Is It Safe To Order From Overseas Pharmacies?

A growing number of consumers are engaging in the potentially risky practice of purchasing medications and supplements from unregulated websites that ship from foreign countries.

The (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautions about this practice, especially about ordering prescription drugs without a valid prescription. Many drugs that are available from overseas pharmacies should be monitored by a health professional for effectiveness and for potential adverse events, FDA officials have said.

There are several different types of internet pharmacy portals, and some of them do follow safe medication practices. In the best-case scenario, a valid, legal prescription from a licensed prescriber is transmitted to the internet pharmacy, which then fills the prescription and mails it to the patient.

In countries that do require valid prescriptions, physicians may approve the orders without knowing anything about you (the patient). In this case, you don't know anything about the physician's qualifications either.

In contrast, legitimate prescriptions may be transmitted to pharmacies overseas yet may be filled with counterfeit, expired drugs, illegally diverted, or adulterated drugs. Even worse, you can order prescription medications online without first acquiring a legitimate prescription, as this gives access to potentially toxic or addictive medications without the oversight of a healthcare provider.

The dangers of bypassing a licensed prescriber and obtaining medications overseas are myriad. Perhaps the most troubling is the lack of a valid prescription, because you may be self-diagnosing and self-treating. Purchased medications may be addictive, be potentially toxic, or require special monitoring. There is often no assurance that the dosage is correct, nor is there screening for drug-drug or drug-disease interactions.

Additionally, some overseas internet sites sell drugs that have not (for very good reasons) been locally approved. Other concerns about drugs obtained overseas include inadequate or inaccurate labeling, inappropriate packaging and questionable storage and handling.

Online pharmacies are subject only to the laws and regulations of the countries where they are based. For example, in Canada and Australia, a valid prescription must be supplied before the medication is dispensed. However, in Mexico, many prescription drugs are sold over the counter and can be ordered over the Internet without a prescription.

So - Stay safe: consult your health professional and buy local.



Resource: Darrell T. Hulisz, RPh, PharmD
Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
Posted on 1/2/09 on
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/585137?src=mp&spon=17&uac=82196DX

Reefer Madness

Esteemed ABC science show 'Catalyst' last night aired a great myth-busting story on marijuana smoking and its link to psychosis.

In the past no-one had actually researched if cannabis causes consumption was linked to schizophrenia: it was mostly imposed morality. However, in 2004, a London study found the truth – schizophrenia rates have been rising in parallel with cannabis use.

This along with a more recent meta-analysis (review of studies) has found that "Smoking pot at any stage increases your risk of developing a psychotic illness by 40%" and the earlier you start smoking, the higher the risk.

However, research on the COMT gene has pinned it even further. Each of us gets two COMT genes, a combination of good and bad (for want of a better analogy). Get two 'bad' genes and you're in the high-risk category.... in fact you have an 11-fold increase in the possibility of psychosis.

The full story can be found at:
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2402434.htm