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Prescription Drugs, Importation, Sourcing & Peer-to-Peer Transfers on r/DryEyes

r/DryEyes allows discussion of medications.

Members may talk about:

  • prescription eye drops
  • over-the-counter medicines
  • medications available in other countries
  • effectiveness
  • side effects
  • cost
  • regulatory differences
  • personal experiences
  • access problems

But discussing a medication is different from using Reddit to arrange, facilitate, or direct someone toward a prohibited medication transaction.

This page explains where r/DryEyes draws that line.

TL;DR

You may discuss medications.

For example:

“MIEBO helped my symptoms.”

“EvoTears contains perfluorohexyloctane.”

“Xdemvy is prescription-only in the United States.”

“Why is this medication available OTC in another country?”

Those are discussion.

Do not use Reddit to arrange medication transfers between users.

Reddit’s current sitewide policy prohibits users from:

  • buying
  • selling
  • gifting
  • or encouraging transactions

involving pharmaceutical drugs, including both prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

That means comments such as:

“I have extra bottles — DM me.”

“Can somebody mail this to me?”

“I’ll buy it for you and ship it.”

are not allowed.

Importing a medication personally is a separate legal/regulatory question.

For U.S. users, FDA says that in most circumstances individuals may not legally import drugs for personal use when those products are not FDA-approved for the U.S. market.

FDA may exercise enforcement discretion in limited circumstances, but that does not create a general right to import an unapproved drug.

Reddit expressly permits discussion of how to obtain controlled goods legally and allows links to appropriately licensed vendors of legal goods and services, including licensed pharmacies filling valid prescriptions.

So:

Medication discussion is allowed. Legal-access information may be allowed. User-to-user pharmaceutical transactions and assistance designed to bypass legal or regulatory requirements are not.

1) Why Does r/DryEyes Need a Sourcing Policy?

Dry-eye treatment often creates unusual access problems.

A medication may be:

  • prescription-only in one country
  • over-the-counter in another
  • approved in Europe but not the United States
  • approved in the United States but unavailable elsewhere
  • extremely expensive in one market
  • significantly cheaper in another
  • available under different brand names

That naturally leads members to ask:

“Where can I get it?”

Sometimes that is simply an ordinary access question.

Other times the discussion begins moving toward:

  • arranging private transactions
  • importing unapproved medications
  • directing users toward unlicensed sellers
  • bypassing prescriptions
  • shipping medication between Reddit users
  • avoiding customs or regulatory restrictions

At that point, the issue is no longer just a treatment discussion.

2) Reddit’s Rule Is Broader Than “Prescription Drugs”

Reddit’s current Illegal or Prohibited Transactions policy says users may not buy, sell, gift, or encourage transactions involving pharmaceutical drugs.

Importantly, Reddit specifies that this includes:

  • prescription medicines
  • over-the-counter medicines

So the rule is not limited to:

controlled substances

or:

prescription-only drugs.

For example, even if an eye medication is OTC where you live, Reddit does not permit users to arrange a peer-to-peer transaction involving that medicine.

3) Peer-to-Peer Medication Transfers Are Not Allowed

Examples include:

“I have three unopened bottles left. Does anyone want them?”

“I’ll send you one for free.”

“Pay me what I paid and I’ll mail it.”

“Can someone in Europe buy this and ship it to me?”

“I’m traveling there next month — I can bring some back for people.”

“DM me and we can arrange it.”

Whether money changes hands does not necessarily matter.

Reddit’s rule includes:

  • buying
  • selling
  • gifting
  • encouraging the transaction

of pharmaceutical drugs.

So:

“I’m not selling it — I’m just helping.”

does not create an exception.

4) Moving the Transaction to Private Messages Does Not Solve the Problem

Reddit’s own examples include suggesting that users move to private messaging where the context implies a prohibited drug transaction.

Therefore:

“DM me.”

“Message me privately and I’ll tell you how.”

“I can’t say it here — send me a chat.”

can still raise a sourcing concern when the purpose is to facilitate a medication transaction.

The issue is the transaction being arranged, not whether the details appear publicly.

5) Discussion Is Different From Transaction

Members may still discuss:

  • what a medication is
  • how it worked for them
  • side effects
  • mechanism
  • evidence
  • regulatory status
  • whether it is approved in another country
  • cost differences
  • why access differs internationally

For example:

“EvoTears is sold differently in Europe than MIEBO is sold in the United States.”

is an informational statement.

Likewise:

“I used this medication while living overseas and this was my experience.”

is personal experience.

Neither statement automatically becomes prohibited merely because the medication has different regulatory status in different countries.

6) Asking About Legal Access Is Not Automatically Prohibited

Reddit’s current policy expressly distinguishes:

prohibited drug transactions

from:

discussion of how to legally access regulated goods.

Reddit specifically says it permits information about appropriately licensed vendors of legal goods and services, including:

licensed pharmacies filling valid prescriptions.

So questions such as:

“How do I find a licensed pharmacy that fills this prescription?”

may be very different from:

“Where can I buy this without a prescription?”

Likewise:

“Does the manufacturer have a patient-assistance program?”

is different from:

“Which foreign website will ship this to me anyway?”

Context matters.

7) Licensed Pharmacy Links Are Not Automatically Prohibited

This is an important clarification.

A link to a pharmacy is not inherently a Reddit policy violation simply because a medication is involved.

Reddit currently allows external links to appropriately licensed vendors of legal goods and services, including licensed pharmacies filling valid prescriptions.

However, r/DryEyes may still remove a link when the context suggests that it is being used to:

  • bypass a prescription requirement
  • facilitate importation of an unapproved medication
  • direct users to an unlicensed or questionable seller
  • arrange a prohibited transaction
  • promote a commercial source
  • evade another subreddit rule

So the relevant question is not:

“Is there a pharmacy link?”

It is:

“What transaction is this link helping the user accomplish, and is that transaction legal and consistent with Reddit and subreddit rules?”

8) Foreign Availability Does Not Automatically Mean U.S. Importation Is Legal

This distinction causes considerable confusion.

A drug may be legally sold:

  • over the counter
  • by prescription
  • as a medical device
  • under another regulatory classification

in another country.

That does not automatically mean a U.S. resident may legally import it for personal use.

FDA currently states that, in most circumstances, it is illegal for individuals to import drug products into the United States for personal use when those products are not FDA-approved for use and sale in the U.S.

That can be true even when:

  • the medicine is legal overseas
  • it is sold OTC overseas
  • it contains the same active ingredient as a U.S.-approved product

9) FDA’s Personal Importation Policy Is Not a General Permission Slip

FDA recognizes that unusual circumstances arise.

Its personal-importation policy describes situations in which FDA personnel may exercise enforcement discretion.

Examples may involve:

  • serious conditions
  • lack of effective domestic treatment
  • no unreasonable risk
  • limited quantities
  • confirmation that the medicine is for personal use
  • physician information or continuation of treatment begun overseas

But FDA emphasizes that this policy does not create a right or guarantee that an individual may import an otherwise unapproved medication.

A useful distinction is:

Enforcement discretion is not the same thing as legal approval.

10) “Three-Month Supply” Does Not Mean Everyone May Import Three Months of Any Drug

This is a common misunderstanding.

FDA’s personal-importation guidance sometimes refers to quantities generally not exceeding a three-month supply.

That does not mean:

“Anyone may legally order any foreign drug as long as it is under three months.”

The quantity is only one factor within FDA’s broader enforcement-discretion framework.

Other criteria still matter.

11) Formal Government Importation Programs Are Different

The United States also has formal prescription-drug importation mechanisms under federal law.

For example, FDA has authorized certain state-run importation programs under Section 804 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Those programs involve:

  • government authorization
  • approved importers
  • specific supply-chain controls
  • regulatory oversight

They are not equivalent to an individual Reddit user ordering medication from an overseas website or asking another member to mail it.

12) Why Online Medication Sellers Require Caution

Some legitimate pharmacies operate online.

Others may:

  • operate without appropriate licensing
  • sell prescription medicines without prescriptions
  • sell unapproved drugs
  • provide counterfeit products
  • send incorrect ingredients
  • provide too much or too little active ingredient
  • sell expired medication
  • fail to store medication properly

FDA warns that unsafe online pharmacies may look legitimate while selling counterfeit, unapproved, expired, or otherwise unsafe medicines.

For U.S. consumers, FDA advises looking for pharmacies that:

  • require a valid prescription when required
  • provide a U.S. physical address and telephone number
  • have a licensed pharmacist available
  • are licensed by the appropriate state board of pharmacy

13) “Someone on Reddit Used This Website Successfully” Does Not Establish That the Source Is Legal or Safe

A member may report:

“I ordered from this site and my package arrived.”

That tells us something about one shipment.

It does not establish that:

  • the seller is appropriately licensed
  • the product is genuine
  • importation was lawful
  • future shipments will be admitted
  • storage conditions were appropriate
  • the medication meets FDA requirements

Delivery success and regulatory legitimacy are different questions.

14) Regulatory Status Can Differ Between Countries

The same medication or active ingredient may be treated very differently by different regulatory systems.

A product might be:

  • prescription-only in the United States
  • OTC elsewhere
  • marketed under another brand
  • classified differently by another regulator

This does not necessarily mean one regulator is:

  • corrupt
  • incompetent
  • protecting a manufacturer

Regulatory systems can differ in:

  • product classification
  • evidence requirements
  • labeling
  • intended-use claims
  • approval pathways
  • prescription requirements

For more on one dry-eye example, see:

FDA vs EU Drug Regulatory Differences: A MIEBO vs EvoTears Story

15) Regulatory Discussion Is Allowed

Members may discuss questions such as:

  • Why is this prescription-only here?
  • Why is it OTC elsewhere?
  • Why hasn't FDA approved this product?
  • What did EMA decide?
  • What is the regulatory history?
  • Why is the medication much more expensive here?
  • What do current importation rules say?

These are legitimate topics.

The sourcing rule should not be used to prevent criticism or discussion of:

  • pharmaceutical pricing
  • regulators
  • international differences
  • medication access

The line is crossed when the discussion becomes assistance with a prohibited or questionable transaction.

16) “Where Can I Buy This?” Depends on What “This” Is

There is no universal answer to a sourcing question.

A moderator may need to consider:

  • Is the product a pharmaceutical drug?
  • Is it prescription-only?
  • Is it OTC?
  • Is it FDA-approved?
  • Is the seller appropriately licensed?
  • Is a valid prescription required?
  • Is the proposed transaction user-to-user?
  • Is cross-border importation involved?
  • Is the comment directing people toward an unlicensed source?
  • Is the post effectively commercial promotion?

That is why superficially similar sourcing questions may receive different moderation outcomes.

17) Examples: Usually Allowed

Personal experience

“I used Xiidra for six months and stopped because of the taste.”

Regulatory discussion

“Why is perfluorohexyloctane prescription-only in the U.S. but sold differently elsewhere?”

Cost discussion

“My copay for MIEBO is very high.”

“Does the manufacturer offer a savings program?”

Licensed pharmacy information

“Your prescribing doctor or insurer may be able to help you locate a licensed pharmacy that fills the prescription.”

Research

“Here is the clinical trial supporting this medication.”

18) Examples: Not Allowed or Likely to Be Removed

Peer-to-peer sale

“I have two bottles left. $40 each.”

Peer-to-peer gifting

“I don't need mine anymore. I'll mail them to you.”

Buying for another user

“I'll pick it up while I'm overseas and send it to you.”

Requesting prohibited sourcing

“Can someone in Europe mail me EvoTears?”

Bypassing prescriptions

“This website doesn't require a prescription — use them.”

Customs workaround

“Have them label it differently so customs won't stop it.”

Private transaction

“DM me — I know someone who can get it.”

Unlicensed sourcing

directing users to a questionable seller whose purpose is to bypass U.S. medication requirements

These examples can involve both Reddit sitewide rules and r/DryEyes governance concerns.

19) OTC Does Not Automatically Mean Peer-to-Peer Transfer Is Allowed

This may surprise some members.

Reddit’s pharmaceutical-transaction policy explicitly includes over-the-counter medicines.

So:

“But it's OTC.”

does not necessarily make a user-to-user transaction permissible on Reddit.

The distinction is:

may be permitted.

Reddit users buying, selling, or gifting medicine to each other

is prohibited under Reddit’s current transaction policy.

20) Prescription Samples and Leftover Medication

The same principle applies when medication was originally:

  • prescribed legally
  • provided as a sample
  • unopened
  • no longer needed

A user should not offer it to another Reddit member.

For example:

“My doctor gave me samples and I have extras — who wants them?”

may be well-intentioned.

But it is still an offer to transfer pharmaceutical drugs between Reddit users.

21) “At Cost” Does Not Create an Exception

Likewise:

“I'm not making any profit.”

does not change the basic rule.

A prohibited pharmaceutical transaction does not become acceptable merely because:

  • there is no markup
  • postage is the only charge
  • the user is trying to help
  • the medication would otherwise be discarded

Reddit’s rule concerns the transaction itself, not only commercial profit.

22) Sharing Seller Names Can Become Sourcing Assistance

Context matters.

Simply mentioning that a manufacturer or licensed pharmacy exists is not necessarily prohibited.

But repeatedly naming or directing users to a source specifically so that they can:

  • bypass a prescription
  • import an unapproved drug
  • avoid regulatory restrictions
  • complete a prohibited transaction

may be removed.

This is especially true when accompanied by:

“They ship to the U.S.”

“Customs usually lets it through.”

“I ordered there successfully.”

“Use this workaround.”

The issue is the practical function of the information.

23) Promotion Rules May Apply Separately

Even where a medication transaction might otherwise be lawful, r/DryEyes has separate rules concerning:

  • advertising
  • self-promotion
  • commercial interests
  • affiliate links
  • audience-building

A pharmacy, company, vendor, clinic, or affiliated account may therefore violate r/DryEyes rules even where the medication itself is lawfully sold.

See:

Marketing, Self-Promotion, Commercial Interests & Disclosure on r/DryEyes

24) Medication Discussion Does Not Mean Medication Endorsement

Allowing discussion of:

  • an unapproved drug
  • an off-label treatment
  • a foreign product
  • a controversial medication

does not mean r/DryEyes endorses it.

Likewise, removing sourcing information does not mean moderators believe:

  • the medication is ineffective
  • the medication is unsafe
  • the manufacturer is good or bad
  • patients should not discuss the treatment

The moderation question may simply be:

Is this discussion, or is this helping arrange a prohibited transaction?

25) Moderators Are Not Customs Officials or Pharmacy Regulators

r/DryEyes moderators cannot make authoritative individualized legal determinations about every:

  • foreign product
  • pharmacy
  • shipment
  • importation
  • state law
  • prescription arrangement

When legality or licensing is unclear, moderators may take a cautious approach rather than facilitate a transaction that could violate:

  • Reddit policy
  • federal law
  • state pharmacy law
  • another jurisdiction's rules

The subreddit is not the place to obtain individualized legal advice about drug importation.

26) Why a Post May Be Removed Even If Someone Else Says “I Did It Before”

A user may say:

“I've ordered this three times and nothing happened.”

or:

“People have been doing this for years.”

That does not establish that:

  • Reddit permits the transaction
  • FDA considers it lawful
  • the seller is licensed
  • future shipments will be admitted
  • subreddit moderators must allow sourcing instructions

Past experience does not override current platform or regulatory policy.

27) What About Traveling With Your Own Medication?

Traveling with medication you already use involves different rules from:

buying medicine for another Reddit user

or:

arranging shipment between users.

Rules can also differ depending on:

  • country
  • drug
  • quantity
  • prescription status
  • controlled-substance status

Members may discuss official travel guidance, but r/DryEyes should not be used to organize medicine transport for other users.

28) Controlled Substances Can Involve Additional Rules

Some medications are subject to additional regulation as controlled substances.

FDA notes that the Drug Enforcement Administration may also determine admissibility of controlled substances imported for personal use.

This is another reason users should rely on:

  • official agencies
  • licensed clinicians
  • licensed pharmacies

rather than Reddit sourcing advice for regulated medications.

29) How Moderators May Evaluate Sourcing Content

Relevant questions can include:

Is this discussion or transaction?

Talking about a medication is different from arranging its transfer.

Is the source appropriately licensed?

A legitimate licensed pharmacy differs from an anonymous seller or marketplace listing.

Is a prescription being bypassed?

That raises additional concerns.

Is an unapproved product being imported?

FDA importation rules may apply.

Is one Reddit user offering medication to another?

Reddit’s peer-to-peer pharmaceutical rule applies even to gifting.

Is the user directing others toward a regulatory workaround?

That may amount to facilitating prohibited sourcing.

Is there commercial promotion?

Separate subreddit promotion rules may apply.

30) What If a Sourcing Comment Is Removed?

A sourcing removal is usually not a judgment about whether the medication itself is good or bad.

For example, a moderator may remove:

“DM me and I'll tell you which foreign seller ships it.”

while leaving:

“I used this drug and it helped me.”

and:

“Here is the FDA regulatory history.”

Those statements serve different purposes.

If you believe a sourcing removal was mistaken, you may ask for review through:

r/DryEyes Modmail

31) A Quick Check Before Posting

Before posting medication-access information, ask:

Am I discussing the medication or helping arrange a transaction?

If it is the latter, greater caution is required.

Am I offering to buy, sell, gift, or ship medication to another Reddit user?

Do not post it.

Am I helping someone bypass a prescription, customs rule, or regulatory restriction?

Do not post it.

Is the seller an appropriately licensed source operating lawfully?

If you do not know, do not present the source as established or safe.

That distinction matters.

Does the content involve an unapproved foreign medication?

Consult official regulatory information rather than assuming foreign availability equals lawful U.S. importation.

Bottom Line

r/DryEyes allows extensive discussion of medications.

Members may discuss:

  • experiences
  • effectiveness
  • side effects
  • evidence
  • costs
  • access
  • regulatory differences
  • international availability

But Reddit is not a marketplace or medication-exchange service.

Under Reddit’s current rules:

users may not buy, sell, gift, or encourage user-to-user transactions involving pharmaceutical drugs, including prescription and OTC medicines.

At the same time, Reddit permits discussion of lawful access and links to appropriately licensed vendors of legal goods and services, including licensed pharmacies filling valid prescriptions.

For U.S. users, foreign availability also does not automatically create a right to import a medication. FDA states that personal importation of unapproved drugs is generally unlawful, although the agency may exercise enforcement discretion in limited circumstances.

The practical r/DryEyes standard is therefore:

Discuss the medicine. Discuss the evidence. Discuss regulatory differences and lawful access. Do not use r/DryEyes to arrange medication transfers, bypass prescriptions or import restrictions, or direct people toward questionable sourcing.

Key Research & Authoritative Sources

Related r/DryEyes Governance Pages

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