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| Beware of Fake Online Pharmacies warns FDA |
The FDA cites a recent study by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy which found that an astounding 97% of the U.S. online pharmacies "violated state or federal laws and/or NABP safety and practice standards." The FDA has immediately acted to warn consumers.
"Buying medicines from rogue online pharmacies can be risky because they make sell fake, expired, contaminated, not approved by FDA, or otherwise unsafe products that are dangerous to patients," FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD, said.
The findings showed that many of the on-line pharmacies claiming to be U.S. companies are not. NABP has investigated many of their websites and have shut down many, but others are quickly put in place to replace them.
And, it's said that the sites look legitimate. At about this same time, our Day Spa technician came to me with another story from a patient who claimed to have been able to buy the ViPeel on-line. This peel, along with other prescription skin care products, are sold only to physicians for resale through their offices. It is illegal for people to sell them on the internet. Dr. Robert N. Young states, "Over the years, we've received more and more reports from my patients who have seen these illegal sites selling medical grade and/or prescription items illegally over the internet."
It is scary to think that people would risk their health obtaining items online that may or may not be the real thing. We urge caution in obtaining items you know usually require a prescription or that are sold exclusively through physician offices.
