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>Don't pass up the on-line pharmacy route >By MICHAEL WOODS, Toledo Blade >November 6, 2003 > >Mention the term "Internet pharmacy," and people often >think of shoddy, fly-by-night web sites that sell >Viagra, diet pills, and other drugs to anyone with >cash. Some peddle counterfeit or illegal drugs. > >Just fill out a health questionnaire and you get the >drug - no prescription or real doctor's exam needed, >and sometimes no licensed pharmacist doing the >dispensing. > >That's a shame. Those slip-shod operations tarnish the >image of legitimate online pharmacies, and make people >reluctant to use a service that can be wonderfully >convenient. > >Online pharmacies allow people to get prescriptions >filled and refilled without leaving home. They save >time for busy people, eliminating the need to drive to >the neighborhood pharmacy, stand in line, and wait for >a prescription. > >And they can be a godsend for older individuals who >have difficulty leaving home because of mobility >problems. > >Most also provide online shopping for nonprescription >drugs, cosmetics, and other products found on pharmacy >shelves. > >Start by making sure that you are dealing with a >licensed online pharmacy. That's easy for major chains >like CVS (www.cvs.com), Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), >and Medco (www.medcohealth.com), or pioneering online >pharmacies like DrugStore.com (www.drugstore.com). But >there are many other smaller online pharmacies with >less name recognition. > >If uncertain, check a state-by state list of licensed >online pharmacies maintained and constantly updated by >the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy >(www.nabp.net). It includes online pharmacies in >Canada and some foreign countries. Listing assures >that your prescription will be filled by a licensed >pharmacist. > >How do online pharmacies work? New customers must >register. That means you keyboard contact information >into a screen, and select a user ID and password. On >your next visit, and you go directly to your own >personal area of the web site, with information on >your prescriptions. > >Getting a new prescription filled involves asking the >doctor's office to call the pharmacy, or mailing in >the paper prescription. Some online pharmacies will >call the doctor's office. Most will transfer existing >prescriptions from another pharmacy. They do handle >insurance coverage. > >Refills are a snap. Just make the request online. The >prescription can be shipped to your home, or you can >pick it up in person if the pharmacy has a local >outlet. > >Some online pharmacies provide additional services, >including information about drugs, diseases, and even >comparisons of how their prices stack up against >competitors. > >Automatic prescription refills, or email notices at >refill time, can be especially helpful for people >taking several different prescription drugs. They can >assure that you won't forget to order a refill and go >without medication. > >People who use online pharmacies do miss >person-to-person interaction with the pharmacist, >which can answer questions or provide useful >information about a drug or disease. Pharmacists are a >highly trained but often-underused medical resource. > >Customers, however, usually can email questions to >online pharmacies, and some companies are exploring >use of instant messaging. That would allow back and >forth keyboard "conversations" with the pharmacist.

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