Things to consider before buying medicines in India | Medicine buying guide

Things to consider before buying medicines

Medicines have played an evolutionary role by changing the vicissitudes of human life. Now for every medical problem, be it minor or significant, medicines are available. Actually, in India, buying medicine has become a mundane job of a transaction than an awareness activity like buying other stuff. Also, you need to be extra careful when buying medicines online in India.

​Buy Medicine Online 

Ensure you check out these things before you buy medicine online or from a store.

A.   Shop from a pharmacy directly:

1. Match the medicines with a prescription:

We are indoctrinated to buy only the prescribed medicines as a part of following the doctor-written prescription. It is because the doctors diagnose us and the prescription is written according to our body’s conditions. When you go to the pharmacy to buy any medicine, check the following; 

• Is medicine the same as written in a prescription? Ask the contents and brand to the shop dealer.
• Is the medicine pharmacist giving has the same dosage as it is written in a prescription?
• Do not buy more than it is written; for example, if ten tablets are needed, then buy only ten pills, not more.

2. See if generic medicine available:

Certain medical conditions become part of routine life such as diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, and so on. And drugs for these have become essential human requirements. But not all can afford branded drugs medicines because of cost. So to curb this, one should always ask for generic medicine.

• A generic medicine is not only cheaper but also safe because a generic drug meets the high standards by receiving regulatory approval. It includes those from the CDSCO, ICMR, etc. proving it works in the same way and provides the same clinical benefit as its brand-name version. 
• While buying medicine replace branded prescribed medicine with a generic one
• Also, check for the content and dosage while shifting to generic medication, it has to be the same. You can research little before purchasing it directly.

3. Check for labelling & packaging:

     Medicines are also like our food, they have some labeling like manufacturing date, expiry date or a word like best before, how to store instructions, and so on. So when you buy a drug, not randomly purchase it. Check these things:

• Packaging of medicine- whether it is torn or dirty? If yes then buy a new one.
• Take a packet that has all the instructions. Sometimes a portion of expiry date has been cut, so at that time, ask for expiry date or buy medicine which has that portion.
• Take new medicine, check the manufacture date.a
• Check for expiry date- it is the most crucial thing, but still, many people just blindly purchase it in a hurry. Once medicine crosses its expiry date, it is not at all useful, or it may develop some unwanted or adverse effects in the human body. Although you buy from a trustworthy pharmacy, it is our responsibility to check before you purchase it.

• If the expiry date is near, then don’t buy it and ask for a new one. Given climatic conditions or storage conditions, there’s every possibility the drug is not safe to consume closer to its expiry. If you want only 4/5 tablets, then ask them to write an expiry date on it after cutting it.
• See the instructions on how to store medicine, if it is mentioned store in a cool place and pharmacist have not done it, or your notice that drugs were not stores as mentioned then don’t buy it at all. Because it does affect the components of medicines.

B. If you are opting for online medicine purchase: 

1. Check for license/ certificate:

It is the first and most important thing you should do before any online drug purchase. No one can sell medicine online without government approval. It would appear like all websites are trustworthy, but only handfuls of them are valid. 

– Check for what kind of certificates website or application holds

– Ask for license

– Don’t only rely on them, search for the site from which you want to buy medicines.

2. Be aware of fake medicines:

 This happens when you purchase drug randomly from any online store and don’t check whether it is legitimate or not. Stores sell counterfeit drugs in the name of real drugs and could be harmful to you or create a negative effect on the body. Mentioned earlier, do a proper checking before you buy it.

Check the following details and format of the site

– Excellent and authentic sites have specific policies to follow before buying a medicine. So check which pharmacy provides that.

– A good pharmacy will always ask for a prescription before they sell. Remember, buy online only from those portals that demand prescription before making a purchase.

– Also, check whether they have qualified staff to solve your queries. Certain companies provide pop up chat in which 24*7 service available.

– Also, check the details of each drug that includes its contents, manufacture date, expiry date, usage, dose, and so on. And counter checks it with authentic sites to validate your online site.

3. Check for available brands or generic drugs:

• This can be the best check for authentication. A good website will provide you options like comparing medicine with other brands or replace medicine with a generic one.

• So here you can ask or filter for a generic medicine and in low cost get your dose.

The Bottomline

Now that you know the precautions you need to take before you buy medicine, better step out or surf a site for prescription and follow this. It is best to consider drugs as lifelines and if you mess up in this, the consequences can be irreversible.

So now onwards invest little extra time in medicine shopping!

Frequently Asked Questions related buying medicines

1) why is it important to bring the prescription when buying medicines?

Bringing the prescription when buying medicines is crucial to ensure that the medication is used safely and effectively. The prescription contains important information about the medication, such as the dose, frequency, and duration of treatment. It can also alert the pharmacist to any potential drug interactions or allergies. Failing to bring the prescription can result in medication errors, adverse reactions, and other health risks. Patients should always follow the instructions on the prescription and consult with their healthcare provider or pharmacist if they have any questions or concerns.

2) What things you should check before purchasing a medicine?

Before purchasing a medicine, it is important to check several things to ensure its safety and effectiveness. These include the name and strength of the medication, expiration date, dosage form, manufacturer and batch number, packaging, price, and prescription requirement. It is also important to consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about the medication, including its safety, effectiveness, and potential side effects. Taking these steps can help ensure that you get the right medication and use it safely.

3) How to check quality of medicine in India?

To check the quality of medicine in India, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure that the medicine is from a reputable manufacturer and that it has been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Look for the drug’s registration number and the manufacturing and expiry dates. Additionally, check the packaging for signs of tampering or damage. You can also look for certifications such as ISO, GMP, or WHO-GMP, which indicate that the manufacturer follows good manufacturing practices. 

4) What factors are important in choosing a medication?

5) Is it safe to buy medicine from online? 

Buying medicine from a reputable online pharmacy that is licensed and regulated can be safe and convenient. However, there are risks associated with purchasing medicine online, such as the possibility of receiving counterfeit or substandard products. It is important to only purchase medicine from a reputable source like MEDKART and to check the credentials of the online pharmacy before making a purchase.