Getting prescription drugs in Canada

[larry koenn]

My wife and I are both experiencing rising costs in getting our brand name prescription drugs thru our normal Medicare Part D drug plans. Costs have really gone up this year, some drugs costs have doubled from two years ago. It’s the donut hole problem. We both require a couple of brand name drugs.

My question is: does anyone from the US get their drugs in Canada and is it cheaper? We travel thru Canada each spring and fall and it would not be a big problem to stop and see a doctor and then visit a pharmacy, if we could get our prescriptions at a better price. Are the Canadians ok with us doing this? We are willing to pay cash if we can save some money.

Thanks for any info.

L

[tricotec]

Originally Posted by larry koenn

My wife and I are both experiencing rising costs in getting our brand name prescription drugs thru our normal Medicare Part D drug plans. Costs have really gone up this year, some drugs costs have doubled from two years ago. It’s the donut hole problem. We both require a couple of brand name drugs.

My question is: does anyone from the US get their drugs in Canada and is it cheaper? We travel thru Canada each spring and fall and it would not be a big problem to stop and see a doctor and then visit a pharmacy, if we could get our prescriptions at a better price. Are the Canadians ok with us doing this? We are willing to pay cash if we can save some money.

Thanks for any info.

L

There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeing a Canadian doctor and filling prescriptions there. You will have to see a Canadian doctor though. This is generally a lot cheaper than a US doctor visit, but it isn't free for US citizens. Canadian pharmacies will not fill US prescriptions. (Even in an emergency...it's just illegal). Be careful about any prescriptions that contain Narcotics though. Any excessive amounts may cause you problems at the border.

[brialin]

My wife gets her inhalers from Canada because it is cheaper than buying the brand name here. She uses a US doctors prescription with no problem. We do not have to see a Canadian doctor for any of their meds. The meds are shipped directly to the house.

Brian

[tricotec]

Originally Posted by brialin

My wife gets her inhalers from Canada because it is cheaper than buying the brand name here. She uses a US doctors prescription with no problem. We do not have to see a Canadian doctor for any of their meds. The meds are shipped directly to the house.

Brian

I WENT to Canada and was told with no uncertain terms that Canadian pharmacies can not dispense prescriptions without a Canadian prescription. I was attempting to refill my blood pressure medicine, which ran out during my trip. Getting a prescription from a mail-order pharmacy and walking up to a drugstore in Canada are apparently two different things. Perhaps the mail-order pharmacy obtained a license from the US, or perhaps the Canadian law in question does not apply outside Canada. In either event, if you take your prescription from the US to a store in Canada you'll be disappointed.