# Is it safe for US patients to order drugs from Canadian pharmacies? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767 "2009-01-24T04:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/1 "2009-01-24T04:58:58Z")
(Note to mods: I’m not seeking medical advice as much as purchasing advice) Is it safe (from both a legal and a pharmaceutical point of view) for an American to order prescription meds from Canadian pharmacies? If so, what are some of the more popular or reputable ones? I remember once hearing about this phenomenon on TV (or maybe it was that movie Sicko), but I wasn’t really paying attention. Is this a common – or perhaps even recommended – practice? If it matters, I was recently prescribed a daily 15mg dose of Abilify (aripiprazole) and the cost astounded me… nearly $200 for a 10-day supply. :eek: There is no generic equivalent. As a student, there is no way I can afford that. What’s the dope on the Canadian situation? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/2 "2009-01-24T05:13:13Z")
Drug companies make the same drugs in more than 60 countries. Canadian drugs are just like ours. The only problem is counterfeit drugs . Those are more likely on line or from Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/3 "2009-01-24T05:13:30Z")
[$461 for a month’s supply…](http://www.canadamedicineshop.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.display/pn/Abilify.Aripiprazole/product_id/5513.htm)you’re still humped. Is it safe? I eat Canadian Rx’s every day! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/4 "2009-01-24T05:18:56Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > Is it safe? I eat Canadian Rx’s every day! No, I meant it more about ordering from online or mail-order pharmacies, like \*\*gonzomax \*\*was getting at. Here we have nationwide chain pharmacies like Target, Long’s, Walgreen’s, etc. that would presumably provide genuine/non-counterfeit drugs, but what about the Canadian ones? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/5 "2009-01-24T05:25:50Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > [$461 for a month’s supply…](http://www.canadamedicineshop.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.display/pn/Abilify.Aripiprazole/product_id/5513.htm)you’re still humped. According to that site, a generic IS supposedly available? That’s odd, since Wikipedia since the patent doesn’t expire until 2014 or so. Does Canada ignore American pharmaceutical patents? That site says 100 15mg pills (3 months’ supply) would be $279.00, which comes out to less than $3 a day, which would be _much_ more doable. Am I looking at the wrong thing, or…? ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/6 "2009-01-24T06:15:23Z")
Either I can’t click, or its $461 for 30 20mg. Not seeing a generic there either. We have drugstore chains-shopper’s Drug Mart, London Drugs. This place isn’t one of them. The address is in a warehouse district, not sure if it’s a storefront or not. Doesn’t mean they sell sugar, could be on line is their only market. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/7 "2009-01-24T06:38:28Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > According to that site, a generic IS supposedly available? That’s odd, since Wikipedia since the patent doesn’t expire until 2014 or so. Does Canada ignore American pharmaceutical patents? > > That site says 100 15mg pills (3 months’ supply) would be $279.00, which comes out to less than $3 a day, which would be _much_ more doable. Am I looking at the wrong thing, or…? Short answer (as I understand it), no. Canadian drug prices are subsidized by our government. In other words, when Americans buy drugs from us online, it hoses Canadians but is a great deal for Americans. And the drugs are exactly the same. There are threads on this topic with much more information if you want to search them - we’ve done this discussion before at length. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/8 "2009-01-24T08:04:27Z")
One thing to do is contact the manufacturer, sometimes you can get meds from them at a reduced rate. This is NOT an easy thing to do, they make you jump through hoops but I did it once and got if for 30% of the normal cost. It really is for only long term use drugs as the pharma companies make you apply for each drug to qualify for a discount. When the drug went generic it was cheaper for me to get it that way, now Walmart sells it for $4.00 ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/9 "2009-01-24T11:00:54Z")
I would not buy anything from some online spammer. I am in Australia and I constantly get emails from “Canadian Pharmacies” about cheap medications. I prefer to know what I am sticking in my gob. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/10 "2009-01-24T17:06:16Z")
I’ve been getting meds from Canada for about 10 years, and haven’t had a problem. I have no health insurance, and cannot afford U.S. prices. If I couldn’t get them from Canada, I’d be dead. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/11 "2009-01-24T17:36:54Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > According to that site, a generic IS supposedly available? That’s odd, since Wikipedia since the patent doesn’t expire until 2014 or so. Does Canada ignore American pharmaceutical patents? International treaty does allow for countries to produce generics even when the patent is still viable in some instances. It seems unlikely that Canada would need this loophole, however, because there aren’t, AFAIK, any pressing health crises in Canada at the moment. Could the drugs actually be coming from another country? If you hate yourself enough to want to read a bunch of bureaucratese explaining these rules, [here’s some info on TRIPS.](http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/agrm7_e.htm) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/12 "2009-01-24T18:01:39Z")
In Detroit area it is easy to cross the bridge and buy Canadian drugs. I know a lot of people who do. They are all alive and well. You can save a lot of money. Some organizations have dabbled in buying Canadian drugs to drastically cut prices for their members. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/13 "2009-01-24T21:54:59Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’ve been getting meds from Canada for about 10 years, and haven’t had a problem. I have no health insurance, and cannot afford U.S. prices. If I couldn’t get them from Canada, I’d be dead. This is exactly what I’m hoping to do. Who do you buy them from? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_I\_Am](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sam\_I\_Am](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_I_Am)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/14 "2009-01-24T21:58:46Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Short answer (as I understand it), no. Canadian drug prices are subsidized by our government. In other words, when Americans buy drugs from us online, it hoses Canadians but is a great deal for Americans. And the drugs are exactly the same. The Canadian government regulates the prices of patented drugs, but does not subsidize them. It is the drug companies (and drug company research) that loses out further on $$ when Americans “buy Canadian” [http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521378\_3](http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521378_3) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/15 "2009-01-25T04:45:06Z")
> [@Sam\_I\_Am](#): > > The Canadian government regulates the prices of patented drugs, but does not subsidize them. It is the drug companies (and drug company research) that loses out further on $$ when Americans “buy Canadian” > > [http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521378\_3](http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521378_3) That link requires a login. I’d be more concerned about the lack of funding for pharmaceutical companies R&D if they didn’t spend [so much more money on marketing than research.](http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2008/01/do_drug_compani.html) ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/16 "2009-01-25T05:38:40Z")
> [@](#): > > The Canadian government regulates the prices of patented drugs, but does not subsidize them. It is the drug companies (and drug company research) that loses out further on $$ when Americans “buy Canadian” > > [http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521378\_3](http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521378_3) > > > [@Kyla](#): > > > > That link requires a login. Mirror available [here](http://www.asdfv.com/521378_print.htm) or use the following: Username: JCORDERO421 Password: cheo421 ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-us-patients-to-order-drugs-from-canadian-pharmacies/482767/18 "2019-07-22T09:44:59Z")
> [@topxlisting](#): > > I remember once hearing about this phenomenon on TV (or maybe it was that movie Sicko), but I wasn’t really paying attention. Is this a common – or perhaps even recommended – practice? > [App Development Company In India](https://www.topxlisting.com/in/best-app-development-companies-in-india/) Reported.