The most common question from those



considering buying medications online is whether or not it is legal (and safe) to do so. The answer, as with anything

else you can buy online, is yes and no. There are many reputable and legitimate places to buy

pain medication on the internet and there are places you simply do not want to do busines with. Finding them is the challenge.

Despite some common misconceptions, it is in fact legal to buy prescription pain medication online. As long as certain

steps are adhered to and conditions are met, buying pain medication can not only be more

convenient but also dramatically cheaper than purchasing from brick and mortar pharmacies. According to the FDA:

"Legitimate pharmacy sites on the Internet provide consumers with a convenient, private, way to obtain needed

medications, sometimes at more affordable prices. The elderly and persons in remote areas can avoid the inconvenience of

traveling to a store to purchase medications. Many reputable Internet pharmacies allow patients to consult with a licensed

pharmacist from the privacy of their home. Moreover, Internet pharmacies can provide customers with written product

information and references to other sources of information like the traditional storefront pharmacy. Finally, the

increasing use of computer technology to transmit prescriptions from doctors to pharmacies is likely to reduce prescription

errors"

The area where you need to use caution is when purchasing pain medication online from foreign countries. Many regions (the U.S. being one of them) have laws

prohibiting the purchase of pain medication directly from offshore

companies. The reason for this is to help protect U.S. consumers from being prescribed the wrong pain

medication or receiving pain medication that is of a different potency that what is normally

prescriped in the States. Some foreign countries however have attempted to circumvent this by using a distribution company

inside the United States.

Tips for Buying Pain Medication Online

•Spend time looking over the website and figure out how long they've been in business and what their

policies are on shipping, ordering, etc.

•Look for verified seals that are recognized by country from which you are ordering pain medication.

•Determine whether or not a pharmacist is available to assist you with your pain medication order and

to answer questions.

•Ask the company you are considering if they not only take the orders but ships them as well,

fraudulent companies usually do not ship.

•Ask for the expiration date of the pain medication you are buying to avoid buying outdated medicine.

•Avoid offers that look too good to be true, they likely are. Buying pain medication

online can be cheaper but high discounts (60%+) are not realistic and should be questioned.

Ultimately, buying pain medication online can be both convenient and cost effective. Caution should be

exercised when deciding on an online pharmacy to purchase from but this goes without saying and applies to anything you buy

on the internet. As with all medical issues, filling your pain medication prescription should not be done without

consulting your doctor and having a solid grasp on the details of your condition.