1. Consult with your physician.
Aside from helping you and your doctor assess your current physical condition, this is also an essential step in getting your prescription. Your physician can also determine whether an alternative form of therapy or medication is more suitable for your condition.
2. Get informed about your prescription.
Take your talk with your doctor as an opportunity to discuss the possible side effects of taking a particular medicine and how it may react with the other drugs you are using. This also provides you with the chance to talk about your prescription with your physician. You can ask for a similar but cheaper version of the drug if you feel that it is too expensive especially for long treatment periods. Likewise, you can also ask for a free sample of the drug to help you identify counterfeit ones when you order online.
3. Search for a reputable online pharmacy.
Not all online pharmacies are to be trusted; especially those that offer prescription medication without a valid Rx. Look for an online pharmacy that is licensed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. An additional qualification is a seal of approval from the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites. These organizations regularly inspect the operations of online pharmacies so you can be assured that an online drug store with these qualifications follows stringent procedures and is trustworthy.
4. Check for consumer protection.
Since online pharmacies are in the business of providing quality health care for consumers, they must have provisions for consumer protection. Check if they supply adequate product information like descriptions, indications, side effects, contraindications, and pictures of the drug. Compare this information from what you found out during your discussion with your physician. Read up on the website's security and confidentiality policies to ensure that any information you share with them will be protected and used only with your consent. Keep a lookout for contact details like a verifiable physical address and toll-free phone numbers.
5. Place your order carefully.
Most reputable online pharmacies have a resident licensed pharmacist. If possible, talk to the pharmacist over the phone for questions regarding your prescription before placing your order. Fill up an order form at the website only after you have ensured the safety of any information you divulge. Depending on the procedure of the online pharmacy, you may be required to send a scanned version of your prescription, requested to have your doctor forward it to the site, or send it through mail or fax. You will be given a tracking number for your order. While waiting, you can log on to the site and use the provided tracking number to find out the status of your order.
