Consumer

In response to growing concerns regarding the safety of online pharmacies, the FDA issued a list of ten prescription medications that consumers should never purchase online. Many of these drugs can be dangerous when not taken under medical supervision.

The FDA cautions consumers to only use legitimate online sites, such as the pharmacies approved by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). If you choose to shop for drugs online, please use the NABP to do price comparisons and find a trust-worthy online pharmacy. The approved pharmacies require consumers to fax or mail in their doctor's prescription.

The ten medications are listed below alphabetically by brand name.

1. Accutane -- Oral acne medication
2. Actiq -- Oral lozenge for severe cancer pain
3. Clozaril -- Oral medication for schizophrenia
4. Lotronex -- Oral medication for women with severe irritable bowel syndrome
5. Mifeprex (RU-486) -- Oral medication for early pregnancy termination
6. Thalomid -- Oral treatment of skin diseases associated with leprosy
7. Tikosyn -- Oral medication for maintenance of normal rhythms of the heart
8. Tracleer -- Oral treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension
9. Trovan -- Oral or injected antibiotic for severe infections
10. Xyrem -- Liquid medication to treat muscle problems in narcoleptic patients