PHARMACIST’S WARNING
Self-diagnosis and buying medicines online is a risky practice...
IF you thought that Dr Google was your friend, then think again.
Self-diagnosis and buying medicines online is a risky practice, according to research released by NPS Medicinewise, a body that offers professional education and reliable health information to Australian consumers.
“The risk with buying medicines online is your self-diagnosis may be wrong, the medicine you purchase may not be suitable for you, and it might interact with other medicines you may already be taking,” NPS Medicinewise CEO Steve Morris said.
“Many websites selling medicines are legitimate businesses. However, many others are not legitimate and are selling out-ofdate, poor quality, contaminated or even fake medicines that put your health at risk,” he said.
Dubbo pharmacist Albert Ly agrees, saying that patients could be putting themselves in a dangerous
situation unnecessarily.
“They could be misdiagnosed, it could adversely affect their health if they took the wrong medication, they don’t know the reputation of the online retailer, they don’t know the quality of medicine and there could be interaction with other medications that could be detrimental to their health,” he told Dubbo Photo News.
Particularly in the case of longterm or chronic conditions, it is tempting to cut corners and buy online medication.
But Mr Ly said it’s not worth the risk and better to adhere to evidence-based medicine given by a pharmacist or doctor’s prescription.
“There are a lot of gimmicks out there that aren’t recommended by a medical practitioner,” he said.
“Patients should always speak to their health care professional such as a doctor or pharmacist.”
Mr Morris said that if a medicinal option appears too good to be true, it probably is.
“In general, if you are considering taking a new medicine, including a complementary medicine, or buying a prescribed medicine online, see your health professional. They can give you the best advice on your health concerns, and provide a proper diagnosis and suitable treatment if needed,” he said.
The Australian Government’s Therapeutic Goods Administration states that unregulated medicines can have serious risks for consumers as: they may be counterfeit and contain no active ingredients they may contain the wrong amount of an active ingredient and either be too weak to help you or strong enough to harm you they may be contaminated or adulterated with toxic substances they may contain undisclosed or dangerous ingredients they may be past their use by date
For more information, visit tga. gov.au