Be Careful When Buying Online Generic Drugs

When the patent of a brand name medication expires, a generic version of the drug is usually made and sold. Like the original drug, the generic version must utilize the same active elements of the brand name drug and it must meet the same quality and safety standards.

In a perfect world, generic drugs are equal in safety and effectiveness to their brand-name counterparts but they cost 30 to 80 percent less. If it’s any consolation, about half of all generic drugs are manufactured by brand name companies. These companies make copies of their own medications or another company’s brand name drugs and sell them minus the brand name.

These generic drugs are often sold online and make it convenient for users to purchase the medicines they need. The US Food and Drug Administration sad over 400 American and foreign companies sell prescription medications online. Many of these online pharmacies are legitimate and you can use their services with the same confidence you have in your neighborhood pharmacy.

Unfortunately, the Internet can be a dangerous place to purchase generic drugs. Some websites that sell drugs aren’t safe. They don’t follow legal procedures and you could put your personal information at risk. Some medications sold online are fake, haven’t been manufactured properly or are too strong and may cause unwanted side effects

Others are too weak and may not treat your health condition. They may contain ingredients that are dangerous to your health, have expired or are out of date. Many of these fake generics aren’t approved by the FDA and haven’t been checked for safety and effectiveness.