chronic or life-threatening illnesses
  • Offer to ship prescriptions from other countries to the United States

It’s unlikely to be a legitimate online pharmacy, if it does not:

  • Require a valid prescrip­tion to place an order
  • Have a licensed pharmacist available for consultation
  • Offer contact information, including a physical street address

For more information: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the U.S. agency that regulates the sale of medicine. It offers additional resources on how to avoid purchasing counterfeit medication here.

NCL’s Programs

Fraud.org is a project of
The National Consumers League.

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