If you are looking for an Internet pharmacist to help you save money on prescription and over-the-counter medications there are some things you need to know to make sure that you get quality, authentic, and legal medications. If you have a prescription filled by an international pharmacy, there are some laws and regulations with which you should become familiar. For one thing, you are required to have a legitimate physician written prescription or medications dispensed as prescription only. In terms of Canadian pharmacies online for example, you will need to fax or mail a copy of your prescription before the pharmacy can fill your order.

Understand that there are certain medications even a legitimate, licensed Internet pharmacist affiliated with a Canadian pharmacy cannot ship to the United States. Certain classes of drugs such as benzodiazepine, stimulants, and narcotics are controlled substances they cannot be shipped internationally. For example, stimulant prescriptions for ADHD such as Ritalin and Adderall are ineligible. Likewise, narcotic pain relievers such as Vicodin and hydrocodone are also ineligible for international shipment. If an online pharmacy offers to ship these medications to you from Canada, they are most likely a fraud.

In terms of the legality of Internet pharmacists dispensing medications to US patients from a Canadian pharmacy online, the practice is legal. The FDA allows citizens to transport or have mailed to them up to a three-month supply of prescription medication. This means that you can order a three-month supply of your prescription medication from a discount pharmacy in Canada without violating any FDA regulations or federal laws. However, be cautious about American pharmacies online who offer medications from Canada. Selling of imported drugs like this is something the FDA is cracking down on more and more.

Since you are already online looking for an Internet pharmacist, it will be easy for you to verify the reputation of an online Canadian pharmacy with whom you plan to do business. Using a search engine, enter the name of the pharmacy with the word “complaint” and see what the search engine brings up. If past customers have published bad experiences or complaints online, the search results will bring up links to those complaints. Other search terms can be used in addition to the word complaint to help you perform a more thorough search. However, this is no substitute for ensuring that the Canadian pharmacy with which you plan to do business is duly licensed and accredited.