Source: CBC News

Police and pharmacists are warning about the dangers of shopping for so-called lifestyle drugs online.

They say the "brand-name" erectile dysfunction product you buy online, for instance, may not be the drug you want. It may even be a deadly fake.

It's easy to see why people might want to buy their drugs online—many websites boast prices far below prescription rates.

A lot of people are shy about telling a doctor they want these lifestyle drugs. RCMP Const. Paula Raymond said she understands that.

"It may be embarrassing for some people to go to a doctor to get a prescription and they feel that if they go to a pharmacy online they can get these drugs without prescription," said Raymond.

Pharmacist Warren Meek says the drugs may be cheap, but they can also be deadly.

"Counterfeit drugs are the scourge of the earth," said Meek.

"We have one case report in Canada — a person who in the western provinces — who actually died as a result of purchasing medicines over the internet ... just ended up with toxic metal poisoning, and totally unbeknownst to her."

Meek said fake drugs are getting more difficult for police and pharmacists to spot, which means it would be tougher still for consumers to realize the risks they're taking.