Run a four-point check before you order: prescription required, state-licensed, pharmacist available, physical US address listed.
A site that fails any one of these is not a pharmacy - it is a risk. The FDA maintains a lookup for state-licensed online pharmacies, and it warns that sites skipping the prescription step commonly ship counterfeit or contaminated medicine.
What to do
Common questions
How do I know if an online pharmacy is safe?
Run a four-point check before you order anything. One: the site requires a valid prescription from your own licensed provider - no exceptions, no online "doctor" rubber stamp for controlled or risky drugs. Two: the pharmacy is licensed by the state board of pharmacy in the state where it operates; the FDA links every state board lookup on its BeSafeRx page. Three: a licensed pharmacist is available by phone to answer questions. Four: the site lists a physical US address and working phone number. Add one gut check: prices wildly below every competitor almost always mean counterfeit product. Safe, convenient options do exist - the mail-order pharmacy your insurance plan partners with, and the online portals of national chains, all pass every check. If you are unsure about a site, check its license first, and Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you weigh alternatives.