Simple Tips To Protect Yourself (NAPSA)—The Internet has made it possible to find almost anything you need, anytime you need it. From clothes to appliances, we shop online becauseit’s convenient and easy to find the best price. When it comes to buying medicine online, though, con- sumers need to be sure they’re getting the real thing. In 2010, one in six Americans It’s hard to tell fake medicines bought medicines on the Internet, potentially exposing themselves to harmful, fake medicines. Because from real ones just by looking at commonly available online. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) reviewed more than 8,000 websites selling prescription drugs, and found that only a very small percentage of them (4 percent) followed pharmacy laws and standardpractices. Nearly half of these sites were selling medicines to Americans that were never approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administra- Medical Center. “It is extremely difficult to tell a fake medicine from a real one simply by looking at it. When consumers don’t get the medicine their doctors prescribe, there are very real health the Internet is mostly unregulated, counterfeit medicines are tion (FDA). Taking counterfeit medicines can have serious consequences. Fake medicine has been found to contain dangerous substances, like rat poison and lead paint. They are also often made in dirty places, such as bathrooms, by people without medical backgrounds. Fakes also often do not contain the correct amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), which is what makes real medicines effective. “All types of medicines have been counterfeited—from allergy medicines to medicines for cancer, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and pain management,” said Dr. Jed Kaminetsky, a urologist and clinical associate professor, New York University Langone them—hutit’s easy to buy medicine safely if you know whatto look for. risks.” Medicines to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) are among the most frequently counterfeited. New research shows that not only are fake ED medicines readily available online, most men admit they aren’t knowledgeable enough about whether their online pharmacy is real. Despite this, men are still likely to engage in risky buying behavior online, such as buying medicines from a pharmacy advertised by spam. Men with ED are also more trusting of pharmacy websites that appear to be based in Canada than those based in other countries, despite the fact that many of these sites are not actually based in Canada and are likely selling counterfeit medicines. “The problem isn’t that consumers are reckless. The problem is that counterfeiters are very smart, and are taking advantage of consumer trust,” said Mr. Carmen Catizone, executive director of the NABP. “When consumers buy medicine online without first checking that their Internet pharmacyis real, they are putting both their physical and financial health at risk. The good newsis thatit’s actually very easy to safely buy medicine online, if you know what to look for.” To help consumers protect themselves, Mr. Catizone’s organization, NABP, has partnered with Pfizer Inc. to launch a new YouTube channel: www. YouTube. com/SpotFakeMeds. The videos feature anti-counterfeiting experts who describe the risks of buying counterfeit medicines, and provide information about how to find safe online pharmacies. The YouTube channel does contain information about a treatment option for erectile dysfunction. Consumers can also go to NABP’s website, www. AWARErx. org, for easy-to-understand information about the dangers of counterfeit medicines and tips on how to select an online pharmacy. Through www.AWARErx.org, peo- ple with valid prescriptions from their healthcare professionals can link to a list of online pharmacies accredited by VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites). VIPPS is an accreditation given by NABP. “The takeaway for consumers is that buying medicine online can be just as safe as buying other kinds of products,” said Mr. Catizone. “There are plenty of online pharmacies based in the U.S. that are selling FDA-approved medicines, and there is one easy way to be sure that your pharmacyis one of them. Simply put: Make sure it’s on the VIPPslist.” This information was provided by Pfizer Inc.
