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<A HREF="http://www.boston.com";> http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/291/nation/Internet_sites_push_illegal_Cipro_ sales</A> Internet sites push illegal Cipro sales By Alice Dembner, Globe Staff, 10/18/2001 Federal and state authorities are investigating an explosion of Internet sites that are preying on the public's fear of anthrax by illegally selling the antibiotic Cipro without requiring a proper prescription. Officials fear the sites could be selling adulterated drugs and are concerned that the pills are being stockpiled by people who don't need them at a time when the drug supply is tight. Dozens of sites with hundreds of linked pages have sprung up in the last few weeks pushing Cipro with such messages as ''prepare for the threat of bioterrorism'' or ''stockpile a supply of Cipro to treat every member of your family.'' Many of these apparently illegitimate online pharmacies do not ask the buyer to supply a prescription, but merely require a credit card and completion of a medical questionnaire that is purportedly reviewed by a doctor. Some may not be licensed pharmacies. ''We've been finding a number of sites that have been exploiting people's fears and concerns,'' said Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. ''We're tracking them down and turning them over to the states and the Food and Drug Administration for prosecution.'' The FDA said it is investigating dozens of complaints about rogue online pharmacies selling Cipro in the last few weeks. And the Federal Trade Commission is monitoring improper claims being made about the drug, such as a site that calls Cipro a ''post-anthrax vaccine,'' when the drug does not give the patient any immunity to future anthrax exposures. ''Many of these rogue pharmacies had been beaten down over the last few years, but now they seem to be springing back up where there's money to be made,'' said an FDA official who declined to be named. Cipro is being sold on the Internet for $3 to $11 a pill, plus a fee for the Internet ''medical consultation'' to get the prescription. By comparison, major drug store chains typically charge $4.50 to $5.50 per pill. Many sites are promoting small quantities that would not properly treat an anthrax infection. The recommended treatment is two 500-milligram pills a day for 60 days. ''The consumer is really at risk,'' said Catizone. ''Because these sites are not properly licensed or regulated, you don't know if you're going to get a counterfeit medication. In addition, you're buying a medication you shouldn't be taking. And you may be helping to create a shortage so if there is a problem there may not be enough medication.'' In addition, doctors and pharmacists are concerned that overuse or misuse of the antibiotic could lead to drug-resistant strains of other bacteria. ''We have issued an alert warning patients not to be tricked into buying expensive drugs that may or may not be helpful to them,'' said Nancy Achin Sullivan, executive director of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine. ''Clearly people need to only take antiobiotics when they have been appropriately prescribed for treatment.'' In Massachusetts, as in most states, it is illegal for a pharmacist to dispense Cipro without a prescription. And it is a violation of medical licensing standards in most states for a doctor to write a prescription without either examining a patient or having a clinical relationship with that patient. ''If you've never had a relationship with a doctor at that site, you can be pretty sure it's an illegal site,'' said the FDA official. Added Catizone, ''None of the legitimate sites have cyberspace consultations or these medical questionnaires.'' The consumer is also breaking the law when he or she purchases a prescription drug without a valid prescription, although it's unlikely individuals would be prosecuted, said Charles Young, director of the Massachusetts pharmacy board. If an Internet pharmacy site is operating illegally, prosecution falls to authorities in the state where it is based or where its pharmacy or doctors are based. Those based overseas are prosecuted by the FDA, although officials said it can be difficult to locate them since many of the sites contain no address or phone number. The FTC prosecutes sites if they misrepresent the drug's effectiveness. ''We're concerned about the types of claims we're starting to see emerge,'' said Richard Cleland, senior attorney for advertising practices at the FTC. Several sites hawking Cipro are linked to the same medical questionnaire and a toll-free customer service number for Virtual Medical Group. A representative of the North Carolina-based company told a caller that the drug could be prescribed even without documented exposure to anthrax. ''The instructions would be very explicit. You're only to take it if advised by civil authorities if there's an outbreak in your area,'' said the representative of the company, which offers online doctors' visits and prescription drugs. The company did not respond to a request for comment on the legality of the sales, but a statement on the company's Web site states the company offers legitimate prescriptions after medical review in response to heavy consumer demand. Consumers seeking to purchase drugs on the Internet legitimately can look for sites certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, which carry the logo ''Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site.'' Certified sites include Drugstore.com and Clickpharmacy.com. Alice Dembner can be reached by e-mail at D<A HREF="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>. This story ran on page A1 of the Boston Globe on 10/18/2001. � <A HREF="http://www.boston.com/globe/search/copyright.html";>Copyright</A> 2001 Globe Newspaper Company. Added note: As a nurse, I would like to add--taking antibiotics when they are not needed is a dangerous thing. It builds an immunity to the antibiotics effectiveness, over time. So, somewhere in the future, when a person REALLY needs the anitbiotic--guess what?? Also: if you are like me, and have chemical allergies to many antibiotics, you make each round REALLY, REALLY count!! Life may depend upon it. There are only two left--that I can take--without dying from anaphylaxis. Kay ============================================================ For meals, baking recipes and advice, visit veryBestBaking.com from Nestle. 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