PharmacyChecker monitors Canadian drug prescriptions

PharmacyChecker LLC ("PC") collects, evaluates, and reports credentials, prices, and customer feedback regarding pharmacies that operate online and through mail-order and fax (generally referred to as online pharmacies. It is the leading independent source of information about online pharmacies. PC helps consumers continually find the lowest priced products from the most qualified and reputable online pharmacies. PC also provides customized reports and services as market intelligence about the online pharmacy industry. Pricing information is provided for prescription drugs.

Benefits and risks

Using an online or mail-order pharmacy (referred to below as O/M pharmacy) can save you a great deal of money and provide other benefits. However, there are also potential risks.

Benefits

Lower prices - Lower drug prices in other countries and lower overhead costs compared to bricks and mortar pharmacies often result in savings compared to local pharmacy prices. In addition, you can quickly shop around for the best price online. Click here to compare prices across O/M pharmacies.

Privacy/Anonymity - You may feel more comfortable purchasing or asking questions online (or by fax or phone) regarding certain medications. However, privacy can be compromised if an O/M pharmacy is using your information for other purposes so it is important that the O/M pharmacy has an appropriate privacy policy; this is one of the things that PharmacyChecker.com checks for you and provides in its Pharmacy Profiles.

Access to more generics - Due to differences in patent protection, generic drugs may be available outside the U.S. for drugs only sold as brand name versions in the U.S.

Prescription not needed - Some sites do not require you to have a prescription at all to order medications - although this is not always wise or legal. Other sites offer to write a prescription for you based on an online consultation. In many states this practice is illegal and the American Medical Association considers the practice unethical.

Convenience - If you find it physically difficult to make it to the pharmacy, live in remote rural areas, or have a very busy schedule, online and mail-order pharmacies enable you to avoid travel and can save you time.

Medical information - Some O/M pharmacies provide useful information about medications and diseases as well as links to medical resources such as universities, government agencies, and health associations.

Risks

Some O/M pharmacies are not licensed pharmacies. It is advisable that you use pharmacies that are licensed or sites that fill all orders through an identified, licensed pharmacy. Licensed pharmacies are inspected on a regular basis and require licensed pharmacy personnel. PharmacyChecker.com verifies that a site is, or fills orders with, a licensed pharmacy.

Some O/M pharmacies do not adequately protect your personal and financial information. It's important for an O/M pharmacy to include a privacy policy, one that promises not to share your personal information with third parties. Online financial transactions should be secured by the O/M pharmacy through adequate encryption technology. PharmacyChecker.com's ratings indicate whether privacy is promised whether financial information is secured.

Some O/M pharmacies do not give their address and/or telephone number. If in the course of purchasing drugs from an O/M pharmacy you have a problem, question, or complaint, it becomes very important to contact the company using its telephone number or address. PharmacyChecker.com verifies all contact information and provides it in the Profile of each pharmacy.

Additional fees are typically added to the drug price. There is almost always a shipping fee and there may also be a medical fee, order fees, and/or an account set up fee. PharmacyChecker.com shows you these fees and compares total costs. Compare drug prices at http://www.pharmacychecker.com/ListingAlpha.asp.

Prices can change quickly. O/M pharmacies are continually changing their prices. Lowball prices are common in order to attract new customers, but these prices don't always last. PharmacyChecker.com continually updates all prices.

Some O/M pharmacies don't adequately safeguard your health. By failing to require a prescription, health history and/or physical exam, some O/M pharmacies might send you medication that could be dangerous to you. PharmacyChecker.com let's you know whether or not a prescription is required.

Some O/M pharmacies may sell medications that can be extremely dangerous, if not taken under medical supervision. In the U.S., these drugs are known as controlled substances, such as hydrocodone, valium, or xanax. See U.S. laws on importing drugs below for more information about controlled substances. For a list of controlled substances go to http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/scheduling.html . Other drugs, known as restricted distribution drugs, such as such as Accutane, Mifeprex or Thalomidare, while not controlled substances, are also very dangerous if taken without the appropriate medical supervision. For a list of these drugs see: http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/consumeralert120902.html.

To help protect you from risky websites, PharmacyChecker.com checks for you whether online and mail-order pharmacies are licensed, offer security and privacy of your information, provide an address and phone number, require an original prescription and your medical information. It also finds out whether pharmacies charge added fees and it periodically updates prices so that you can find the best value.

Source: RefillPill.com Editors' Choice