Access to healthcare and medicines is vital most especially that a pandemic has threatened the world. With that in mind, you may have considered purchasing your medicines abroad whether you've been traveling, are unable to go out due to the restrictions, or you simply just want to save money. In some cases, the medicines you need may only be available somewhere else from where you live. For any reasons you may have, here are some things you must ask yourself before making that purchase:

Is it the right medicine for me?

Before purchasing and taking any medicine, it is important to consult a physician or other health professionals to determine the right medicine for you. Specific diseases or conditions need to be diagnosed correctly before a health professional can relay drug treatments to their patients.

Whether you are looking for over the counter medicines or prescription drugs, consulting health professionals such as pharmacists would ensure proper medication safety especially if the medicines are labeled in a different language. It is best to talk to health professionals so they can aid you in choosing the right products and make the most out of your purchase.

Where is the medicine from?

You must consider where the medicines are made and from where you are purchasing them. If you are traveling, it is your safe bet to buy from licensed pharmacies rather than marketplaces. Licensed pharmacies are regulated by health authorities, so it is most likely that they have reputable suppliers, and the medicines are stored properly. If you are buying online, only purchase only from reputable online pharmacies.

Keep in mind that some medicines are available in other countries under different names or brands. Albuterol and Salbutamol are perfect examples. Both are the same compounds and are used to treat patients with symptoms of asthma such as shortness of breath, wheezing, or difficulty breathing. However, Albuterol is the United States Adopted Name (USAN) while Salbutamol is the International Non-Proprietary Name (INN). Another example is Acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever, which is known as Paracetamol in other countries. In such cases, consult with health professionals to help you find the medicine you are looking for and to avoid medication errors.

Is the medicine safe and of quality?

One of the biggest issues in the pharmaceutical industry is counterfeit medicine. Counterfeit medicines, in simpler terms, are fake medicines. These products are illegal and may be contaminated, contain the wrong or inactive ingredients, with the wrong dosage, or may contain harmful ingredients. Counterfeit medicines pose a great health risk by harming the body or by not working as they are intended to. So, before purchasing from that local pharmacy in the country you are traveling to or buying online, make sure that the brand and generic name of the drug is registered and checked by the country's governing health authority. You can do this by checking the country's official health websites of registered products or consult with health professionals in terms of which products they would recommend.

Is it safe to buy prescription drugs online?

If you are purchasing online, make sure you only purchase from reputable online pharmacies. Legitimate online pharmacies require a prescription for prescription drugs before allowing patients to buy from them. Also, check if they have trained and competent medical professionals such as licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians on staff available for counseling or medication evaluation. Furthermore, you can be assured online purchasing security if the online pharmacy is a member of PharmacyChecker - a regulating body that ensures that online pharmacies are monitored and uphold the standard of the pharmacy practice. An eligible online pharmacy will have a PharmacyChecker seal displayed on their website that links to their Pharmacy Checker Verification Program pharmacy profile.
 
Only those with high standard safety qualifications are eligible for accreditation and publish the PharmacyChecker Seal on their website and Canadian Prescription Drugstore is one of them. The Pharmacy Checker seal guarantees that our pharmacy partners offer safe and quality prescription medications from reputable suppliers. If you have any questions about your medications, you can ask our Pharmacists and they would be ready to help. Buy discounted prescription drugs with up to 80% savings, when you order online from Canada at Canadian Prescription Drugstore!