Daybreak: Consumer News

Consumer Reports: Canadian prescriptions

07:26 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Consumer Reports

We spend $235 billion a year on prescription drugs. Even if you have insurance, the cost can really add up.

Millions of Americans have turned to Canada to save on medications. While this technically is not legal, the Food and Drug Administration has made it clear that it has no plans to prosecute individuals.

Consumer Reports' Amanda Walker just reviewed research on drug prices from Canadian and U.S. Web sites to see what you can save.

"We looked at the five best-selling brand-name drugs and we found that Canadian pharmacies offered big savings."

For example, filling a prescription for Prevacid—a medication for acid reflux—costs $379 in the U.S., while in Canada you pay just $197. That's a savings of $182.

A prescription for Zocor, used to treat high cholesterol, costs about $434 in the U.S. The best price in Canada is $208, a $226 savings.

However, if you buy Canadian drugs online, Consumer Reports has a caution. "There are lots of Web sites that have been set up to lure U.S. buyers seeking a deal," Walker said. "They may not be connected to legitimate pharmacies, and they may send you medications that are sub-potent or even counterfeit."

To be sure you're ordering from a legitimate pharmacy's Web site, look for the seal of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, the CIPA.

Consumer Reports says getting prescription drugs from Canada won't always save you money. "We researched the five most frequently dispensed generic drugs," Walker said. "It turns out that a U.S. site offered the best deal every time."

So ask your doctor if a generic drug might work for you. That way you can save money at your corner pharmacy.