Everything is so easy these days, isn't it? Not only the things you need for your home, food, but now some people even get their medicines delivered online. The work is done with one click. No need to wait in queues, no need to work hard. But have you ever thought about the big danger hidden in this ease? Do you know how dangerous it is to fill out a questionnaire on a website and take medicine without meeting a doctor and getting an accurate diagnosis? Let's talk about this in more depth today.
Some really scary events that happened
These are not just rumors, they are real things that happened. Imagine, there was a 25-year-old young man in America named Alvin. He had a state of depression that came with stress. He spoke to a doctor through an online website. That doctor had never seen Alvin with his own eyes. He didn't listen to his heart, didn't check his blood pressure, didn't even check his pulse rate. But through the Internet, Alvin was prescribed very strong muscle relaxants and a weight loss drug called fen-phen, which was very popular at the time.
Normally, when a patient is given this type of medication, a doctor constantly monitors the patient. But nothing like that happened to Alvin. After a few months, his behavior became so strange that it became a big problem for his family. Six months later, Alvin committed suicide by shooting himself with a gun. The family says that the severe mental changes caused by the medication were the cause of his death.
Another incident is the story of 52-year-old Robert. He had a family history of heart disease. But he ordered Viagra online, a drug that claims to increase male potency, without talking to his doctor. One day, he drank a few beers on his way home from work, went to his girlfriend's house, took a Viagra pill, and died of a heart attack while having sex.
This is not just one incident. The company that makes Propecia , a prescription hair loss medication, warns pregnant women not to even touch it because it can cause birth defects in the unborn baby. But in one case, a 26-week-old woman successfully ordered Propecia from an online pharmacy!
What do these incidents show? Using medication without medical supervision is like putting your own life at risk.
How serious is this "Online Pharmacy" scam?
To understand the seriousness of the situation, consider these examples. One journalist ordered Viagra for her cat, stating that she had been neutered. Surprisingly, the order was successfully delivered to her home! In another test, a 16-year-old boy was able to order Viagra without any problems.
Imagine, if this website is so irresponsible that a cat can order Viagra, how would they care about your health?
These cause serious damage.
- There is no age limit.
- They don't look at what the exact illness is.
- You don't think about other illnesses you have (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease).
- They don't check for drug interactions with other medications you are already taking.
Simply put, they only want your credit card details. They have no responsibility for your health.
Why is it so important to see a doctor?
Some people might think, "Why go to the doctor, for a minor problem?" But that's the biggest mistake we make. There's a big difference between what happens when you go to see a doctor and what happens when you fill out an online form. Let's look at it in a table.
| Feature | Consulting a Doctor | Rogue Online Pharmacy |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | They will perform a physical examination, ask questions, and, if necessary, perform tests to provide an accurate diagnosis. | Relying solely on a questionnaire that you fill out yourself is very inaccurate. |
| Other health conditions | Medications are prescribed taking into account your allergies, heart disease, and other medical conditions, such as diabetes. | There is no consideration for these. They can even harm lives. |
| Side effect monitoring | The possible side effects of using the medication are explained and a date for re-examination is set. | There is no follow-up or monitoring. If a side effect occurs, you are on your own. |
| Accuracy of medications | Because it is purchased from a registered pharmacy, there is a guarantee of the quality and prescribed standards of the medicine. | There is a high risk of receiving counterfeit, expired, contaminated, or mislabeled medications. |
So there are no legitimate online pharmacies?
You may also have this question. Yes, in some countries there are online pharmacies that operate legally and very responsibly. But the main rule in all of them is that the patient must present a valid prescription from a doctor.
So, if you ever buy medicine online, keep this in mind:
- Do you request your doctor's prescription from the website? Do you verify it?
- Is that website affiliated with a registered pharmacy recognized by the Sri Lankan government ?
- Do they provide a phone number for a qualified pharmacist you can call anytime for details?
If there's a place where you can buy medicine without any of this, just by giving your credit card, then staying away from it is the best thing for your life.
Take-Home Message
- Never purchase medicine online without a doctor's advice and a valid prescription.
- Online questionnaires are never a substitute for a real medical examination.
- The risks of taking medication from irresponsible websites like these can include misdiagnosis, dangerous side effects, receiving counterfeit or expired medication, and even death.
- If you have any health concerns, the best and safest thing to do is to see your family doctor.
- In an emergency, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). If you suspect poisoning from a medicine, immediately contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital .
- Remember, your health is not something to play with. Safety is always more important than convenience.
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