has anyone ever purchased medicines from one of those websites that don't require a prescription?

I meant to ask this in general chatter, could a mod move it for me please?

Don't do it, it's illegal and dangerous.

Yup. Generally, the medication isn't what it claims to be. It could be simple sugar pills but it could be something a lot worse.

I work in drug regulation. Many of the drugs from these "non-prescription" sites are counterfeit, adulterated (mixed with another unapproved substance) or may be produced by entities not operating in accordance with federal good manufacturing practices (GMP). The US has very specific manufacturing, sterility and testing requirements to ensure the drug supply. Many of these internet entities can make a product using the same drug ingredients, however, the product may not be made in a facility that has passed the U.S.'s strict manufacturing standards.

This is one of the reasons why US drugs are so expensive. US manufacturers are required to do extensive testing that is continuous in nature.

Bottom line...do not put your health at risk. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy accredits legitimate internet sites. Google "NABP" or their full name and look for internet accreditation.

I'm not planning on it. I'm just really curious about them. My husband is military, so all my prescriptions are free anyhow.

Yeah, all of this.

So what I'm curious about is how do these companies operate? I mean if it's illegal and everyone knows it's a bad idea ...

A lot of drugs are illegal and a bad idea, and people (even many who know better) are still willing to buy and sell them.

Many just ignore the laws, because there are no "internet police." If the company operates in one state, but sells in another, it can be difficult, or at least complicated to prosecute.

Many obey the laws technically. For example, if they operate inside the USA, they may employ a doctor who writes the prescriptions. The drugs themselves are usually made in countries without strict laws or enforcement of the laws.

So the company is technically not doing anything illegal (or is unlikely to be prosecuted if they are).

But just because the company isn't doing anything illegal, doesn't mean that it's legal to buy from them.

I read recently of someone buying marijuana from a website. The website proclaimed that it was a legal site and that it welcomed USA customers (so the person believed it was legal to buy from the site - or at least that was the "defense" they were trying to use). It was a legal site - the company was located in a country where marijuana was legal. Somewhere buried on the site, the company had a disclaimer that they were not responsible for the laws in the buyer's country. In other words, they would mail anywhere, but it was the buyer's responsibility to know their own laws, and to be subject to them. The buyer could get arrested, but not the seller.

From what I understand, many of these online pharmacies fall under similar categories. They've found ways to protect themselves legally, and they buyers "take their chances."