How to Check an Online Pharmacy Before Filling a Prescription

Verify the website independently

Start with a source that is not controlled by the seller. FDA's BeSafeRx program explains online-pharmacy risks, and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy provides a Safe Site Search Tool for checking a website.

Confirm that the pharmacy is licensed in the jurisdictions where it operates and serves patients. A website address alone does not establish licensure.

Know what a legitimate pharmacy should provide

• A valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider
• Access to a licensed pharmacist for patient-care questions
• A physical location and clear contact information
• Privacy protections and product-specific directions

Recognize warning signs

FDA and NABP warn about websites that sell prescription medicine without a prescription, do not provide pharmacist access, conceal their location, or offer prices and claims that seem too good to be true.

Other concerns include medicine that looks different from what was described, arrives with damaged packaging, or lacks instructions. Contact the dispensing pharmacy or prescriber when the product does not match what you were told to expect.

Separate the platform from the pharmacy

A care partner may coordinate the clinical review, while a separate pharmacy prepares or dispenses the medicine. Ask for the pharmacy's name and contact information rather than assuming the care partner and pharmacy are the same organization.