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"Planning to start IVF soon. Need to find meds that I can afford (have no insurance coverage). Does anyone have unused medications?"
Each week, posts such as the above are deleted from Internet forums. Particularly in the U.S. where insurance coverage for infertility is rare, patients seek other sources for what is often the most expensive aspect of treatment: medication.
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Even though just as many (if not more) messages are posted from folks trying to give away or resell their unused medications, all must be deleted. Acting as a vehicle in any way to facilitate drug distribution by unauthorized sources is illegal and can result in a site being shut down and arrests being made.
So what is a well-meaning patient to do? Are there reputable ways to find more affordable drugs? Is there a way to make sure that another deserving patient receives your valuable, unused meds?
While soliciting in chatrooms and bulletin boards is a no-no in your drug search, getting to know other patients is what online communities are all about. Personal conversations via email or even phone are private business.
That said, website users who meet and are considering interactions would be well advised to exert an extreme level of caution. There is no way of discerning prior to purchase whether or not a "connection" is providing completely safe, unused medications. Once a purchase has been made, a pharmacist may be able to tell you if all is well with your product, but there are still no guarantees.
© Tracy Morris
