An excerpt from the Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50 Pay up to 40% LESS for prescription drugs The smart shopper's guide to buying drugs online
	With prescription drug costs soaring 15% a year on average, the appeal of internet pharmacies is obvious. But can you really buy brand name medications online at prices up to 40%lower than you'd find in conventional drugstores? Lower prices, greater convenience The internet allows you to easily compare prices with other websites and with prices at local stores. There are two basic types of online pharmacies: online branches of "brick and mortar" pharmacies (such as Walgreens or CVS) or pharmacies that are exclusively online. The latter will usually cost less due to lower overhead and inventory costs. Signs of a reputable online pharmacy: You will be required to send a doctor's prescription, or the pharmacy will contact your doctor to verify the prescription. They will verify the information you must provide about any health insurance that pays for the cost of your drugs. Once they have this information on file, reordering is as simple as a click of the mouse. Signs of a less-than-reputable online pharmacy: Neither a mailed-in prescription nor your doctor's okay are required. Instead, you fill in a health questionnaire, and an internet physician reviews your case (for a fee) and prescribes a medication that appears appropriate based on the information you submitted. No medical exam or prior prescription is required. Dozens of highly questionable sites skip the prescription requirement altogether.
	These guidelines from Health After 50 minimize the pitfalls if you choose to buy prescription drugs online: 1. Check the site's credentials. Reputable websites identify states where they are licensed, and you can confirm any state's standing with the independent National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Online pharmacies that pass muster must display a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) logo on their home pages. 2. Look for a real address and pharmacist. Legitimate pharmacies always list an address and phone number, and they also provide access by phone or email to a pharmacist you can contact to answer your questions. 3. Avoid online evaluations. Sites that use a questionnaire rather than a prescription from your doctor cannot determine whether a specific drug is appropriate for your health problem, if it is safe for you to use, or if you have an underlying condition that might provoke a harmful reaction. 4. Compare prices carefully. Make sure you compare prices for the same dose and quantity of a drug, and take into account mailing costs. A new search engine, DestinationRx.com, gathers prices from the largest online pharmacies and even calculates a per pill price for different dosages and quantities. 5. Find out if a site accepts your health plan. A reputable online pharmacy will inform you by email whether or not they accept your coverage before processing your order. 6. Look for privacy protection. Many sites offer to keep private records of your prescriptions, medical history, and insurance coverage in order to simplify the refill process. Be sure their security measures are spelled out clearly. Reputable sites restrict access to information, such as your credit card number or list of prescriptions, and won't share this information with other companies without your consent. 7. Ask if your medicine has unusual storage requirements. Most drugs are stored at room temperature, but some require refrigeration or can't be exposed to extreme temperatures. It makes sense to buy such medications at a local drugstore. 8. Check the product once it arrives. Make sure it is completely sealed, and if it's a brand-name product you've used before, compare the package and pills with those you already have. (A perfectly acceptable generic version of your drug may look different, however.) Also check that the expiration date allows you ample time to use the product. For more healthy living advice for men and women over 50, subscribe today to Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50.

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