Prescription Drugs Without Prescription

By Allan Tan

Americans may find it difficult to believe that they can purchase prescription drugs without prescription. Americans would typically think that there is no other way for a person to get their prescription medication if the person needs a prescription medication that has run out of allowable refills and does not have the money for the doctor's appointment to get a new prescription.

Health care costs are a financial problem for many people. Even people who have health insurance may not be able to pay the co-pays or medical costs not covered by the insurance.

Pharmacies on the Internet often allow people to purchase prescription drugs without prescription. Though most pharmacies on the Internet are based outside the United States, these pharmacies ship prescription drug orders to international customers including those in the United States.

The prescription medications ordered through pharmacies on the Internet are no different than those available through traditional pharmacies and may even be supplied by the same manufacturer. The pharmaceutical companies in Canada, Pacific Asia, Europe, and the United States are often suppliers of medications to online pharmacies.

Examples of medications that are available through Internet pharmacies without a prescription include the antidepressant Paxil and the diabetes medication Avandia. Many other prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications are sold through pharmacies on the Internet without prescription.

Besides purchasing medication through an online pharmacy, there are other options to make prescribed drugs and doctor appointments more affordable. People who cannot afford their prescription medication may want to contact the pharmaceutical company since some drug companies have programs to help people with low income to pay for their prescriptions. The person's state welfare department has medical programs that assist in health care costs.

A definite disadvantage of buying a prescription drug without prescription is that the person does not have the physician's guidance on the dosage. A patient may want to buy their current medication and dosage, but they have no way of knowing if the doctor would have changed or even discontinued the prescription.

Is it legal to buy prescription drugs without prescriptions? Customers who are buying medication without a prescription is getting a prescription from the doctor working with the pharmacy on the Internet.

The online pharmacies employ licensed doctors in the United States to prescribe the medication. The customer of the pharmacy fills out a medical questionnaire which is evaluated by the physician. The patient is not receiving the physical examination and consultation as they would during a doctor's appointment. Therefore, there are health risks to ordering prescription drugs online. - 29929

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here