Buying medicines online may be more convenient than getting them from your local pharmacy.

If you're sick, you might want to order your medicines online. This means you can rest more and not spread your illness to other people.

Before ordering a medicine online, check if the business is based in Australia.

A pharmacy website should show:

• a physical address in Australia
• an email address and phone number
• more details about the company, such as an Australian Company Number (ACN)

When choosing where to buy medicines online you can:

• read customer reviews
• check that the phone number on the website is working
• talk to a doctor or pharmacist before ordering
• think about if the offer is too good to be true, or could be a scam

Working out which websites you can trust isn't always easy.

Buying prescription medicines in Australia

In Australia, medicines are arranged into a schedule system. You can buy some medicines over-the-counter at a pharmacy, or from a supermarket.

Other medicines are only available from a pharmacist with a prescription. You will need a prescription or eScript from your doctor or other health care professional. Dentists or nurses or midwives can also prescribe certain medicines.

Australian online pharmacies will also ask for your prescription before they send you the medicine.

Prescription medicines can have:

• more serious side effects
• the potential for addiction or misuse
• more complicated ways of taking them (such as by injection)

The need for a prescription makes sure that your doctor can:

• assess your condition
• decide on the best medicine for you
• check any other medicines you take to prevent interactions
• explain how to take your medicine

Your pharmacist can:

• check that the correct person is getting the medicine
• check for drug interactions
• tell you how, when and how to use the medicine

Any website that sends you prescription medicines in Australia without a prescription is breaking the law.

Websites that don't ask for a prescription are not trusted pharmacies. Buying from them is a serious risk.

Buying non-prescription medicines from these websites can also be risky.

Shopping for medicines on overseas websites

Sometimes medicines are cheaper on overseas websites, but you need to be careful. If you buy from an unsafe website, you could:

• lose your money
• break the law
• seriously damage your health

The medicines might never arrive. This could be because they were stopped by Australian customs because they contain ingredients you are not allowed to import. It's illegal to import some medicines.

As with any purchase from an overseas business, you might not be protected by Australian consumer laws.

Also think about what will happen if the post is delayed and you don't get your medicine in time. Some medicines should not be stopped suddenly. It might be difficult to get a replacement prescription.

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

• are counterfeit (fake)
• have the wrong amount of active ingredient
• contain poisonous chemicals
• contain dangerous ingredients
• contain ingredients that are illegal in Australia

How are medicines regulated in Australia?

Medicines are also known as 'therapeutic goods'. In Australia, medicines must be assessed and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) before they can be sold.

The TGA checks that medicines available in Australia are safe and do what they are supposed to do.

The TGA also checks the quality of medical goods such as:

• bandages and dressings
• pregnancy tests
• rapid antigen tests (RATS) for flu or COVID-19
• artificial hips and knees
• complementary medicines, including vitamins
• sunscreen

Medicines approved for use in Australia will have an AUST R or AUST L code on the pack. If this number is missing, check with a pharmacist before using it.

The TGA makes sure that medicines have instructions on the pack.

Medicines or medical devices bought online from overseas companies are not regulated by the TGA.

The TGA also does not regulate most protein supplements. These are usually treated as foods, not therapeutic goods.

Resources and support

To learn more, you can:

• visit 1300 MEDICINE or call 1300 633 424 to talk to a pharmacist about medicines
• read about importing medicines from overseas at the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website
• find out how to spot a counterfeit (fake) medicine
• visit NPS MedicineWise for information about buying medicines online

For information in other languages, you can:

• use the free interpreter service to talk to pharmacy staff
• ask your pharmacist if they speak a language that you know
• visit the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health — they have information in several languages on how to buy and use medicines

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.