The Advantages of an Online Pharmacy

The Internet has revolutionized the way consumers shop and obtain everyday items, including over-the-counter and prescription medications. Online pharmacies have grown in popularity during the 21st century as more and more people realize the advantages of shopping online over going to a brick-and-mortar pharmacy.

Price

• As a rule, the cost of medications is cheaper at an online pharmacy than at a brick-and-mortar one. Since the overhead for the pharmaceutical companies is lower with online pharmacies, they can make the price of the medications lower. In addition, you can often find discount or wholesale online pharmacies with even lower markup (good for purchasing in bulk). Some online pharmacies provide the cost of what your medication would be at other online pharmacies so that you can compare and know for sure that you are getting the best deal.

Privacy

• Although pharmacists are under strict obligation to keep your medical information private, you may have questions about your condition or medication at the pharmacy --- and in a traditional pharmacy others are likely to overhear it. Online pharmacies provide plenty of information about your medication and condition without your having to ask a question out loud. Moreover, the Internet provides total anonymity; you can search for information on even the most mortifying condition and no one will ever know. However, it's important to check your online pharmacy's privacy policy before purchasing anything to ensure your information will not be shared or sold.

Time and Convenience

• Many elderly or disabled people have difficulty getting to a brick-and-mortar pharmacy; the hassle of driving, or finding a driver, and negotiating traffic can be incredibly stressful and inconvenient even for healthy people who just have a hectic schedule. Online pharmacies allow patients to search for and purchase medications from wherever they can access the Internet and save lots of time spent wandering the aisle or standing in line. Moreover, if you find an online pharmacy you prefer, you can even add your frequently purchased medications to a "favorites" page and access them even more quickly.

Selection

• Online pharmacies frequently have a bigger and more varied selection of medications, meaning that patients are not restricted to what's on the shelves in a brick-and-mortar pharmacy. In addition, although both regular and online pharmacies can order products that are not in stock, only online pharmacies can do it instantly.