Can I purchase prescription medication online?
Yes, you can purchase prescription medication online, but it is critical to use a licensed and verified pharmacy to ensure your safety. Approximately 95% of websites offering prescription-only drugs online are currently operating illegally.
How to Identify a Safe Online Pharmacy
Legitimate online pharmacies follow specific legal and medical protocols. Look for these indicators:
- Requires a Valid Prescription: A safe pharmacy will never sell you prescription medicine without a doctor’s order.
- Physical Address and Phone Number: They provide a verifiable U.S. (or local) street address and a working phone number for patient care.
- Licensed Pharmacist on Staff: They have a pharmacist available to answer your questions and provide consultations.
- State Licensure: They must be licensed by the board of pharmacy in the state where they are located and where the patient resides.
Verification Tools
To confirm a website is legitimate, you can use these official resources:
- NABP Safe Site Search Tool: Enter a website’s URL to see if it is verified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
- FDA BeSafeRx Campaign: Provides tools to locate state-licensed online pharmacies.
- Check the Domain: Look for websites ending in .pharmacy, which is a domain exclusively for accredited pharmacies.
Major Warning Signs of Illegal Pharmacies
Avoid any website that:
- Offers to sell prescription drugs without a prescription or based only on an online questionnaire.
- Provides “too good to be true” discounts or extremely low prices.
- Sells medicine that arrives in damaged or broken packaging, is in a foreign language, or has no expiration date.
- Only accepts cryptocurrency or peer-to-peer payment methods (like Venmo or CashApp).
Trusted Online Options
Many established companies and services offer safe online prescription fulfillment:
- Amazon Pharmacy: A full-service pharmacy that accepts insurance and handles refills directly with doctors.
- Express Scripts Pharmacy: Provides home delivery for long-term medications and 24/7 pharmacist support.
- GoodRx Care: A telehealth platform that allows you to have virtual visits with doctors to obtain or refill prescriptions.
This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
