3 Risks You Take When Buying Antibiotics Online

Purchasing antibiotics without a prescription online can lead you to receiving antibiotics without the proper therapeutic doses or possibly no doses.  When an individual purchases antibiotics without a prescription they are negatively impacting public health in several ways. Take a vow for National Public Health Week that you’ll protect yourself and your family from these risks.

Purchasing antibiotics without a prescription online can lead you to receiving antibiotics without the proper therapeutic doses or possibly no doses.  When an individual purchases antibiotics without a prescription they are negatively impacting public health in several ways. Take a vow for National Public Health Week that you’ll protect yourself and your family from these risks.

1. Self-diagnosis of bacterial infection means possibly treating a virus with antibiotics which leads to increased antibiotic resistant bacteria.  Never self-diagnose bacterial infections, always see a doctor for treatment.

Not only will you not treat your virus if you use antibiotics for it, but says the CDC, “Taking antibiotics when you or your child has a virus may do more harm than good. In fact, in children, antibiotics are the most common cause of emergency department visits for adverse drug events.”

2. Even diagnosed bacterial infections will be treated poorly if the medication does not contain a sufficient dose of the appropriate antibiotic for the infection.  Buying from fake online pharmacies means not knowing exactly what medication you’re really getting.  Just because the medication says it’s the appropriate antibiotic doesn’t mean that it really contains it.

Researchers and investigators have found everything from salt and sugar to heavy metals in counterfeit medications.  A weak or inappropriate antibiotic might appear to reduce symptoms, but will also increase the likelihood of antibiotic resistance.

3. Modern medicine developed antibiotics to cure deadly bacterial infections.  Not receiving appropriate treatment for your bacterial infection can mean serious illness and death.  For example, untreated pathogenic bacterial infections can lead to pneumonia, urinary tract infection, brain inflammation and coronary heart disease. The unverifiable medication you purchase from a virtual pharmacy may not treat you at all, and may cause you more harm that good.

Don’t risk your treatment by purchasing from an unverifiable online pharmacy.  Always use a VIPPS certified pharmacy online, or buy from a bricks and mortar pharmacy.  For more information on buying safely, download our consumer’s guide, “Save Money Safely on Your Prescriptions from Online Pharmacies.”