A few Caveats on Buying Drugs in Canada

by Alex A. Kecskes

Prescription drugs are expensive. Not surprisingly, the elderly, disabled, and people on fixed incomes are crossing the U.S. border for more affordable drugs.

If you qualify for the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you'll save some money. Some pharma companies even offer prescription drug assistance programs if you qualify. And online pharmacies can be another source of savings. But if the cost is still too high and you end up having to choose between drugs and food, you may want to consider looking across the border--namely Canada--to secure less expensive drugs.

A Canada drug cost survey conducted by Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York was backed by a bill that would have given U.S. consumers, pharmacists, and wholesalers the ability to access drugs from Canada and possibly other foreign countries. The survey of 120 pharmacies across New York, eight of which were in Buffalo, revealed a big gap in cost between prescription drugs in Canada and the U.S.

But the FDA warned that drug standards and regulations vary from country to country. And that by using Internet pharmacies, which are set up as foreign storefronts, you may subject yourself to potential health risks stemming from:

In addition, the NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) noted that once patients and consumers go outside the U.S. regulatory system, they become vulnerable and put themselves at risk for expired, contaminated or counterfeit drugs, as well as subpotent or superpotent formulations. In other words, buyer beware.

For an additional perspective, check out this video:

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