Can one legally (or otherwise) buy prescription drugs online? Any done it here?

[DuaneBidoux]

Tell me about it--risks (assuming it can be done).

Oh, and I am obviously talking about buying prescription drugs sans prescription.

[Droopy]

1. I don't think you can get anything online without a prescription

I wouldn't trust it if I could, though. Sanity is a wonderful thing and I don't take it lightly.

[TZ]

2. I wouldn't do it

Prescription drugs are often considered controlled substances, and many of them are illegal to POSESS without a docs RX and too the complexities of getting it from other states (interstate commerce) and you could be violating federal laws, not a smart idea. Plus anyplace that is going to sell these subastances online without a docs rx probably aren't going to be concerned much with ethics so its highly likely that either a) nothing will be sent or b) conterfeit drugs will be sent (Viagra sold on the internet is often conterfeit pills from China)

[Droopy]

3. Good point. I hadn't thought of the legal ramifications.

You could find yourself caught up in a sting operation.

[DuaneBidoux]

5. Numerically that's like worrying about getting caught downloading a song.

[TZ]

8. No, if its something potent being targeted

you much more likely to be caught. Painkillers being ordered illeagally (like vicodan and oxycontin) is a HUGE issue and lets not forget how much Meth labs are being targeted right now..to the point where psuedophedrines is being strictly controlled and the amounts a particular person buys being TRACKED. So even looking to order what seems to be an innocuous med can get you into trouble.

[davsand]

4. I bought some antihistamines online one time from Canada.

They did not require a prescription for Zyrtec there, and it was cheaper to pay shipping than to pay full cost here in the US (after paying to see a Doc for the scrip!)

I don't recall any big deal about it, but I do remember that the expiration date was fairly close when I got them--they had maybe 6 months left before they were out of date. It did require a credit card, and it took a few days to get them. That was probably five or six years ago, so the entire thing may be different now...



Laura



Frankly, I now have prescription coverage with an HMO, so I probably would not mess with it again.

[DuaneBidoux]

6. Is that a prescription in the states?

I live in Houston and often hear about people driving across the border and picking up all kinds of drugs much cheaper without prescription.

[davsand]

9. Yes. Zyrtec is by prescription only in the US.

As it turns out, it did not work all that well for me (renders it moot, I guess!) but if it had worked well I probably would have ordered it again. There are quite a few drugs that are available Over the Counter in other countries. Like all things you can save money sometimes or you might get screwed sometimes.

In my case, a trip to see a Doc for a scrip was gonna cost me a bunch of money and then I was gonna have to pay for the prescription. Seemed like a lot of money to spend for a seasonal allergy thing that really only is an issue for a couple of months a year. The order from Canada made sense to me in that scenario.

I seem to recall that birth control pills do not require a prescription in Mexico (I could be wrong about it, but for some reason that sticks in my mind...) Anyhow, I am not sure just how comfortable I would be with buying something like THAT over the counter given how much it can mess with the entire organism. However, I think that certain sedatives (like Valium) are also OTC in other countries, and I would probably consider a drive across the border for that. I'd guess it all comes down to how well you know the drug and its impact on your system...

There are several Senior's groups that actually do bus trips to Canada for drugstore runs. I know one woman that drove from Central Illinois to Canada for a shot in her knee to treat her arthritis. It was gonna cost her something like $500 here, but only was $150 up there. At that point in time, gas was not $3.00 per gallon, and she was money ahead to go to Canada.

Frankly, I'd be fairly comfortable with most anything out of Canada and the drugstores there. Mexico--well--I'm less certain of the purity of the pharma down there. Might be a bias on my part--dunno--but that is just my two cents.


Regards!


Laura

[Droopy]

7. Why are you worried about it, Duane?

Do you lack health insurance?

[Poiuyt]

10. I buy my prescription medication from drugstore.com

You do need a legal prescription though