Canadian drugs are safe. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all online pharmacies. Here are some things to look for when buying prescription drugs online:
1) Physical Presence
When you first visit an online pharmacy, look for a physical address. Make sure that the pharmacy is a "bricks and mortar" pharmacy with an actual physical presence in Canada.
2) Licence Number
All legitimate pharmacies will have a licence from the province in which they are registered. Look for a licence number and check it with the regulatory authority in that province. Regulatory Authorities are listed in our Useful Links section.
3) Phone number
Look for a phone number. Phone the pharmacy and talk to a pharmacist to confirm the information on their website and to ask them how many years they have been in business.
4) Prescription
All Canadian pharmacies require a prescription from your U.S. physician. Avoid any pharmacy that offers to sell you prescription drugs without one.
5) Patient Information
The Canadian pharmacy should ask for both demographic and medical information about you.
6) Physician Review
The Canadian pharmacy should have a Canadian physician review patient information.
7) Access to Pharmacist
You should have access to a Canadian pharmacist for medication counseling and drug information.
8) Secure Delivery
Prescription drugs should be delivered in a secure and traceable method.
9) Proper Labeling
Each prescription drug should be labeled with the following:
a) Your name
b) Name of Canadian pharmacy
c) Name of Canadian physician
d) Name of drug
e) Strength and directions for use
f) Amount of drug dispensed and remaining quantity
g) Date drug was dispensed
10) Check CanadaDrugTalk
Check our Pharmacies and Steve's Picks sections. CanadaDrugTalk collects information from fellow consumers on an ongoing basis and keeps an eye on the latest news. We only list pharmacies that meet our high standards and remove any pharmacy that fails to maintain these standards. To maintain editorial integrity, we receive no compensation from the pharmacies listed and do not accept advertisements from pharmacies or drug companies. Read our About Us section to find out more.
References:
Steps U.S Patients Can Take to Ensure Safety When Obtaining Prescription Medications from Canada (Source: Canadian International Pharmacy Association)
