FDA warns against buying drugs online

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said consumers are putting themselves at risk by buying medications over the Internet.

An FDA investigation into drugs mailed to the United States from foreign countries found 88 percent of the 2,069 drug packages examined appeared to be prescription medicines available in the United States.

The report said approved generic versions of 47 percent of the sampled products can be bought for $4 at several national chain pharmacies, which is often less than the shipping costs for the same drugs purchased online.

"The data lead us to believe that many people are buying drugs online not to save money but to bypass the need for a prescription from their doctor since these Web sites typically do not require the purchaser to have a prescription," FDA deputy commissioner Randall Lutter said Thursday in a news release. "In essence, they seem to be getting and using prescription drugs without a prescription, an intrinsically risky practice."

The FDA said consumers should be wary of unregulated Internet drug sellers because many of their products might not contain the correct ingredients and could contain toxic substances.