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Guide to Buying Medicines from Online Pharmacies in Germany and How to Check Their Reliability
1. Is it allowed to buy medicines online in Germany?
Yes, buying medicines from online pharmacies (Online-Apotheken / Versandapotheken) is permitted in Germany, as long as the pharmacy is licensed and officially approved.
The rules differ depending on the type of medicine:
| Type of medicine | Can it be bought online? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Over-the-counter medicines (OTC) | Yes | E.g. painkillers, vitamins |
| Prescription medicines (Rx) | Yes (under conditions) | Original prescription must be sent by post or via ePrescription (eRezept) |
| Prohibited or high-risk drugs | No | E.g. certain narcotics or strong psychoactive drugs |
2. How to check whether an online pharmacy is trustworthy
1. Look for the official online pharmacy logo
On the website you should see labels such as:
-
“EU-zugelassene Internetapotheke” (EU-approved internet pharmacy)
or -
“Versandapotheke mit behördlicher Erlaubnis” (mail-order pharmacy with official authorisation)
These indicate that the pharmacy is officially registered as a mail-order pharmacy.
2. Check the official EU / German registers
You can verify the pharmacy in official databases, for example:
-
EU information page:
https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/eudralex/vol-4/guidelines_en -
German mail-order pharmacy portal:
https://versandhandel.aponet.de/
→ Enter the name of the pharmacy and check whether it is authorised.
3. Check for a German address and company data
A serious online pharmacy will provide:
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a valid postal address in Germany,
-
contact details (telephone, e-mail),
-
commercial register / tax number.
3. Step-by-step: How to buy medicines online
-
Choose a trustworthy online pharmacy
For example well-known providers such as DocMorris, Shop-Apotheke, Aponeo. -
Create an account
Register using your correct personal details (name, address, insurance where applicable). -
Search for the medicine you need
Check the product name, active ingredient, dosage and package size. -
Upload or send your prescription (for Rx medicines)
-
With eRezept (ePrescription): submit it electronically.
-
With a paper prescription: send the original by post to the pharmacy.
-
-
Complete your order and choose a payment method
Common options: PayPal, Klarna, credit card, bank debit. -
Wait for delivery
Usually medicines arrive within 1–3 working days, often with shipment tracking.
Watch out for red flags
Be very careful if:
-
The website shows no full address or no legal notice / tax number,
-
Prices are extremely low compared to other pharmacies,
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There is no SSL encryption (no “https://” or lock symbol in your browser),
-
The site advertises “miracle cures”, “100% guaranteed healing”,
-
Prescription medicines are offered without requiring a prescription – that is a major warning sign.
Advantages of buying medicines online
| Advantage | Details |
|---|---|
| Lower prices | Often cheaper than local pharmacies |
| Home delivery | Medicines are shipped directly to you |
| Wide product range | More medicines and health products |
| Flexible payment | Fully digital payment options available |
Useful German terms
| German term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Versandapotheke | Mail-order / online pharmacy |
| Rezeptpflichtig | Prescription-only |
| eRezept | Electronic prescription |
| Zulassung | Official authorisation / licence |
| Arzneimittelversand | Shipping of medicinal products |
| Apothekenpflichtig | Only available in pharmacies |
The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors may still occur or some information may be incomplete or not yet fully confirmed. Please treat the content of this article as an initial orientation only and always consult the competent authorities, doctors, pharmacists or other professionals for binding and up-to-date information.
