Buying drugs on the Internet could be hazardous to your health

I normally write about Internet fraud, which is enabled (a lot) by spam e-mails attacking our in-boxes on a daily basis.

A lot of these spam e-mails are trying to sell drugs.

The FDA is now warning all of us that buying these drugs from questionable sources could be hazardous to your health.

This makes this issue more serious than losing a little money!

From their press release on the matter:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has become aware that a number of Americans who placed orders for specific drug products over the Internet (Ambien, Xanax, Lexapro, and Ativan), instead received a product that, according to preliminary analysis, contains haloperidol, a powerful anti-psychotic drug.

Reports show several consumers in the United States have sought emergency medical treatment for symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, muscle spasms and muscle stiffness after ingesting the suspect product. Haloperidol can cause muscle stiffness and spasms, agitation, and sedation.

Therefore, the agency is reissuing its warning to consumers about the possible dangers of buying prescription drugs online. FDA urges consumers to review the FDA Web site for information before buying medication over the Internet.

FDA press release, here.

My advice is to anyone, who cares to listen, is get your prescriptions from your own doctor and fill them at your local pharmacy.

The FDA has a lot more material on how to avoid problems, such as this one, on their main website, here.