Click on a question:

Is it safe to buy drugs from Internet pharmacies?
How are drugs from foreign pharmacies regulated?
How do drugs from other countries differ from American drugs?
Are drugs dispensed safely at EarthMeds' overseas pharmacies?
Why are generic drugs less expensive than brand name drugs?

Is it safe to buy drugs from Internet pharmacies?

This depends entirely on the quality of the Internet pharmacy. There are irresponsible and unethical drug stores operating online; however, there are also highly reputable pharmacies such as EarthMeds, which follow strict safety procedures and sell quality products. When selecting an Internet pharmacy, look for the following qualities:

Prescriptions are required (it is illegal to sell a prescription drug to a person who cannot provide a prescription.)
The pharmacy provides valid contact information.
Licensed pharmacists dispense medications and are available to consult with patients who require medication information.
Pharmaceutical products are provided by licensed, safe international pharmacies that are subject to federal Internet pharmacies regulations in their own countries.
Your privacy and confidentiality are protected.

How are drugs from foreign pharmacies regulated?

The inspection of international pharmacies and pharmaceutical products is performed by designated federal departments, i.e., in Canada drugs are regulated by Canada Health; in England the British Department of Health performs this function.

Canada: Canadian drugs are controlled by the Therapeutic Products Directorate of Health Canada.
United Kingdom: The Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency of the British Department of Health determines whether drugs from England are safe.
Australia: Prescription medications from Australia are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Israel: In Israel drugs are regulated by the Pharmaceutical Division of the Israeli Ministry of Health. Products supplied from Israel are Kosher prescription drugs which meet the standards of Kashrut.
Chile: In Chile drugs are controlled by the Chilean Health Ministry.

These federal bodies uphold standards comparable to those of the US Food and Drug Administration.

How do drugs from other countries differ from American drugs?

Medicinally, there is no difference between foreign drugs and American drugs, however, drugs are frequently renamed or repackaged for sale in different countries.

Packaging differences can be very superficial, such as a different shape of box or a pill bottle instead of a blister pack. Other changes affect the appearance of the medication itself, for example, a 40mg dose of Nexium is supplied as a pink tablet in the US, but is sold in Canada as a purple capsule with yellow stripes. The drug still has exactly the same medicinal function, regardless of its appearance.

Drug names are sometimes different in different countries, for example, the drug called 'Prevacid' in the US is called 'Ogasto' in Chile. Again, the active ingredient of these drugs is identical; the different name may be surprising, but has no effect on the drug's function.

If you are concerned about the medication you receive from EarthMeds, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

Are drugs dispensed safely at EarthMeds' overseas pharmacies?

All the pharmacies in EarthMeds' international network, whether domestic or foreign, follow standardized dispensing procedures which ensure the safety and accuracy of every order. The procedure includes a physician assessment of your prescription, an automatic drug-interaction check, confirmation of your personal and medical information, and multiple checks by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Why are generic drugs less expensive than brand name drugs?

Generic drugs are as safe as their brand name counterparts; they are inexpensive because they cost less to manufacture. The reason generic drugs can be manufactured inexpensively is that they are simply copies of brand name drugs. Manufacturers of generics simply follow an existing recipe - they don't need to pay for the cost of researching and developing that recipe, nor do they need to cover its marketing costs.

Generic drugs are subject to the same safety and quality tests as all other pharmaceutical products, and must be proven to have the same active ingredient in the same strength, purity, quality and stability as the drug they are modeled after. Generics may look slightly different from their brand name versions and may have different inactive ingredients (such as fillers or flavors), but they will be supplied in a similar form and an identical dosage, and will have the same therapeutic effect.

EarthMeds offers both US and foreign generic drugs - compare prices using our Drug Browser.