Can you trust Canadian pharmacies?

A study in 2020 found that more than one-third of Americans (35%) have used an online pharmacy to purchase prescription medications. However, buying medications online that are safe is more challenging than you may think. Only 3% of online pharmacies are safe and legal, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If you end up purchasing from an unsafe internet pharmacy, it may pose serious health risks. You may accidentally get meds that you don’t have a prescription for, receive the wrong prescription drug or a counterfeit drug, get scammed, or have your banking information leaked or stolen.

Just because the online pharmacy website looks legitimate does not mean it is safe. Some red flags to look for when picking an online pharmacy include claims that the drugs they offer may provide a ‘miracle cure’ for chronic conditions, not requiring you to have a valid prescription before purchasing, not asking for your medical history or what other prescriptions you are taking, and having no licensed pharmacist on staff to answer your questions.

Even if these medications do not harm you right away, your condition may worsen without effective treatment. Illegitimate pharmacies do not tell you that it’s dangerous to take a prescription drug without being diagnosed and monitored by a healthcare professional. They are there to ensure the medication is helping you. You may also put yourself at risk for harmful drug interactions or side effects that your healthcare provider could warn you about.

Why take the chance ordering medications online from Canada instead of getting them from a U.S. pharmacy?

The main reason Americans order from online Canadian pharmacies is drug prices, especially brand-name medications. It is estimated that Canadian prices are 44% of those in America. This is because the Canadian government has regulations around pricing that are set when a drug gets approved. This helps keep prices down for legitimate, high-quality medications.

How can you tell if it is a legitimate online pharmacy?

If ordering from an online U.S. pharmacy, there are a few things that can help you be sure it’s a safe online pharmacy. Check with your insurance company to see if it is an approved pharmacy, be sure it requires a valid prescription, watch out for prices that look too good to be true, and make sure it has a physical address. You can also verify that it is a licensed pharmacy by checking with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). It has a searchable database of websites that have been approved by their program.

Canadian online pharmacies and/or pharmacy owners will be:

• licensed by the Canadian pharmacy regulatory authority in that jurisdiction.
• members of the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA).

Some red flags to look for, according to Health Canada include not asking for a valid prescription before filling the medication, not having a street address, toll-free telephone number, and a way to contact a pharmacist, or selling products that do not have a drug identification number (DIN).

Is Universal Drug Store (UDS) legitimate?

UDS is an international prescription service provider that contracts with International dispensaries and Canadian pharmacies. We are a leader in referring orders for prescription and over-the-counter medications on behalf of customers throughout the world. With over 20 years of experience, you can be confident that you will receive legitimate, high-quality medications delivered to your door. All medications are dispensed by a licensed, certified Canadian pharmacy or an international pharmacy partner that is licensed by their governmental regulatory body.

All Rx drugs require a valid prescription from your physician before they can be filled and shipped. You can send your prescription to our online medicine shop by uploading it on our website, by email or fax, or by mail. Also, we can contact your doctor to authorize your prescription at no additional charge.

Once your order is processed, you can expect your medication within 2 weeks if you are in the U.S. and we offer a 30-day return policy to give you full confidence when ordering from UDS.

Our website is safe and we use SSL encryption to secure all of your personal information that is transferred through our website. We are highly rated on Trustpilot and ShopperApproved so you can expect excellent customer service. Visit UDS today to search for your medication and get your order started.

Sources

• How to Verify if a Canadian Online Pharmacy Is Legitimate. National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA). Accessed May 31, 2024.
• Considering an Online Pharmacy? U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Accessed May 31, 2024.
• How to Buy Medicines Safely From an Online Pharmacy. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Accessed May 31, 2024.
• Buying Drugs Online. Health Canada. Accessed May 31, 2024.
• How Do I Know If My Canadian Pharmacy Is Legitimate? RxConnected. Accessed May 31, 2024.