The availability of prescription-only analgesics purchased from the internet in the UK.
BACKGROUND
Increasing numbers of people are accessing medicines from the internet. This online market is poorly regulated and represents a potential threat to the health of patients and members of the public.


CONCLUSIONS
Prescription-only analgesics, including controlled opioids, are readily available to the UK public through internet pharmacies that are easily identified by popular search engines. The majority of websites do not require the customer to possess a valid prescription for the drug. Less than half provide an online health screen to assess suitability for supply. The majority have no registered geographical location. Analgesic medicines are usually purchased at prices significantly above British National Formulary prices and are often supplied in large quantities. These findings are of particular relevance to pain-management specialists who are trying to improve the rational use of analgesic drugs.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the availability to the UK population of prescription-only analgesics from the internet.


METHODS
Websites were identified by using several keywords in the most popular internet search engines. From 2000 websites, details of 96 were entered into a database.


RESULTS
Forty-six (48%) websites sold prescription analgesics, including seven opioids, two non-opioids and 18 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Thirty-five (76%) of these did not require the customer to possess a valid prescription.


CONCLUSIONS
Prescription-only analgesics, including controlled opioids, are readily available from internet websites, often without a valid prescription.
Raine
Connie
C
Clinical Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, UK.
Webb
David J
DJ
Maxwell
Simon R J
SR
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D035846:Law Enforcement; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D006113:United Kingdom
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D055553:Prescription Drugs