# The FDA seized my Canadian prescriptions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 6, 2020, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fda-seized-my-canadian-prescriptions/927366 "2020-12-06T05:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2020, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fda-seized-my-canadian-prescriptions/927366/1 "2020-12-06T05:29:50Z")
Hi. I’ve been ordering a drug I should take post prostate surgery from a Canadian pharmacy for almost three years. It is 1/3 or less the price that US pharmacies charge. Today I learned the US FDA seized my latest order; I received a notice in the mail from the FDA. Is this something new or is it random? Is there some new push to interdict prescriptions? Should I give up on Canadian pharmacies? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2020, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fda-seized-my-canadian-prescriptions/927366/2 "2020-12-06T08:33:07Z")
I don’t know why the FDA seized your drugs, but you should prepare for a drug war with Canada. We don’t want Americans buying up our drugs. > **[Canada blocks bulk exports of some prescription drugs in response to Trump...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/bulk-exports-prescription-drugs-blocked-1.5821137)** > > Canada on Saturday blocked bulk exports of prescription drugs if they would create a shortage at home, in response to outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to allow imports from Canada to lower some drug prices for Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2020, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fda-seized-my-canadian-prescriptions/927366/3 "2020-12-06T08:41:46Z")
> **[Trump signs order pushing to allow drugs to be imported from Canada](https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/trump-signs-order-pushing-to-allow-drugs-to-be-imported-from-canada-1.5039482)** > > U.S. President Donald Trump has signed new executive orders aimed to decrease prescription drug prices, including by pushing for medications to be imported from Canada. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2020, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fda-seized-my-canadian-prescriptions/927366/4 "2020-12-06T08:46:02Z")
These guys didn’t seem to have any problem importing prescription drugs in person: > **[Why desperate Americans are driving to Canada in caravans for insulin | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/americans-diabetes-cross-canada-border-insulin-1.5125988)** > > As the cost of insulin continues to skyrocket in the U.S., people are making the trek north as an alternative to paying thousands of dollars to stay alive. And it could have consequences for the insulin supply in Canada. But that was more than a year ago. Things may have changed. Plus, as @Muffin noted above, Canada is concerned about domestic drug shortages because there is often an enormous price disparity with the US, prompting purchases from Canada. Even at the time of the above story, last spring, it prompted concern about insulin shortages in Canada because of US demand. It’s not clear, though, why the US FDA would care. It may just be that they have no jurisdiction over quality control, which is a really dumb excuse, IMO, especially considering some of the crap that they approve that is banned in other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fda-seized-my-canadian-prescriptions/927366/5 "2020-12-06T14:26:42Z")
One reason for the FDA blocking shipment of Canadian drugs might be contamination. "Earlier this year three brands collectively recalled dozens of lots of metformin in Canada due to concerns of “nitrosamine impurities.” That included Apotex Corp.'s extended release metformin as well as products from Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. and JAMP Pharma Corporation. > **[FDA finds contamination in several brands of diabetes drug](https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/fda-finds-contamination-in-several-brands-of-diabetes-drug-1.4960900)** > > U.S. health regulators are telling five drugmakers to recall their versions of a widely used diabetes medication after laboratory tests found elevated levels of a contaminant linked to cancer. > **[Canadian Drug Facility Cited for Contamination Risks](https://www.fdanews.com/articles/189482-canadian-drug-facility-cited-for-contamination-risks)** > > The inspector observed two operators holding tweezers below their hands and/or a vial tool, blocking air from a HEPA filter. Not saying this is particularly a problem in Canadian drug manufacturing facilities compared to other countries (for one thing, I’d be a lot more confident about drugs from Canada as opposed to China or India), but it exists. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fda-seized-my-canadian-prescriptions/927366/6 "2020-12-06T16:44:17Z")
It’s not contamination. The FDA sent me a note saying the meds “lack adequate instructions for use” and the packaging lacks the label “Rx only” ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fda-seized-my-canadian-prescriptions/927366/7 "2020-12-26T22:53:49Z")
Canada would have said “Sorry!” if it had blocked the shipment. Since it didn’t, it didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fda-seized-my-canadian-prescriptions/927366/8 "2020-12-27T00:12:47Z")
Did you tell them they were for your goat?