Big drug makers say it’s risky, and the Food & Drug Administration implies that it may be illegal, yet tens of thousands of Americans are now buying prescription drugs from offshore and Canadian pharmacies, sometimes at savings approaching 80 percent of American prices.

Almost all of the prescriptions being shipped to the United States come from countries which have government-mandated price controls in place. And while the buyer should always beware when making any kind of purchase, it is worth investigating offshore prescriptions when one considers the hundreds or thousands of dollars that can be saved annually.

Sample Savings

Like Driving To Canada

Officially, the FDA has had a longstanding policy that allows Americans to buy up to a 90-day supply of prescription drugs when they visit a foreign country – hence, the agency has never had problems with bus trips to Canada organized by senior centers, labor unions and other organizations. But the rise of the Internet, opening foreign markets to many more U.S. citizens in recent years, has put the policy in a gray area.

That hasn’t been helped by big drug companies, which say they rely on big markups in the U.S. to fund worldwide research efforts. If this is so, then the drug companies are essentially asking American consumers to subsidize drug research around the world and to cover consumers in countries where prices are kept low by law.

In addition to putting pressure on government regulators, the drug companies have implied that drugs shipped from overseas may be unsafe or cheap imitations of the products they sell.

So don’t look overseas. Look north, to Canada, which has a government agency that tightly monitors the safety and quality of all drugs sold in that country.

Is It Legal?

Officially, the FDA has said that almost any international shipment of prescription medications violates the law. Affordable healthcare advocates, however, argue that there is no difference between someone buying a 90-day supply of prescription medications over the Internet and when they fill a prescription on their trip to Niagara Falls.

And so far, the FDA has made no indications that it will go after the individual consumer. The agency realizes it is on shaky legal ground – not to mention it would face stinging bad publicity if it went after everyday individuals who were simply trying to keep their healthcare costs in check.

The FDA has instead chosen to go after some U.S.-based Internet pharmacies, as well as companies which set up storefront operations that help people place orders with Canadian pharmacies. These companies generally act as middlemen, helping patients and people without access to the Internet place orders. In return, the companies collect a commission generally ranging from five to 15 percent.

The biggest of these companies – Rx Depot – gave up its legal fight on August 20. A federal judge had ordered it to shut its stores last year, but you may be able to find similar, smaller providers in your local yellow pages.

If not, turn to the Internet. A simple search for “Canadian prescriptions,” “Canada pharmacy” or “prescriptions from Canada” will turn up thousands of results. A few of the more reputed Canadian pharmacies offering shipment to the United States include:

All of the legitimate pharmacies will require you to send or fax photocopies of your photo identification card and a copy of your prescription, which must be filled out by a licensed physician. Prescriptions are generally shipped within five to ten business days after the pharmacy receives your documentation.

Safety First

Pills and capsules from Canadian pharmacies may look different than the ones you’re currently taking. But the active ingredients will be the same if you deal with a reputable dealer. Manufacturers sometimes opt to use different colors and shapes for pills sold in Canada, even though the pills are often made at the same manufacturing facility.

If you have any concerns about the prescription medications you receive, it is not unreasonable to have the physician who wrote the prescription look them over before you begin taking them. Most doctors we talked to will gladly inspect medications to insure a patient’s safety.

(Additionally, we know of some doctors in our area who hand out the free samples they receive from drug companies to their elderly patients. Many of these cash-strapped patients stop into several doctor’s office each week to see if the doctor has any samples. It is not the most reliable method in getting your full dosage of necessary medications, but it may help tide you over in between prescription deliveries).

Most importantly, if you have any questions or concerns about a medication, get them answered before taking it! The pharmacies we listed above are reputable and can answer most of the questions you have and provide most of the assurances you need. But if you select a different Canadian pharmacy, be sure you know their physical address, telephone number and licensing information before placing an order.

Other considerations:

More information, including steps consumers should take to safely order drugs from Canada, can be found at http://www.ciparx.ca/consumer_info.html.

Ask Lesko…
Each week, I answer a reader’s question about government grants. If yours is selected, you will receive a free copy of my book, “Gobs and Gobs of Free Stuff”. Send your questions to Dixiestjohn@earthlink.net. Please keep your questions short and as specific as possible.

This week’s question was sent in by Lynne,:

“There is more judgment required, for the proper conduct of our virtues, than for avoiding their opposite vices”

… from Lord Chesterfield’s Letters, by David Roberts, letters of advice written by a British Lord to his son in the 1700’s.

No money? No insurance? Overwhelmed by medical bills?…
… For over 6,000 sources of free health care in the U.S.– including doctor’s visits, prescriptions drugs, treatments and services – order your specially-priced copy of “Free Health Care” at www.howtogetagrant.com/grhealth1.