Comparison shopping for medications ensures that consumers get the drugs they need for the lowest prices possible. Quality medications are available from numerous sources in standard formulations and dosages, but prices of products and shipping can vary dramatically. Here’s a look at how to compare online pharmacy prices the easy way.
1.) Take Stock of Requirements
Before shopping, you should know exactly what drug you require along with its dosage and formulation. If cost or side effects are a concern, you might be able to find out about alternatives to the medication you’re currently taking from your doctor. With the diversity of online pharmacies and their inventories, selection can go far beyond what is sold at brick-and-mortar drugstores.
2.) Explore Your Options
The vast selection of online pharmacies makes it important to shop with focus. For example, if lifestyle drugs are needed, sites that specialize in those products can be visited for the best selection and lowest prices. eDrugSearch.com is a valuable resource for finding and comparing reputable pharmacies that sell virtually any type of prescription medication.
Quality and safety should be at the top of every online drug buyer’s concerns, but not every Internet pharmacy is equal in these areas. Shopping at online and mail-order pharmacies based in Canada, where drug controls are similar to in the U.S., is recommended for this reason. Understanding the role of online pharmacy comparison sites in locating quality products is as crucial for satisfaction as knowing how to compare online pharmacy prices.
3.) Identify Opportunities for Savings
Write down the price range you’re willing to pay for the medications you require. Check with your prescription drug insurer to find out if the base prices you’re looking at can be reduced, and take this into account as you begin to search. To expand your options, keep track of the insured and uninsured prices of both the name-brand and generic versions of the drug. This way, you will be able to consider sites that offer savings despite not accepting your insurance. When shopping for insured medications, lower-tier choices found on your insurer’s formulary can offer significant savings.
4.) Figure Your Expenses
The costs of buying medications online include the prices of the products as well as any shipping and handling charges that may apply. Some sites offer expedited shipping for a higher price. Domestic purchases may include sales tax if purchased in state, but orders from Canadian pharmacies do not include sales taxes.
5.) How To Compare Online Pharmacy Prices the Easy Way
Instead of painstakingly scouring the Internet for the lowest drug prices, many consumers take advantage of https://eDrugSearch.com. This site enables patients to look for medications at reputable pharmacies by simply typing the name of the necessary drug and hitting the search button. Because the pharmacies featured there are known to be dependable, consumers can have peace of mind about the quality of drugs they’re getting and the savings to which they have access.
At eDrugSearch.com, you can also browse a comprehensive list of safe, licensed online pharmacies. As long as you know how to compare online pharmacy prices with this site, you can count on being able to make safe, low-cost drug purchases online any time.
About this Angie’s List Expert: Cary Byrd is the president and founder of eDrugSearch.com. Based in San Antonio, eDrugSearch.com is a free cost comparison engine that helps consumers get safe access to affordable medications and advocates licensed online pharmacies as a widely accepted alternative.
eDrugSearch is a powerful tool for patients who desire to lower their prescription drug expenses by filling their medications at one of numerous online pharmacies. eDrugSearch utilizes various resources, including consumer ratings, to provide consumers with important information of top online pharmacies, such as drug costs and company evaluations. You can help improve eDrugSearch by rating online pharmacies and sharing your experience with others. Simply follow the directions below to learn how to rate online pharmacies using eDrugSearch.
HOW TO RATE ONLINE PHARMACIES IN A FEW SIMPLE STEPS:
STEP 1: Click Write a Review
From the eDrugSearch homepage, locate and click the green “Write a Review” button in the upper right hand corner of the website. Or you can go to the Pharmacy Directory page and click on “Write a Review” beside the pharmacy name you wish to rate.
STEP 2: Click Pharmacies
Click the “Pharmacies” link located under “Drugs”. This will display a list of online pharmacies. Simply scroll through the list and choose the name of the pharmacy that you wish to review. Next to the name of the pharmacy you will see and click an orange button labeled “Write a Review”.
STEP 3: Choose multiple choice ratings
To provide an Overall Rating for the chosen pharmacy, simply click on the number of stars that corresponds with the rating you believe best suits the pharmacy. The Overall Rating uses the following scale:
1 star - Poor
2 stars - Fair
3 stars - Average
4 stars - Good
5 stars - Excellent
The next categories for review are as follows:
Overall Satisfaction
Online Ordering Process
Delivery Fulfillment
Customer Service
To rate the above categories, the following scale is used:
1 bar - Poor
2 bars - Fair
3 bars - Average
4 bars - Good
5 bars - Excellent
The next category is used for reviewing the Shelf Life of Drug . To complete this, simply click and select the orange button in the middle of the shelf life scale and drug the button to the left if the drug was close to its expiration date (or to the right if the drug was very far from its expiration date.)
The final multi-choice section of the pharmacy rating asks, “Do you recommend this product?” Simply click on the yes or no button dependent upon your experience and thoughts.
STEP 4: Open Review Section
First choose a Review Summary or title. An example would be This pharmacy has great customer service.
Next, in the box labeled Your Review, describe your experience with the chosen online pharmacy. Feel free to include any special customer service situations and elaborate on whether or not you are satisfied with the purchased product.
STEP 5: Share relevant photos and videos
If desired, click the “Choose File” button to browse your computer and upload any relevant images or video that help complete your review.
STEP 6: Include related products
Choose which products you would recommend.
STEP 7: Your information
Choose a nickname for your review and enter it in the appropriate box.
(Optional)
Type in your location.
Choose your age from the dropdown menu.
Select your gender from the dropdown menu.
STEP 8: Submit additional feedback to customer service
On a scale of 1 to 10 (where 0 = never and 10 = definitely), select the button that most appropriately describes how likely you are recommend eDrugSearch to a friend.
Then, in the empty box, type the reasons why you chose the above selection.
STEP 9: Make sure you are logged as a registered member and select the “Preview” buttion.
If you are satisfied with your review, press “Submit”. That’s it!
About this Angie’s List Expert: Cary Byrd is the president and founder of eDrugSearch.com. Based in San Antonio, eDrugSearch.com is a free cost comparison engine that helps consumers get safe access to affordable medications and advocates licensed online pharmacies as a widely accepted alternative.
The Internet has made getting prescriptions filled online a real bonus, but only if done correctly. Not all websites that offer medication follow standards set forward by the authorities in the industry like eDrugSearch.com. Ordering on the web is a practical approach to getting critical drugs, but leave many asking how to determine patient safety with online pharmacies. By following key steps, the Internet is a secure way to get the meds you need conveniently and at the best price.
Prescription Requirements
The first thing to do is check to ensure the site requires a prescription. Allowing users to order controlled substances without a proper prescription is a surefire way to spot a problem site. Most medications require a prescription by law. If you can order without one, you can’t be sure what you will get.
An online pharmacy should require more than just a patient survey when dispensing medication. This is also indicator of an unsafe business. The governing boards and eDrugSearch.com both warn that this practice is not legal.
Communication Options
One of the advantages of going to a pharmacy is being able to ask a question. There is no reason an online business would be any different. A company that only communicates by email is problematic. Look on the page for:
- A toll-free number that lets you order in person
- Valid business address in the United States
Asking for a Waiver?
A waiver means they are not taking responsibility for providing you with the proper medication. A business not willing to stand behind their service and products may be trying to hide something. A legitimate online pharmacy will not require you to sign a waiver as part of the ordering process.
Variety
Most respected online pharmacies are much like your neighborhood store. You can go to them to get almost any prescription filled. Avoid sites that only offer acne medication, pain drugs or diet pills.
Don’t Respond to Email Advertisements
The emails that promise to show you how to determine patient safety with online pharmacies and get drugs at discount prices are spamming you for business. Most of the companies that practice spamming are illegal, as well.
A reliable and safe pharmacy will avoid generating leads through the email. A qualified company gets customers via more trustworthy marketing practices such as advertising through the doctor’s office or participating in a qualified search platform like eDrugSearch.com.
Do Your Research
The Internet is a powerful tool when determining the legitimacy of any online site including a pharmacy. Do a search on the company name and review the feedback for the business. Customers taken by an online website will post to forums and complaint organizations about their experience.
Agencies that monitor the sale of medications may have warnings about online companies that violate the laws and established industry protocols, as well. An online business thrives based on their reputation. Do enough research for any online pharmacy you are considering to learn their reputation before placing orders. You can also ask at the doctor’s office if they have heard of a particular site.
Filling prescriptions online is a viable option for those who have a hard time getting to a pharmacy or who just want to compare prices to get the best deal. Do your research before ordering and rely on experts for advice on how to determine patient safety with online pharmacies. eDrugSearch.com is a free shopping comparison engine that allows consumers to compare drug prices and get safe access to affordable medications. The average eDrugSearch.com user can expect to save 40-80% off retail prices when shopping online the right way.
About this Angie’s List Expert: Cary Byrd is the president and founder of eDrugSearch.com. Based in San Antonio, eDrugSearch.com is a free cost comparison engine that helps consumers get safe access to affordable medications and advocates licensed online pharmacies as a widely accepted alternative.
Chris Rice at OpEdNews is boiling mad about corrupting lobbyists and duplicitous politicians who have made it difficult for U.S. residents to buy drugs from Canadian pharmacies. Here’s an excerpt from his column:
LIE: The Bush administration is fighting importation of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada by claiming they are unsafe and thereby protecting pharmaceutical companies who have given over $74 billion (or $2,033 per hour) [in contributions] since 2000.
FACT: HHS and FDA officials cannot identify a single American injured as a result drugs purchased from licensed Canadian pharmacies. One of the nation’s leading health experts stated the administration’s argument was “hogwash” since “drugs purchased through the Canadian health care system are every bit as safe as those available in the United States.”
LIE: [Bush said:] I haven’t yet [decided to ban importation of Canadian drugs.]. I just want to make sure they’re safe. When a drug comes in from Canada , I want to make sure it cures you and doesn’t kill you.
FACT: White House Strongly Opposed Drug Re-Importation Despite Congressional Research Service Reports Concluding Canadian Drugs Are Just as Safe as Those in the US . . In a Statement of Administration Principals issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget on July 23, 2003, Bush stated his strong opposition to drug re-importation.
The SAP states, “H.R. 2427 [to allow the re-importation of prescription drugs] is dangerous legislation. It would expose Americans to greater potential risk of harm from unsafe or ineffective drugs, would be extremely costly to implement, and would overwhelm FDA’s already heavily burdened regulatory system.” This despite the fact that the Congressional Research Service, a branch of the Library of Congress, issued reports in 2001 and 2003, concluding both times that the Canadian drug supply was safe for importation to the US.
The 2003 report stated, “The statutory requirements for approving and marketing pharmaceutical products in the United States and Canada are, in general, quite similar.” It found that medications manufactured and distributed in Canada meet or surpass quality control guidelines set by the FDA.
As the T-shirt says, “Truth Hurts, Lies Kill.” The painful truth is that when it comes to prescription drugs, our government is in the pocket of giant corporations who put their interests — rather than our health — first. Facing this truth and fighting for change is the better solution than accepting government lies — lies that are slowly killing our healthcare system.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), last week issued a fascinating survey of teens. Two results stood out to me:
1. Teens (aged 12 to 17) indicated, for the first time, that it is easier to acquire “prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin or Ritalin, without a prescription” than it is to buy beer.
2. While Internet pharmacies have been widely blamed for the increase in prescription drug abuse, few of the teens surveyed say that the drug abusers acquire their drugs from online pharmacies.
That’s right. Here’s what CASA’s press release says:
When teens who know prescription drug abusers were asked where those kids get their drugs:
- 31 percent said from friends or classmates;
- 34 percent said from home, parents or the medicine cabinet;
- 16 percent said other;
- Nine percent said from a drug dealer
You may recall that just last month, CASA issued a study warning that 85 percent of online pharmacies do not require a prescription. Clearly, the organization is strongly opposed (as we are) to rogue online pharmacies.
But I think it’s telling here that — even with all the negative media attention that online pharmacies are receiving — these kids didn’t say, “We buy our OxyContin online.” They said they’re sneaking pills from their parents’ medicine cabinets — or their friends’ parents’ medicine cabinets.
This says to me that we need to look beyond the easy scapegoat of online and mail-order pharmacies in getting to the root of the problem of teen prescription drug abuse.
Could it be that the billions of dollars drug companies have spent to advertise, promote and sell their drugs have resulted in a flood of pills on the market?
Could it be that we’re taught by wall-to-wall direct-to-consumer advertising today that there’s “a pill for every ill”?
In this environment, isn’t it reasonable for teens to seek out the much-hyped prescription drugs they keep hearing about?
Let me give you one example. Viagra is a very popular drug among young men, including even teens, who are not impotent but believe that Viagra will improve their sexual performance. Do you think — for even a minute — that Viagra abuse would be as severe if Pfizer had not spent millions of dollars shouting “Viva Viagra” from every rooftop in America?
If you do, you’re kidding yourself. And if you think the problem of teen prescription drug abuse will be solved by focusing on Internet pharmacies rather than the larger issues at work, you’re also kidding yourself.
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