[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Commissioner Kim Gang-rip) announced on the 18th that it has identified and blocked access to 338 websites that violated the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act by advertising online overseas purchasing agency services for medicines related to allergies and rhinitis, taking advantage of the increased interest in allergy and rhinitis medications due to spring pollen and fine dust.
The cases detected this time include advertisements for allergy and rhinitis medications including antihistamines (94 sites), advertisements for cough expectorants aimed at removing phlegm from the bronchi (156 sites), and advertisements for antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory medications (88 sites).
Antihistamines are medicines used for allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Advertising and selling medicines online is clearly illegal, especially for allergy treatment drugs, which may have central nervous system side effects such as drowsiness and sedation, so they must be taken with caution according to a doctor's prescription and pharmacist's dispensing and medication guidance.
Products purchased through overseas purchasing agencies are not confirmed for safety and efficacy, and if consumers use them based on their own judgment, there is a risk of serious side effects.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "We will continuously inspect the illegal act of advertising and selling medicines online, and will continue to conduct online inspections of products closely related to daily life so that the public can feel safe."
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