Drugs from Canada

[ponyboy]

My wife works for the FDA...here's a little something about rx drugs from canada.

A lot of them are counterfeit. You're rolling the dice if you're purchasing things from them. Also...if you're purchasing rx meds from canada and they came from india or china...have fun with that.

Thats all im saying. I dont really care what people do...if you want to save some money then go for it...just know you're taking a risk. We have issues in the US with counterfeit products...its just worse elsewhere.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

My wife works for the FDA...here's a little something about rx drugs from canada.

A lot of them are counterfeit. You're rolling the dice if you're purchasing things from them. Also...if you're purchasing rx meds from canada and they came from india or china...have fun with that.

Thats all im saying. I dont really care what people do...if you want to save some money then go for it...just know you're taking a risk. We have issues in the US with counterfeit products...its just worse elsewhere.

This is simply propaganda from the US Drug makers (and Gubmn't). I am Canadian and there are VERY strict drug rules. If purchasing from a Reputable Vendor or a Pharmacy in Canada, it is the same a purchasing in the USA. You are just a likely to get an issue with a USA non reputable vendor. These are simply scare tactics.

 

[ponyboy]

This is simply propaganda from the US Drug makers (and Gubmn't). I am Canadian and there are VERY strict drug rules. If purchasing from a Reputable Vendor or a Pharmacy in Canada, it is the same a purchasing in the USA. You are just a likely to get an issue with a USA non reputable vendor. These are simply scare tactics.

Like I said...do whatever you want. I couldnt care less where people buy their meds from. Im just telling you what someone who works in the regulatory division deals with every single day. But...what do they know...its all propaganda so big pharma can make billions in profits every year by selling meds for insane prices. Ive heard it all...they've heard it all...again people can believe or do what they want...its a free country.

I wont respond to anymore posts about this. Check out the FDA facebook page...people blast them everyday...its cute. Lot of conspiracy theories related to the FDA...bribery....etc etc. Strange times we live in. These are the same people who hate the FDA but love that plexus stuff, lol.

 

[Texas Proud]

ok i stopped reading when i hit the paragraph about counterfeit drugs, just what i thought. ill pay for the real McCoy. i retired early and financially independent. im not buying my wife some maybe fake ineffective drugs.

Fake drugs are everywhere.... even sold in the good ole USA...

I remember seeing a TV new account of a pharmacy selling fake drugs... so even your local pharmacy is not immune to getting fakes...

I will agree that buying on the internet probably is a higher probability, but that is why I said to make sure you get a legit one in an earlier post...



https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/Resources...edicineSafely/CounterfeitMedicine/default.htm

 

[MRG]

Fake drugs are everywhere.... even sold in the good ole USA...

I remember seeing a TV new account of a pharmacy selling fake drugs... so even your local pharmacy is not immune to getting fakes...

I will agree that buying on the internet probably is a higher probability, but that is why I said to make sure you get a legit one in an earlier post...



https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/Resources...edicineSafely/CounterfeitMedicine/default.htm

I can vouch for unscrupulous US based pharmacies.

I was on a medication for cluster headaches, took them for years. One day my pharmacy called and said the medication was no longer available, banned by the FDA! Call your doctor and get something different! Well there's not anything else except Oxy!

Turns out the FDA didn't ban my old med! The pharmacy was losing money filling my script and didn't want the business. They lied! Some complaints were filed.

 

[sengsational]

I gotta laugh when I see people say that drugs from other countries can not be trusted, because a huge fraction of US Rx are manufactured elsewhere. I used to sell "good manufacturing practices" software which tracked every step of the production process (manual and automated steps, process inputs, batch records, etc). That same software was sold uniformly, everywhere in the world. The manufacturing facilities I visited all had similar equipment, looked the same as those in the US (or Puerto Rico, where most of "US" drugs are made), or elsewhere. The idea that Ireland, India, Israel, or even Iraq, for that matter, would willingly allow their citizens to be given ineffective or dangerous medications is ludicrous. You think our neighbors to the north really are that ineffective at controlling their Rx?

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

When I investigated buying drugs from Canada a few years ago, the US government cautioned that the Canadian pharmacists could not be trusted. Upon further research, I found the Canadian government cautioned that the Canadian pharmacists should not trust the American doctors' prescriptions. I guess Canadians must be dying in the streets in droves from all the bad drugs they consume.

hahah, they get the real ones, they send us the expired, counterfeit.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

My wife works for the FDA...here's a little something about rx drugs from canada.

A lot of them are counterfeit. You're rolling the dice if you're purchasing things from them. Also...if you're purchasing rx meds from canada and they came from india or china...have fun with that.

Thats all im saying. I dont really care what people do...if you want to save some money then go for it...just know you're taking a risk. We have issues in the US with counterfeit products...its just worse elsewhere.

Thank you, your my new best friend. I am not brave enough to order them to save money.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

I can vouch for unscrupulous US based pharmacies.

I was on a medication for cluster headaches, took them for years. One day my pharmacy called and said the medication was no longer available, banned by the FDA! Call your doctor and get something different! Well there's not anything else except Oxy!

Turns out the FDA didn't ban my old med! The pharmacy was losing money filling my script and didn't want the business. They lied! Some complaints were filed.

You should boycott that guy, and have sent a letter to the editor of the local paper.

 

[sengsational]

.. because a huge fraction of US Rx are manufactured elsewhere...

You're getting drugs from other countries no matter where the pharmacy you buy them from is.

 

[MRG]

You should boycott that guy, and have sent a letter to the editor of the local paper.

I did more than boycott.

The pharmacist received a break. I thought long and hard about turning her in to the ethics board and chose not to. Perhaps I should have but I felt she was too young to put that mark on her professionally. I hope she learned right lesson.

 

[Texas Proud]

I can vouch for unscrupulous US based pharmacies.

I was on a medication for cluster headaches, took them for years. One day my pharmacy called and said the medication was no longer available, banned by the FDA! Call your doctor and get something different! Well there's not anything else except Oxy!

Turns out the FDA didn't ban my old med! The pharmacy was losing money filling my script and didn't want the business. They lied! Some complaints were filed.

I did more than boycott.

The pharmacist received a break. I thought long and hard about turning her in to the ethics board and chose not to. Perhaps I should have but I felt she was too young to put that mark on her professionally. I hope she learned right lesson.

I will say that this is not the same as selling fake drugs... she just did not want to sell you real drugs....

BUT, I do not understand... why did she just not raise the price It is not like they are forcing her to keep a low price is there? Then you would move to a different pharmacy and both of you are happy....

 

[MRG]

I will say that this is not the same as selling fake drugs... she just did not want to sell you real drugs....

BUT, I do not understand... why did she just not raise the price It is not like they are forcing her to keep a low price is there? Then you would move to a different pharmacy and both of you are happy....

Sure they did. She was an in network pharmacy so all I paid was my co-pay. Not my problem they agreed to lose money on that medicine.

 

[Koolau]

I hate spending a fortune on drugs like everyone else. I related (here) recently that doc wanted me on a pill that would cost (after all insurance) $12/day. I simply said NO! It was one of the new "blood thinner" drugs. Doc said, "Well, you could just take a 325mg aspirin every day."

Now, if I had more risk factors, maybe $12/day would be worth it. I'll take a small risk for the difference in price. In any case, I don't think I'd buy drugs from Canada or any other non-US source (yes, I know they may indeed be made elsewhere). I just think it adds one more level of risk that I'm not willing to take. I'm guessing if I DID receive a non-efficacious or dangerous fake, I'd be hard pressed to get any sympathy from the FDA or fed law enforcement.

The same can not be said for drugs purchased within the US. If you doubt this, notice how many of your favorite programs are sponsored by law firms willing to compensate you for the harm done by US drug makers/suppliers. As yet, I've not seen a single ad for "we'll help you if you got a bad drug from India or even Canada." I suppose I could have missed it.

Regarding drug prices, there are two extreme "truths" to consider (forgetting "evil" drug companies, common morality, greed, politics, corporate stupidity, pharmacies, pharmacy middle men, advertising, distributors, drug sales organizations, "me-too" drugs, generics vs branded drugs, OUS drugs, "outrageous" pharmaceutical corporate Management salaries, etc. etc.). 1) Virtually any established drug could be delivered safely to the end user for a few cents per day. 2) If all drugs were delivered in this fashion, there would be no new drugs.

Any further discussion (at least on my part) would probably sound political, so I'll leave it there. I just think these two competing truths need to be at least kept in mind when we realize how much our lives (length and quality) depend upon a steady stream of safe, reliable, and especially new, drugs. As always, and more than ever, YMMV.

 

[zinger1457]

Read 'Spam Nation' by Brian Krebs not too long ago and and he writes in detail about the online pharmacy business. Less than 1% of online pharmacies are legit, most are controlled by Russian groups, even many that claim to be located in Canada. One interesting point Krebs made is that the US drug companies and the FDA have made no effort to test the drugs coming into the US from these online pharmacies. Inferring that they are afraid that testing may show that the drugs are safer then claimed and would result in more people purchasing them. Not sure what the tipping point would be that would make me purchase drugs online, fortunately it's not something I've had to consider so far.

 

[Just_Steve]

I take one pill that is $10 per pill US but from Canada it is $0.90 and from India it is $0.70 and I know if they work because there is a physical reaction to it.
$3,650 Vs $328.50 or $255.50 a year, so I roll my dice and take my chances, 4 years and no disappointments thus far.
There are reliable overseas pharmacies.

 

[sengsational]

There's a perception problem with non-US Rx because there's the obviously NOT legit "Get Your Viagra for Cheap, No Prescription" sites, and then the other sites that DO require a prescription, and simply mark-up legit drugs and sell them to Americans.

If you were operating the latter type of pharmacy, you'd probably be motivated to sell effective medications so that you'd get repeat business. The business model is simple: you mark-up drugs that you already have access to in your own country and ship them to Americans. I'm not sure why some Americans think that what they get would be anything other than what the residents of that country would get. If someone here thinks that the quality of drugs sold to a resident of some other first-world country is inferior to those available to Americans, well, then, by all means, use a US pharmacy. The drug probably STILL was made outside of the US, but it's got the stamp of approval you desire. I have at least as much faith in the governments of many other countries to regulate drugs to the benefit of their populations as I do in the US's ability to do so.

 

[Texas Proud]

There's a perception problem with non-US Rx because there's the obviously NOT legit "Get Your Viagra for Cheap, No Prescription" sites, and then the other sites that DO require a prescription, and simply mark-up legit drugs and sell them to Americans.

If you were operating the latter type of pharmacy, you'd probably be motivated to sell effective medications so that you'd get repeat business. The business model is simple: you mark-up drugs that you already have access to in your own country and ship them to Americans. I'm not sure why some Americans think that what they get would be anything other than what the residents of that country would get. If someone here thinks that the quality of drugs sold to a resident of some other first-world country is inferior to those available to Americans, well, then, by all means, use a US pharmacy. The drug probably STILL was made outside of the US, but it's got the stamp of approval you desire. I have at least as much faith in the governments of many other countries to regulate drugs to the benefit of their populations as I do in the US's ability to do so.

As further info on this... when I lived in the UK the drugs appeared to be packaged the same... so unless there is something stamped on the package that says it is USA vs anywhere else I would bet the only difference is which box the guy (or gal) picked up to ship to which location....

 

[AllDone]

There's a perception problem with non-US Rx because there's the obviously NOT legit "Get Your Viagra for Cheap, No Prescription" sites, and then the other sites that DO require a prescription, and simply mark-up legit drugs and sell them to Americans.

If you were operating the latter type of pharmacy, you'd probably be motivated to sell effective medications so that you'd get repeat business. The business model is simple: you mark-up drugs that you already have access to in your own country and ship them to Americans. I'm not sure why some Americans think that what they get would be anything other than what the residents of that country would get. If someone here thinks that the quality of drugs sold to a resident of some other first-world country is inferior to those available to Americans, well, then, by all means, use a US pharmacy. The drug probably STILL was made outside of the US, but it's got the stamp of approval you desire. I have at least as much faith in the governments of many other countries to regulate drugs to the benefit of their populations as I do in the US's ability to do so.

Most name-brand drugs are made in very few factories -- a lot of them are manufactured in only one location. Whether the drug is manufactured in the US or outside of the US, the FDA routinely inspects the factory. The drug that I buy from Canada is manufactured here in Southern California. It's not a widely used drug and is not manufactured anywhere else. I stopped using the previous drug because a manufacturing problem in a single plant made that drug unavailable.

The situation is a little different for generic drugs as they are usually more commonly used and are manufactured in multiple facilities. Nevertheless, those factories are still routinely inspected by the FDA and its foreign equivalents.

 

[Meadbh]

Most name-brand drugs are made in very few factories -- a lot of them are manufactured in only one location. Whether the drug is manufactured in the US or outside of the US, the FDA routinely inspects the factory. The drug that I buy from Canada is manufactured here in Southern California. It's not a widely used drug and is not manufactured anywhere else. I stopped using the previous drug because a manufacturing problem in a single plant made that drug unavailable.

The situation is a little different for generic drugs as they are usually more commonly used and are manufactured in multiple facilities. Nevertheless, those factories are still routinely inspected by the FDA and its foreign equivalents.

^^^this.

For example, no matter where in the world you are using it, Viagra is made in Pfizer's plant in Ringaskiddy, Cork, Ireland. Years ago I toured the Pfizer plant in Dalian, China. They were very excited because Viagra had just been approved for distribution in China and they had just begun packaging it. I asked where the raw material was made, and they confirmed that it was shipped from Ringaskiddy.

 

[Just_Steve]

There's a perception problem with non-US Rx because there's the obviously NOT legit "Get Your Viagra for Cheap, No Prescription" sites, and then the other sites that DO require a prescription, and simply mark-up legit drugs and sell them to Americans.

+1

 

[Koolau]

There's a perception problem with non-US Rx because there's the obviously NOT legit "Get Your Viagra for Cheap, No Prescription" sites, and then the other sites that DO require a prescription, and simply mark-up legit drugs and sell them to Americans.

If you were operating the latter type of pharmacy, you'd probably be motivated to sell effective medications so that you'd get repeat business. The business model is simple: you mark-up drugs that you already have access to in your own country and ship them to Americans. I'm not sure why some Americans think that what they get would be anything other than what the residents of that country would get. If someone here thinks that the quality of drugs sold to a resident of some other first-world country is inferior to those available to Americans, well, then, by all means, use a US pharmacy. The drug probably STILL was made outside of the US, but it's got the stamp of approval you desire. I have at least as much faith in the governments of many other countries to regulate drugs to the benefit of their populations as I do in the US's ability to do so.

For me, it's not the other country's equivalent of the FDA that I worry about. (I would respectfully disagree that they are as good as our FDA in general, but that's not my issue.) If a drug is to be "officially" imported to be sold within the US, then OUR FDA is already involved, so I don't much care about the other country's "FDA." What I am concerned about is that our FDA will not be involved at all on drugs purchased directly from pharmacies outside the US. They just don't do it. If you get a bad one, counterfeit one, tampered-with-in-shipment, expired one, tainted one, floor sweepings, etc. the FDA would not catch it nor would they "care." It's not their problem. I would stipulate that dealing with most Canadian pharmacies is probably not much of an added risk. However, you have less protection if something does go wrong. I would call it "risk vs benefit." Only you can decide for yourself.

 

[Texas Proud]

For me, it's not the other country's equivalent of the FDA that I worry about. (I would respectfully disagree that they are as good as our FDA in general, but that's not my issue.) If a drug is to be "officially" imported to be sold within the US, then OUR FDA is already involved, so I don't much care about the other country's "FDA." What I am concerned about is that our FDA will not be involved at all on drugs purchased directly from pharmacies outside the US. They just don't do it. If you get a bad one, counterfeit one, tampered-with-in-shipment, expired one, tainted one, floor sweepings, etc. the FDA would not catch it nor would they "care." It's not their problem. I would stipulate that dealing with most Canadian pharmacies is probably not much of an added risk. However, you have less protection if something does go wrong. I would call it "risk vs benefit." Only you can decide for yourself.

But the concern you point out actually happens to drugs that are sold in the US... the FDA is not checking every shipment... just like parts for passenger planes get in that are counterfeit (which I would think is looked at closer) so will illicit drugs...

I see no difference between a legit pharmacy in Canada, the UK and probably a few other places than here...

The issue with the FDA is that they want more proof to approve a drug for use here as opposed to an approved drug being made one way for the rest of the world and another for us...

 

[Sunnymar]

My issue with "Canadian Pharmacies" is the risk they are not a Canadian Pharmacy just using that name. As mentioned some are known and reputable, I'd stick with them.

 

[rodi]

At the risk of freaking people out here... In college I used to go down to Tijuana and buy a years supply of birth control pills. I had my prescription - but it wasn't covered under insurance and in the early 80's it was over $20/month... Which was outside my college student budget. I could get the exact same pill package for $2/month. The only issue was that many pharmacies wouldn't have a full 12 packs of my brand/dosage, so I'd have to go to more than one pharmacy. I had a couple friends who'd go down with me - we'd all come back with a years supply each. I did this for 3 years and didn't get pregnant - nor did my friends...

I think we were more at risk from the street tacos we'd eat, than from bad birth control pills.

It would be harder today... passports required.