Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it legal to buy prescription drugs from Canada?
A: Yes as long as you do not purchase more than a 90 day supply. America’s Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A) has included a discretionary clause which allows USA customers to buy from a non USA pharmacy as long as it is not more than a 90 day supply. I have purchased prescription drugs from a Canadian pharmacy on numerous occasions.
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Q: Is it safe to buy prescription drugs from Canada?
A: Mostly yes but not all on-line, Canadian pharmacies are equal in this regard.
They do have an excellent regulatory system in Canada in regards to policing on-line pharmacies; they are constantly on the lookout for law breakers. In my opinion, Canada’s regulatory system is every bit as good, if not better, as the one we have here in America.
I would caution not to look at price as the sole determining factor for placing an order. What organizations does the pharmacy belong to which gives it authenticity and full credibility and are their membership claims verifiable? You can also study the website of a pharmacy to see if it reasonates with you or you can talk to a pharmacy representative to see if you have a positive experience.
I have featured the best pharmacies on this site to save you the hassle of doing time consuming searches.
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Q: How much money can I save by buying from Canadian Pharmacies?
A: The percentage varies depending on the medications you use. Although some drugs are as much as 80% lower, on average most customers experience a savings of between 40-50%. It is the brand name drugs that people generally save the most on. Once the generic of a drug comes out it does tend to become more affordable here in the U.S.A.
So, not all drugs are cheaper in Canada. If the generic has not yet been released here in America, you can pretty much bet the brand name drug will be cheaper in Canada. If the generic has been released and you are already buying it here in America you may find that Canada will not present you with a better deal.
Sometimes a generic is released in Canada before it is released in America. This is another situation where you could experience huge savings by ordering from Canada.
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Q: Why are prescription drugs so affordable in Canada?
A: The price you pay for medications is less than in other countries because:
(1) The Canadian government regulates the cost of prescription drugs, keeping prices down;
(2) There are more generic drugs (substitutes for brand name drugs) in Canada than in other industrialized countries;
(3) The Canadian Dollar is weak in comparison to the Euro and the US Dollar.
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Q: I have my prescriptions covered under an insurance plan. Can I purchase my medications from a Candian pharmacy under this plan?
A: Most Canadian pharmacies will not accept insurance company payments up front. The pharmacy will provide you a receipt. You then can claim your purchase back to your health insurance company as an expense.
Please check with your insurance company to verify if they accept Canadian Pharmacy receipts under their plan. If they do then your insurance will cover some or all of the expense. Per this scenario, some or all of the money you spent will be reimbursed back to you by your insurance company.
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Q: Do I need a prescription?
A: For the most part, yes. Like your local pharmacy, most items from Canadian pharmacies require a prescription. Sending a copy of your medical practitioner’s prescription works just fine. You can ask your doctor’s office to send it for you or you can do it yourself. Faxing a copy of the prescription is the way to go if you have time constraints.
The excellent pharmacies featured on this site require a prescription.
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Q: Will I get the medications my doctor prescribed?
A: Yes. Canadian pharmacies dispense your medication according to physician instructions. If a generic substitute is available and you request it, that will be dispensed for you as a less expensive alternative. Sometimes the generic is released in Canada before it is released in America.
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Q: Is ordering a larger supply better?
A: Yes. By ordering a 90 day supply instead of a 30 day supply, you save two shipping charges. This translates into an even bigger savings for you. Do not order more than a 90 day supply—see the first question at the very top of this page.
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Q: Is ordering medication on line a headache?
A: No. Establishing yourself with a Canadian pharmacy is no more difficult than signing up with a pharmacy here in America. Once signed up and in their system you then just need to make sure you order your next supply before your current supply runs out. Generally the pharmacy will contact you well ahead of time to remind you. If you do happen to run out before your next supply arrives you can always buy a few of the more expensive pills through your local pharmacy. This will “hold you over” until your full supply from Canada arrives.
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Q: What is a generic?
A. Drug manufacturers hold patents on the brand-name drugs they make and sell. When the patent expires, pharmaceutical companies can manufacture a generic, or copy, of the brand-name and sell it at substantial discounts.
A generic medication has the same dosage, safety, strength, quality, directions, performance, and intended use as its brand-name counter-part. Before generics are made available on the market, the manufacturer must prove it has the same active ingredients as the brand-name and works as effectively. The only differences between generics and their brand-name counterparts is that generics are less expensive and may look slightly different (eg. different shape or color). Trademark laws prevent a generic from looking exactly like the brand name medication.
