Buying medicines and medical devices online

When you buy medicines online, you don't know who's made them, or what's going into them.

The medicines may look right, but you can't tell if:

• they are counterfeit
• they have the wrong amount of active ingredient
• they are contaminated with toxic chemicals
• they contain undisclosed dangerous or illegal ingredients.

All of this can have major consequences for you. It can:

• be dangerous to your health
• leave you out of pocket if your purchase is stopped at the border. 

In extreme cases you could even be in trouble with the law.

Watch our video about the risks of buying medicines and medical devices online.

Transcript

Buying medicines or medical devices online?

If you're ordering medicine, health equipment or supplies online the Therapeutic Goods Administration, or TGA, is here to help inform you that you may not be making the best choices for your health.

After all, it can seem that there are a lot of tempting options online, but it's difficult to tell which of these products are regulated, and making the wrong purchase could leave you risking your health, out of pocket, or in extreme cases, in trouble with the law.

The problem is, when you buy medicines online, you just don't know who's made them, or what's going into them. The medicines may look right, but you have no way of knowing if they are counterfeit, have the wrong amount of active ingredient, are contaminated with toxic chemicals, or contain undisclosed dangerous or illegal ingredients. All of this can have major consequences for you. It can be dangerous to your health, leave you out of pocket if your purchase is stopped at the border, or in extreme cases you could even be in trouble with the law.

So if the dangers of buying medicines online are making you stop and think, do your research. Make sure you're buying from a legitimate Australian pharmacy. Use the TGA's online resources, or talk to your doctor. Make tga.gov.au the first site you check before you buy medicines online.