Need cheaper drugs!
May 6, 2010 1:47 PM Subscribe
My prescription drug costs are $700 every quarter. I'm looking for an online pharmacy (based in Canada) that will fill my prescription at a more reasonable cost. I have tried PharmacyRxWorld.com (based here in Toronto) but they won't sell to me, because I live in Canada!
I take Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 80 mg and Altace (Ramipril) 2.5 mg every day and although good health is priceless, I'm loathe to keeping forking out $700 every three months. I don't have a drug benefit plan. Does anybody in Canada have recommendations?
I take Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 80 mg and Altace (Ramipril) 2.5 mg every day and although good health is priceless, I'm loathe to keeping forking out $700 every three months. I don't have a drug benefit plan. Does anybody in Canada have recommendations?
Response by poster: Thanks for the link Hiker. Unfortunately, the TDP benefit will only kick in if your drug costs are => 4% of total net household income. Apparently, I earn too much!
posted by HarrysDad at 2:10 PM on May 6, 2010
posted by HarrysDad at 2:10 PM on May 6, 2010
You can purchase health insurance from Ontario Blue Cross (link to their quote page). It looks like they cover you for 70% of the drug costs. I *think* Blue Cross is the standard solution for people who don't have coverage through work. I know my family always had Alberta Blue Cross.
Also, some unsolicited advice: since you are spending so much on your prescriptions and it really adds up, get them either through Shoppers Drug Mart for the Optimum points (redeemable for purchases in the store) or through Safeway for the airmiles.
posted by kitcat at 2:16 PM on May 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also, some unsolicited advice: since you are spending so much on your prescriptions and it really adds up, get them either through Shoppers Drug Mart for the Optimum points (redeemable for purchases in the store) or through Safeway for the airmiles.
posted by kitcat at 2:16 PM on May 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
My understanding is that due to the structure of the market (and its regulation) the retail prices of prescription drugs sold within Canada from a reputable source are going to be more or less uniform. An online pharmacy based in Canada that will sell to you at a significantly lower price than its bricks-and-mortar competitors (i.e. at the price for non-Canadians) is once that I would be suspicious of. I say this not having researched the specific regulatory provisions that make it so, but that is my sense of it.
Are you looking for a grey market, or are you hoping to find out the specifics of the regulations involving online pharmacy sales in Ontario (or in Canada)?
posted by onshi at 2:29 PM on May 6, 2010
Are you looking for a grey market, or are you hoping to find out the specifics of the regulations involving online pharmacy sales in Ontario (or in Canada)?
posted by onshi at 2:29 PM on May 6, 2010
I realize this isn't a direct answer to your question, but maybe you can ask your doctor about switching to a generic statin, like lovastatin or simvastatin?
posted by greatgefilte at 2:40 PM on May 6, 2010
posted by greatgefilte at 2:40 PM on May 6, 2010
Best answer: [USA] Seconding the idea of a generic statin. Lipitor is the 2nd most powerful statin (Crestor is more powerful and about as expensive). Simvastatin, 3rd strongest, is generic. At 80mg daily, typical results are 60% LDL lowering for Lipitor vs 50% for simvastatin at a small fraction of the cost ($33/30 pills vs $135 at drugstore.com). Also, lisinopril may be cheaper than ramipril.
posted by neuron at 2:58 PM on May 6, 2010
posted by neuron at 2:58 PM on May 6, 2010
Go offshore?
http://www.bmpharmacy.com/product_group.php?bid=9&high=lipitor
May be a good idea to go at least partly vegetarian. But I don't know much about this.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 3:24 PM on May 6, 2010
http://www.bmpharmacy.com/product_group.php?bid=9&high=lipitor
May be a good idea to go at least partly vegetarian. But I don't know much about this.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 3:24 PM on May 6, 2010
2 types of statins and 2 types of ACE-inhibitors are on Wal-Mart/Target's $4 dollar list here in the US. ($4 for 30 days supply.) Paying $700 for that in Canada means you're doing something wrong and being ripped off.
posted by ruwan at 7:59 PM on May 6, 2010
posted by ruwan at 7:59 PM on May 6, 2010
[USA] Seconding the idea of a generic statin. Lipitor is the 2nd most powerful statin (Crestor is more powerful and about as expensive). Simvastatin, 3rd strongest, is generic. At 80mg daily, typical results are 60% LDL lowering for Lipitor vs 50% for simvastatin at a small fraction of the cost ($33/30 pills vs $135 at drugstore.com). Also, lisinopril may be cheaper than ramipril.
Given Ontario's aggressive stance on Generic pricing, this is probably your best option if your doctor thinks its viable. You're talking about the generic price being ~ 1/4 the price of the brand which should save you huge going forward.
posted by Hiker at 7:10 AM on May 7, 2010
Given Ontario's aggressive stance on Generic pricing, this is probably your best option if your doctor thinks its viable. You're talking about the generic price being ~ 1/4 the price of the brand which should save you huge going forward.
posted by Hiker at 7:10 AM on May 7, 2010
Response by poster: Thank you to all for your input! I shall speak to my doctor about switching to a generic statin.
BTW, Shoppers Drug Mart (at least in Ontario) doesn't give Optimum points for prescription drugs.
posted by HarrysDad at 8:06 AM on May 7, 2010
BTW, Shoppers Drug Mart (at least in Ontario) doesn't give Optimum points for prescription drugs.
posted by HarrysDad at 8:06 AM on May 7, 2010
Re: Optimum points in Ontario
Yeah, here's the small print:
The collection of points for prescription purchases may vary by province and is governed by provincial governments, provincial regulatory authorities and third party insurance plans.
That's a bum deal for Ontarians.
posted by kitcat at 4:15 PM on May 7, 2010
Yeah, here's the small print:
The collection of points for prescription purchases may vary by province and is governed by provincial governments, provincial regulatory authorities and third party insurance plans.
That's a bum deal for Ontarians.
posted by kitcat at 4:15 PM on May 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Hiker at 1:54 PM on May 6, 2010