Anyone ever use canadadrugs.com?

[RedShirt]

A prescription drug I take recently had a generic version become available. I do not respond well to the generic (tried 3 different manufactures). My doctor says my body must not metabolize the generic as well as the name-brand due to differences in inactive ingredients, etc. We even tried upping the dose and the side-effects were not good. I went back to the name-brand, but my insurance only pays up to the cost of the generic. This means I'm paying $150 a refill. After footing this bill for a while, I'm getting tired of the drain on my finances.

The same drug, with no insurance, at canadadrugs.com is 1/4 the cost of the same medication WITH insurance in the United States. I have tried to dig up some facts about the legality of importing prescription drugs and it seems murky at best.

I can basically get 3 months at full price for less than the price of 1 (supplemented by insurance) here. How stupid is that? This is the same name brand drug manufactured by the same company.

Anyways, has anyone used them before? Is it "legal"?

Thanks

Necro Thread Revived By Spammer

Iron Woode
Super Moderator

 

[BoomerD]

No idea about the import pharmacies, but...have you checked Costco for your meds?

 

[RedShirt]

No idea about the import pharmacies, but...have you checked Costco for your meds?

Yes,

My insurance has a price-checker and everywhere local charges the same (within 5 bucks). My work pays for a service called "compass" and one service they have is finding the cheapest local place for prescriptions as well. They too cannot find anything reasonably priced.

I have even written a letter to my insurance company and had my doctor send in an explanation saying we tried the generic and it won't work. I asked that they allow me the $50 co-pay since I don't respond well to the generic (my plan through work is the greater of $50 or the difference from the generic). They denied my request. They state the only time they would allow this is for seizure medication (which is not the medication I am taking)

I have even considered switching to a high-deductible health plan next year just for this one prescription! Work pays 50% of the deductible. I would cover all costs up to the deductible and then the plan covers 100% the rest. HR says even if I went with the name-brand it would cover the full cost (once the deductible was hit). If I had no other medical expenses for the year, I'd come out behind vs a traditional plan, but if my wife or I had anything happen we'd come out ahead. It's crazy. All this for one prescription.

Before the generic was available, a refill cost $30.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I investigated canadapharmacy.com when exploring options for my dad, who is without insurance until next July and takes ~$850/month worth of meds. My research lead me to believe that it was too risky to try. Many stories out there about people receiving bottles of "meds" that were simply placebos, etc.

You should be able to save some $$ with a mail order US pharmacy. Have you tried that option?

Also, look up the drug manufacturers website. Most of them offer some kind of assistance. Might depend on your ability to pay . . . but it is worth a shot.

 

[lxskllr]

Legality is irrelevant unless you get caught. I guess what you're really asking is will you get caught, and what will happen if you do. Dunno, but I'd do what I could to evade predatory pricing.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I can basically get 3 months at full price for less than the price of 1 (supplemented by insurance) here. How stupid is that? This is the same name brand drug manufactured by the same company.

So you think. Many online pharmacies source pills from foreign manufacturing plants, which may not have the same standards as drugs manufactured in the U.S. or to U.S. specifications.

If there is a generic available - chances are your drug came off patent, which is a good thing as far as importing it into the U.S. goes. Still - we have the FDA for a reason . . . sourcing drugs outside the U.S. bypasses most of the safeguards imposed by the FDA on prescription drugs. . . Not sure I would take that risk for ~$90/month. Sure its a fair bit of cash. But you only have one life.

I am surprised to hear of your problems with the generic. Generics must be approved by the FDA before they can be legally distributed in the U.S. Typically to obtain that approval a generic drug manufacture submits an ANDA (abbreviated new drug application), which, among other things, contains a scientific demonstration that the generic drug is bioequivalent (i.e., performs in the same manner as the relevant name brand drug). Sure, a generic may have minor difference in pill composition, but most of the time the generic is very close to the pill composition of the name brand so as to maintain the assertion of bioequivalency.

 

[otho11]

The shipper would likely be in more trouble than you if the govt actually decided to pursue. Since generics do not work for you I would not bother with looking for potential frauds given that the brand and only the brand works.

 

[T9D]

I order drugs online all the time if I need them. They come from all over the world. Customs even opened one to check it then sent it on it's way to me. Whatever it's easier and cheaper than doing the whole doctor visit. I don't think anyone cares as long as you're not some prescription drug trafficker.

 

[kaerflog]

I hate to break this to you but all those sites ship from India.
The site might be registered to Canada or any other country but it will get shipped from India.
I'm talking about all the prescription drugs that they advertise you don't need one will come from India.
I'm saying anything about the quality of the drugs, just where its being shipped from.
I don't know the reason why but I'm telling this from experience and others.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I've gotten medicines from India and Malaysia (not the website in question) without issue, but if you have a legit prescription I think there are Canadian ones that you can fax your script to.

FDA's take: http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm194904.htm

 

[Jimzz]

If they ask for a prescription then its probably a Canada pharmacy and good to go.

If they do not require then its most likely india and you will get a generic.

 

[RedShirt]

Just had an online chat with them. They say the prescription could take up to 28 days to show up (typically 9-15 days). I might give it a try right after my next refill here in the states.

BTW, the FDA isn't always right. This isn't the drug that I take, but look at this:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidmaris/2012/10/10/fda-recall-points-to-serious-problems-at-the-fda/

The sad thing about this drug is, it's for anxiety and depression. People had been complaining about it for years, but the FDA and others would just say "It's just in your head". The FDA doesn't even test each dosage level of generics.

The particular drug I am taking, I have found lots of people online that claim the same thing. Some of them had to suffer quite a bit before finally figuring it out. Some didn't even know their prescription was switched over to the generic.

 

[CDAl]

I am a representative of Canada Drugs and am very glad you chose to reach out to us. It appears the patient service representative provided you with the information you needed. I do want to mention an important piece which I hope they did talk about, but it warrants repeating if they did.

Safety is our #1 priority for our patients. As such, we only sell medication from countries that have regulatory bodies similar to the FDA to monitor the drug supply. These countries are Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia. So, for instance, if the medication you need was from our Canadian pharmacy, it would be the same medication I would get if I went to my local pharmacy.

Again, while I am obviously biased, I know that we can not only save you a substantial amount, but also provide you with the best medications in the world.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Iron Woode]

Necro Thread Revived By Spammer

Iron Woode
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