Ellen Campbell -Grizzle
BUSINESSES OFFERING medication online are sprouting up all over the Internet. Many of these sites tout drugs without a prescription. This should be your warning sign.
In this virtual marketplace, it is possible to procure many medicinal products and side step national regulatory authorities. Customs sometimes seize shipments in transit, but this has not stymied the Internet trade. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has declared that governments should require online dealers to be properly authorised wherever they may be located.
There are genuine mail order companies that provide valuable services. Some consumers claim that this method of accessing medication is more convenient and cost-effective. In the United States, many well-established pharmacies have developed an online presence. They have licensed pharmacists available to answer questions. These services range from prescription refills to having the medications shipped to you or your doctor. Should you decide to use an online pharmacy, require the same high standard as you expect from your community pharmacy.
BUYER BEWARE!
Websites offering medications without prescriptions are not regulated in any way. The product that you purchase may be counterfeit or contaminated. It may be the wrong medication or the wrong dose.
Wrong medication and doses put the user at risk for drug interactions or other negative health consequences.
Many illegal online pharmacies may ask you to fill out a questionnaire to determine whether the treatment is right for you. This method is not appropriate because you cannot figure out underlying medical conditions in this way.
You have little or no recourse if you suffer financial or physical harm when you purchase medication from 'rogue' sites.
Everyone recognises the right of consumers to make decisions about their own health. However, health professionals are concerned about the dangers posed through electronic self-medication. There are reported instances in Jamaica when a drug purchased online contained no active ingredient or lacked an important active ingredient. Problems have occurred with items bearing similar names with different uses. Several sites offer illicit drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and other illicit substances.
The best advice is to purchase your medication in registered premises from registered pharmacies. This may not always be convenient but it is the safest option. The Internet contains vast amounts of information of variable reliability. Use this information wisely.
Remember consult with your physician or pharmacist before changing your medication. Your medication may have side effects and you need to consult a health care provider before taking them. Never share medication with others. Store your medication safely and out of the reach of children.
Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, president, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists; director, Information & Research, National Council on Drug Abuse; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
