FDA begins nationwide effort to warn of online pharmacies

"Our goal is to increase awareness," FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg told the Associated Press, "not to scare people away from online pharmacies. We want them to use appropriate pharmacies."

That means pharmacies that are located in the United States, are licensed by the pharmacy board in the patient's state, and have a licensed pharmacist available to answer questions. In addition, the pharmacy must require a valid doctor's prescription for the medicine. Online drugstores that claim none is needed, or that the site's doctor can write a prescription after the customer answers some questions, are breaking the law.

Research by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, which represents the state pharmacy boards, found that of thousands of online pharmacies it reviewed, only about 3 percent follow state and federal laws. The group's website lists only a few dozen Internet pharmacies that it has verified are legitimate and following the rules.

Most consumers don't know that. An Internet survey, conducted by the FDA in May, questioned 6,090 adults. It found that nearly 25 percent of Internet shoppers have bought prescription drugs online, and nearly 30 percent said they weren't confident they could do so safely.

The campaign comes after some high-profile cases this year of counterfeit drugs reaching American patients.

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FDA begins nationwide effort to warn of online pharmacies