Since about the year 2000, hundreds of pharmacies like this one
Online Drugs Store have begun operating over the internet which is getting popular among people.
While most internet pharmacies sell prescription drugs only with a prescription, some do not require a pre-written prescription. Some customers order drugs from such pharmacies to avoid the inconvenience of visiting a doctor or to obtain medications which their doctors were unwilling to prescribe. These websites employ their own in house physicians to review the situation and write a prescription accordingly. Some websites have been known in the past to offer medications without a prescription or a doctor review. However, this practice has been criticized as potentially dangerous, especially by those who feel that only doctors can reliably assess contraindications, risk/benefit ratios, and an individual's overall suitability for use of a medication. There have also been reports of such pharmacies dispensing substandard products. Pharmacies offering medication without a prescription and doctor review or supervision are sometimes fraudulent.
In the United States, there has been a push to legalize importation of medications from Canada and other countries, in order to reduce consumer costs. Although importation of prescription medication currently violates Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and federal laws, enforcement is generally targeted at international drug suppliers, rather than consumers. Often Americans purchase lower-cost foreign drugs by driving to Canadian or Mexican pharmacies, buying their medications when traveling abroad on vacation, or, buying from foreign pharmacies that ship their orders via mail.
International consumers often purchase drugs online from online pharmacies in their own countries, or, those located in other nations such as India, Israel and the Philippines. Some of these pharmacies require prescriptions, while others do not, or, ask the customer to fill in a health questionnaire with their order. Drugs sold and distributed in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world are often produced by well-known manufacturers such as Pfizer, Wyeth, generic Indian drugmakers Cipla and Ranbaxy, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries of Israel. In fact, it's a fairly common practice for North American and European visitors to countries like Thailand, India and South Africa to purchase and bring home -- affordable medications for themselves, family members or friends. Travelers may avoid possible difficulties going through customs with their medication purchases by mailing the drugs to their home so they receive them upon their return.
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