I have a family member who, because of the extremely high cost of one particular
drug, chose what they thought was a reliable source for purchasing medicines online. It landed my relative in the hospital for two weeks. However, when my mother lived with me, I remember that we were able to get a 3-month supply of one of her medicines simply by explaining to her doctor our desire to be prepared. The doctor gave us a prescription that allowed us to have my Mom's medicine in the cabinet, and we just needed to be careful to rotate it so that we used up the medicines with the closest expiration dates first.
A great resource for updated information on safe medicines can be found at http://www.safemedicines.org/. You can sign up to receive their emails which will include information such as the following (which I cut and pasted from the newsletter just to show you a sample of the information you can find):
RECENT NEWS
Medicare Part D Protecting Seniors from Online Drug Scams
November 4, 2011
Lower costs for prescription drugs for seniors on Medicare Part D has lowered online victims of counterfeit medicine as well. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy executive director, Carmen Catizone, told Fox News, “Thankfully, we haven’t seen as many seniors... MORE>>>
Google Exec Invests in Counterfeit Drug Fighting Technology November 3, 2011
Bargain Hunters Can't Outsmart the Fake Medicine Criminals November 2, 2011
Brave Scientists Risk Own Lives to Find a Cure for Malaria November 1, 2011
Keynote Address; Deputy Director Kumar Kibble October 27, 2011
Under Secretary of State Hormats at Interchange: Global Collaboration Key to Curb the Spread of Counterfeit Medicines October 27, 2011
Panel 3: Jeremiah Mwangi, International Alliance of Patients' Organizations October 27, 2011
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I've received at leasts five phone calls in the last year soliciting me to purchase medicines over the phone. The conversation starts out with the person on the other end asking for someone - usually a name you do not recognize - and they give your number. When you tell them they have the wrong number, they will then ask if someone from your address ordered medicine. You have to stop and think for a moment because it may be your pharmacist. But you finally say "no" and they continue to ask if there are medicines that you use on a regular basis. They continue to try to sell you on purchasing your medicines from them.
The last phone call I received sounded just like one of those calls when you are trying to get the "fix" for your computer and you end up talking to someone in India.
This is a huge money-making market - the sale of illegal prescription drugs. Get informed and talk to your family members about the potential dangers of purchasing medicines from unreliable sources. It could mean the difference between life and death.
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