Thousands of Australians are flocking to online pharmacies every year in search of better deals on prescription medicine. While online pharmacies are sometimes a great option, they do have their fair share of risks. That’s why it’s always better to look beyond the bargain, and make sure that you buy from reputable sources. Here are a few things you should know before you start shopping for medicine online.

The Risks

While many sites are legitimate, many aren’t, and could actually put your health in danger. For instance, some will sell expired, contaminated or poor-quality medicines. Some will even sell counterfeit medicine, which is a growing issue in the pharmaceutical industry. Knowing the difference between the legitimate and bad online pharmacies can be a challenge. However, there are some things that you should look out for to make sure a site is legit.

Signs a Site is Legitimate

Before you look for sites, you first have to make sure that you speak with a professional and see if a drug is actually safe for you. You should never buy medicine online that you aren’t familiar with before speaking with a professional, even if it sounds perfect for you. It could either cause some adverse side effects, or could cause issues when mixed with certain medicine.

One of the first things you have to check is whether they’re registered. Look for a discount pharmacy that is registered with the Pharmacy Council of New South Wales. This will ensure that they abide by the same rules and regulations as your local pharmacy. Also, the site should have a legitimate address, preferably in Australia, credible company details, such as the group owning it and company number, as well as a working email and phone number.

In addition, most online Australian pharmacies will have a com.au address. They will also ask for a current prescription, have different prices on the same medicine depending on your healthcare benefits, and will also allow you to speak with an actual pharmacist.

Overseas Websites

You should avoid overseas sites as much as you can. While they may seem to offer great prices, working with them is much riskier. These pharmacies aren’t regulated by the TGA, which means that their products might not pass Australian quality and safety standards.

Buying medicine from overseas pharmacies can also be complicated. For instance, those that are legitimate will usually ask that you provide a prescription that is compliant with their own local requirements, so your Australian prescription might not even be valid there. In some cases, medicines could have different ingredients based on the market, even with identical brand names. Not to mention that importing certain medical devices or medicine by mail can be illegal, which could cause you to lose money or even face legal action.

So, before you buy from an online pharmacy, make sure that you aware of the risks. Also, make sure that you work with a registered pharmacy and stay away from shady or overseas sites if possible.