 | Kevin Knaup received his Kansas Adult Care Home Administrator's license in 1983 and is the Administrator and part owner of Sunset Manor, Inc. in Frontenac, KS. He has been employed at Sunset Manor for 31 years. He is a member of Kansas Health Care Association and Kansas Adult Care Executives. He has served on various local and state committees for education and training in the Adult Care home field. |
Senior Living
2012-04-20 09:47:21
Fraudulent prescriptions
A: First, I highly recommend using extreme caution when buying medications online. Suggest that she not purchase medications from unlicensed online distributors or those who sell medications without a prescription. Reputable online pharmacies will have a seal of approval called the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS), provided by the Association of Boards of Pharmacy in the United States.
I would not buy medications from outside the US, as the regulations may not be as stringent or laws obeyed strictly concerning the manufacture of the drug. Additionally, if a drug was proven defective or harmful, you may not have the same legal recourse.
Always be mindful of the appearance of each medication. Closely examine the packaging and lot numbers of prescription drugs and be alert to any changes from one prescription to the next. If you find it difficult to remember what each one should look like, take a digital picture and compare to the correct prescription with every refill.
If you notice a change in how they look or if they cause any adverse or unexpected side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Taking them may cause as much damage as not taking them, or even prove fatal.
Remember, even reputable looking sites may be a scam. Look for product promotions and “special deals” on medications commonly used to treat conditions most suffered by seniors. This may be associated with counterfeit product promotion.
If your mother-in-law is trusting and reluctant to believe that anyone would instigate medication fraud, you might print out the information on the topic provided at Federal Bureau of Investigation website, www.fbi.gov. The site is filled with useful information on how seniors can avoid medical fraud.
