From Flu Wiki 2

Forum: Pharmacy Reviews

08 May 2006

S. Arlington – at 22:18

I’ve seen a number of reviews regarding the products and services provided by goldpharma and bbonline, but I’ve yet to hear an unequivocal endorsement of either. Bbonline google results are suspicious in that purported company testimonials are virtually identical (and often posted in different fora by someone with the same user ID). There seems to be a lack of any substantial infor re Goldpharma.

Any advice or personal experience is very much appreciated. Additionally, any recommendations regarding any other pharmacy is also appreciated.

Thank you!

anonymous – at 23:31

bump

09 May 2006

European – at 06:24

Roche Releases Guidelines for Consumers on How to Avoid Counterfeit Tamiflu®

S Arlington Prep – at 08:58

bump

Sthrn Tr – at 09:32

Goldpharma has been a reliable source of Tamiflu for my family, throughout the year - got some more,just last week, and it looks legit.

S. Arlington – at 10:56

For the record: I just ordered from bbonlinepharmacy.com. Their prices were good and they were responsive to email inquires. I look forward to providing further reviews as this transaction moves along.

P.s. I’m nervous.

anon – at 21:24

bump

anonymous – at 21:40

why doesn’t Roche provide or encourage some Tamiflu-verification ? We send them some few mg in a letter and they tell us whether it’s OK. Or why don’t they sell verification kits, so we can test it at home ? Or why don’t they enumerate the packages with keywords and report the used keywords on a webpage ?

10 May 2006

European – at 07:24

From the link above:

Abercrombie added that by knowing what to look for, consumers can play a valuable role in protecting themselves from the risks posed by counterfeit drugs. The new guidelines from Roche provide specific information and tools to help consumers avoid purchasing counterfeit Tamiflu, identify valid product, and act judiciously if suspicions arise. Recommendations include:

How to Avoid Purchasing Counterfeit Drugs — Consumers should use caution when purchasing on the Internet, be wary of offers to sell medications without a valid prescription, and only purchase from a licensed pharmacy.

How to Identify Authentic Tamiflu vs. “Copycats” — Tamiflu comes in a white cardboard box, which contains a single blister package with 10 capsules. Each capsule is a distinctive yellow and light grey color, and printed with the words “Roche 75mg”.

Where to obtain information related to counterfeiting — Identifying licensed pharmacies, obtaining counterfeit drug alerts, reporting suspicious product or retailers to the proper authorities.

Additional details, including product photos, are included in the guidelines at “FAQ/Resources” and http://www.tamiflu.com/consumer_guidelines.asp. The guidelines will also be distributed through additional channels, such as professional and patient advocacy groups.

15 May 2006

S. Arlington – at 21:27

Just received 30 x 75 mgs from merchant I referenced above.

Absolutely legit. Highly recommended. Responsiveness + Authenticity = Outstanding (albeit expensive) transaction.

Arrived in 6 days (would’ve been 5 had I been home when carrier first attempted delivery). Well packaged. Box batch numbers matched those on the “blister packages” (I guess that’s what they’re called). I will probably buy 30 more for my family of mommy, daddy, toddler and baby (espec. if I get a return customer discount).

Provided FYI.

annonx2 – at 23:38

I have had good results from goldpharma.com, purchased both Tamiflu & Relenza (when it was available). Shipment took a little bit of time (3 to 4 weeks) when I ordered late in 2005.

I have also placed a recent order with bbonlinepharmacy.com, should be delivered shortly.

Watch Dog – at 23:46

Just in case, What antibiotics should I have on hand?

16 May 2006

Northwest watcher – at 00:30

I am having a hard time finding probenecid. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe I have the wrong med—I am looking for the one that helps extend the Tamiflu…..

Prepper272 – at 01:11

It also goes by the names Benemid and Benuryl.

Nick – at 04:24

I would talk with your physician or at the very least a pharmacist who knows your medical and medication history before you decide to take probenecid. While it does increase the levels (and hence active life) of oseltamvir, it also effects the use of many other drugs. For example, when combined with certain diabetes medicines, it can increase the likelihood of dangerously low blood sugar. It interacts with several antibiotics, antivirals, cholesterol meds, anti-depressants, sedatives, anti-seizure medicines, and some blood pressure meds to name just a few.

Any drug that is used to increase the duration or strength of another drug usually does so by inhibiting the second drug’s metabolism. You do this in medicine sometimes to get a beneficial effect, like boosting atazanavir with ritonavir in AIDS patients or using probenecid to increase the blood levels and half-life of certain antimicrobials. However, whenever a drug does this it is RARELY selective, because your body has a limited number of ways to metabolize medicines. So its not just like your body metabolizes oseltamvir by a pathway that nothing else uses.

Although you might say ‘well I am healthy and take no other drugs!’ OK, then I hope you don’t plan on taking any OTC anti-inflammatory medicines (ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, etc) to treat your flu symptoms - because taking probenecid with NSAIDs may increase their adverse effects like kidney damage and stomach ulcers.

And if you have any tendency toward gouty arthritis, it may flare. Or you could get a nasty kidney stone. Or anemia. Or vomiting. Etc.

The point is that while you *can* often get prescription medicines without a prescription online, it is not a great idea to start taking them without professional advice.

Nick

Northwest watcher – at 14:17

Very good points! :~) Thanks for giving me more to think about—I appreciate it!

Watch Dog – at 14:22

What antibiotics have you ordered?

anonx3 – at 16:18

When shopping for probenecid, be aware there are several formulas of Benuryl. Some do and some do not contain probenecid. Be certain you are getting what you want.

Be certain to read the warnings now before you are in a state of panic. www.pdrhealth.com

The antibiotics I have read about being useful for the pandemic are augmentin clavunate (from Avian Influenza Virus Infections in Humans; Chest 2006;129;156–168) and erythromycin (possible antiviral properties as well as an antibiotic for pneumonia I think, sorry I don’t have a citation for that).

From Influenza Report 2006

 Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) is currently regarded as the drug of choice.

• Consider increasing the dose of oseltamivir in severe disease (150 mg twice daily in adults) and continue treatment for longer periods (7.10 days or longer) (WHO 2005, WHO 2006b). • Resistance may occur and precede clinical deterioration (de Jong 2005). • Treatment with oseltamivir may be beneficial even when initiated as late as 8 days after the onset of symptoms, if there is evidence of ongoing viral replication (WHO 2005, de Jong 2005). Corticosteroids have frequently been used, with conflicting results. In one series, six of the seven patients who were treated with corticosteroids died (Hien 2004). Ribavirin, interferon alpha and other immunomodulatory drugs have all been used, but without convincing results.

14 June 2006

annonx2 – at 23:42

Two thumbs up for bbonlinepharmacy.com - I ordered Tamiflu from them recently - good price and fast shipment - excellent follow up!

16 June 2006

NauticalManat 21:44

Couple of months ago used goldpharma for the first time, delivery time about 2 weeks? Received antibiotics, Cipro and Zithromax. Seem to be authentic..

Galt – at 22:19

Nautical man @ 21:44--I have been wondering if in the past couple of months (fairly recently) goldpharma has changed ownership. Whereas before meds were from a variet of countries and heavily from the Netherlands, almost all meds now are listed as being from Portugal, with deliveries likely to come from Spain (or so I’ve heard from friend of a friend….). Also, at the same time, the site changed such that lot numbers no longer were listed and no longer any customer support telephone number, only e-mail. None of this is to say they are not legit, just that they’ve done some major rearranging and changing of things in the past couple of months.

Galt

17 June 2006

Timber – at 00:25

Acknowledging this is kinda off-thread, methinks a few bux invested in careful SIP preps may be as useful — or better than — unproven pharmaceuticals.

All I’m saying is, IMHO, we need to continuously reassess our priorities…

    TD

18 July 2006

APharmacistat 08:05

If it makes you feel better emotionally to purchase drugs from online sites, and if you can afford to pay a lot of money just for the sense of reassurance, you probably have only a small risk of being actually injured by the drugs you get. However, if you expect them to contain the labeled drug, in the correct potency, within usable date range, and not mixed with other substances not listed on the label, don’t get your hopes up. Drug counterfeiting is big business, with huge profits. Most big time criminal enterprises are aware of that(think organized crime, terrorists, gangs). It is also extremely sophisticated, and the fact that something “looks like” Tamiflu or Cipro or whatever and is professionally packaged, does not mean a thing. Even hospital and drug store chains are occasionally victims of drug forgery via their wholesalers (anyone remember the fake “Lipitor” and “Epogen” among others?), but at least they keep records of lot numbers and can try to remedy the matter by recalling the fake or defective drugs and notifying patients. The only way to be certain your on-line medication from an off shore “pharmacy” website is legitimate is by chemical analysis, which is not within the reach of most of us. Not worth the (very high) expense, in my opinion, since the odds of getting the real thing is so small.

Anonymous – at 09:37

So the Tamiflu I got by internet from a no Rx website that was shipped from a Medicine shoppe could be fake? If it is, I guess the local owner of the Medicine shoppe got duped, becasue he has been in business for a while , is a member of the local community and has 2 locations. It sure looks correct with the box, instructions, packaging lot number and exp. date.

But it will be my medicine of last resort, since I did get some from my neighborhood national chain Pharmacy with a Dr. Rx. Although even this could be fake, I am going to assume it is ok. Now only if it works in 5 days rather than 10.

- – at 09:40

Anonymous @ 9:37--would you mind sharing which site you used? Might help some of us trying to decide whether or not to order online. thanks.

Anonymous – at 09:42
 I will have to get back to you.  The info is not with me now.
DemFromCTat 10:31

Caveat emptor.

Anonymous – at 11:55

I was thinking the same thing. I do not want to encourage anyone to buy based on my experience. I have real doubts about the Rx I got.

11 September 2006

janetn – at 19:35

Counterfiet drugs can fool professionials. How are you going to know what you have is the real deal? No safeguards are in place to assure your getting the real deal. Caveat emptor in spades

23 September 2006

Bird Guano – at 14:38

janetn – at 19:35

Counterfiet drugs can fool professionials. How are you going to know what you have is the real deal? No safeguards are in place to assure your getting the real deal. Caveat emptor in spades


and the caveat is true no matter where you purchased it.

A national chain drugstore, or an internet pharmacy.

Your odds are about the same.

29 September 2006

DemFromCTat 21:27
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