Save Your Cash: 9 Medications That Are Cheaper at Canadian Pharmacies Than in the US

Category: Drug Information

Author

Posted on May 30, 2019

Vanessa is a health writer and blogging expert. Her specialities are medicine, health and wellness. She is proud to call Vancouver, BC her home where she enjoys the ocean and mountains with her dog Mr. ChowChow.



Canadian pharmacies

In the United States, costs for brand name prescriptions jumped 127 percent between 2008 and 2014. This is why 80 percent of Americans have their prescriptions filled with generics

But not all medications can be filled with a generic. This is costing America billions. For instance, the prescription of Xarelto alone made Bayer and Johnson & Johnson 6.5 billion dollars last year.

If you want to keep that money in your pocket, discover how much you can save with these 9 medications that are cheaper at Canadian pharmacies.

It is legal to use Canadian pharmacies in America, and millions of Americans do it to save thousands of dollars a year. There are however some restrictions as put forth by the FDA.

In the United States, when you are buying medication from Canadian pharmacies, you are under the purview of the FDA, the United States Customs and Border Protection, as well as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

You still need a valid prescription from an American doctor to purchase from Canadian pharmacies, and you can only purchase a certain amount of prescriptions at a time.

You must travel with your medication in its original prescription bottle, and you can not travel with more than 90 days worth of medication.

If you are traveling for longer than 90 days, you can have more sent to you while you are away. There are special regulations for opioids and painkillers that you should know about before you are purchasing opioids from Canadian pharmacies.

Senator Bernie Sanders has recently introduced legislation that may change some of these regulations.

Getting Your Prescriptions from Canadian Pharmacies

Depending on what medications you take, purchasing from Canada could result in huge cost-savings. Here are the top 9 medications that Americans need most, which cost less in Canada, by the thousands of dollars.

1. Gleevec for Cancer Treatment

The medication known as Gleevec is a cancer treatment that can cost Americans as much as $6,200 a month. The generic name of this medication is known as Imatinib.

You can get generic Gleevec for as little as $552 for 30 tabs in Canadian pharmacies.

2.  Viagra for Erectile Dysfunction

Millions of American men suffer from erectile dysfunction on occasion, and there is the old adage that “it happens to every man” at least once in their life. Pfizer says, there’s a medication for that.

The only caveat is that in America, the medication for that is known as Viagra and it could cost you as much as $60 to $70 per pill.  Even generic versions in the United States, sold under the name of Sildenafil, can cost $30 a pill.

That cost may not seem high if you only need it for emergencies, but if you purchase Viagra or Sildenafil regularly, it could negatively impact your life a number of ways.  In Canadian pharmacies, however, you are going to see the costs much lower, with Viagra as low as $11.25 per dose in its generic version known as Sidenafil.

3. Cymbalta for Depression

Depression impacts millions of Americans daily and costs the health care system billions. Cymbalta is frequently prescribed to treat depression.

In the United States, this medication could cost you as much as $200 monthly, which may not seem high. But if you are on a fixed budget, as millions of Americans are, even $200 a month is outrageous.

Try filling this medication in Canadian pharmacies, and you may see this medication cost as little as $50 a month. There is also a generic form of Cymbalta available.

4. Xarelto to Prevent Blood Clots

Hundreds of thousands of Americans get hip or knee replacements every year. One of the medications prescribed for this is Xarelto, to prevent life-threatening blood clots.

This medication in America can cost as much as $550 monthly, which is why Bayer and Johnson & Johnson make billions from this medication annually.

In Canada, Xarelto or Rivaroxaban is available for a fraction of the cost.

5. EpiPen for Allergic Reactions

Everyone knows at least one American friend or family member of theirs that needs an EpiPen for emergency assistance for allergic reactions. That may even be you!

Without insurance, this medication could cost you several hundred dollars for one life-saving dose.

In Canada however, two EpiPens alone could cost as little as $200.

6. Invokana for Diabetes

Invokana is a medication used to control levels of insulin in diabetics. It works to inhibit a glucose transporter in the blood and allows glucose to leave the body in the urine.

This medication alone generates billions of sales in America and a supply of 30 pills could cost as much as $500 in the United States. In Canadian pharmacies, you are going to pay at least half of that.

7. Tecfidera for Multiple Sclerosis

A huge advancement in the treatment of multiple sclerosis came with the advent of Tecfidera. With that advent, Tecfidera began producing billions in revenue for its manufacturer Biogen.

That is because, in America, Tecfidera costs over $6,000 for 60 pills. That amounts to over $100 per dose.

In Canada, you can get that medication for a quarter of the cost, at over $25.00 a pill, or a 60 day supply for just $1,100.

8. Advair for Asthma

Advair is an asthma medication that is bringing billions in for its manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. It is an inhaler that is often needed in emergent situations.

In America, you will pay over $400 per inhaler, and that is often with a coupon or insurance! In Canada, you can get that prescription filled for less than $100.

9. Januvia for Diabetes

Januvia is a medication for diabetes that works to inhibit proteins that increase insulin in the blood. It is often used with the commonly prescribed metformin, which decreases sugar production in the blood.

In the United States, this medication could cost as much as $400 monthly. But that will cost you as little as $100 monthly.

Start Saving on Prescription Costs with Canadian Pharmacies

Canadian pharmacies are being used by Americans all over the world, and in the United States. You could save thousands monthly by purchasing your monthly prescriptions in Canada, and even more money when you buy generic from pharmacies in Canada.

Be sure you follow FDA regulations and guidelines and don’t bring any more than a 90 day supply into America through these pharmacies. That is true whether you are transporting them into the country yourself, or whether you are ordering from Canadian pharmacies.

Even for medications that cost you thousands, you can purchase in Canada with pharmacies that offer payment plans.

Try a no obligation search by medication name or medical condition in Canada today, and save money on your prescriptions at Canadian pharmacies tomorrow.

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