Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I currently pay $110 per month for the cholesterol medicine I take. A friend of mine recommended that I look into <a href="http://www.blueskydrugs.com" target="_blank">http://www.blueskydrugs.com</a> -- a Canadian based enterprise that gets prescription Rx from all over the world. For less. Example -- instead of 30 of my cholesterol lowering tablets for $110, this group offers 90 tablets (of what is listed as the brand name medicine) for $132.00 + shipping. I'm very skeptical. Has anyone used this service before? Or one like it? Is this a rip off? Thoughts please.
Originally Posted By beamerdog I have no experience with Canadian shipped drugs, but almost all of the pharmacies around here offer a $4-9 for an up to three month plan of generic drugs. Let me see if I can find Walmart's since they are all over the country. Personally I use Pathmark's pharmacy.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Here's Walmart's plan: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/de25sc" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/de25sc</a> All the others are similar.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Awesome idea, beamerdog. The medicine I use is not on the list, and there is not a generic that is FDA approved. Wonder if I'm really that special... Anyone buy from this Canadian drug place?
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes I haven't, but I get 5 emails a day from Canadian pharmacies offering me something other than cholestorol medicine.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Jim, I would contact the maker of the drug and ask them for assistance. Sometimes they can do this. I would also contact your doctor (personally, not his staff) and ask if either he get samples, or why he specifically prescribed this drug. FYI - IMPORTANT Doctors get "pay backs" from drug companies depending on how many prescriptions they order for the specific drugs for their patients. Almost every doctor that I know plays this game. There are now some laws against this practice in some states, but I trust that the drug companies will find some way around that (what is the symbol for a face throwing up?) Are there other ways for you to control your cholesterol? Maybe you could take an older drug in combination with these ways to get the same results?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Thanks for the nice advice, beamerdog. It just seems to me that paying $110 for a 30-day prescription, and $4 for a 30-day prescription (if it's possible) is a HUGH difference!!! I have a note in to my Dr. to find out. Thanks again.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Anytime, Jim. In defense of doctors, I once sat at a table with three endicronologists who, even though they prescribe insulin daily, had NO idea how expensive it is. Or if the patient could afford it or had health insurance to cover the costs.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox Try canadadrugs.com. Great customer service, prompt shipping. Some drugs are much cheaper, others not as much. Definitely worth a look.
Originally Posted By tiggerdis_ As a Canadian I would say this "don't do it" Anyone who claims that they get their drugs from a registered pharmacy is probably lying. I can't think of how they could get those drugs without a licence. If they have a licence, then why don't they actually sell their drugs from a store as well as on line? There have been some very scary stories in the news about people buying prescription drugs that turn out to be purchased from not so legitimate sources in China. These drugs contained some very dangerous chemicals. I have not heard of this company. I mean who is Dr. Reddy, and why is he listed as a manufacturer of drugs? Why would you pay for lipitor, and get some generic brand when your doctor can't even get you a generic brand. I think it's very very scary! Hope I didn't freak you out...
Originally Posted By tiggerdis_ Ack, this scares me too: "How long is delivery time? A: For products coming out of Canada the delivery time is 8 to 12 business days. For all international orders the delivery time is 10 to 15 business days." This says to me that not all the drugs you order are coming from Canada...is that not what they're saying???
Originally Posted By WestWind Jim in Merced CA, for your information and comparison I just picked up some name brand cholesterol medicine at my local pharmacy in Canada and paid $232 (Canadian) for 100 pills. These days this would be about $186 US or about $56 US for 30 pills. Seems to be about half what you paid (if its the same medicine). I don't know anything about the mail order pharmacy.
Originally Posted By beamerdog There are also a lot of drugs that are made in Europe. I understand that some of those made in southern Europe are cheaper than those in England. I would imagine that the mail-order places would go for the cheapest. And China may not be making all of the generics.
Originally Posted By Mr X Seems like a dangerous game to be playing. Is it LEGAL to have prescription drugs mailed to you from abroad? What is legal in one country can be illegal in another...and what I mean by that is, do you really want to take the chance that some substance you really can't know the contents of gets mailed to your home? And even if THAT works out, do you really trust that you're getting the proper medication? (I'm talking about fraud here, and of course the chances are slim..but still...) If you buy if from a pharmacy in the states, and a mistake is made (it happens), you have some recourse available. If from abroad, I would imagine you might not. Just something to consider. Anyway, be sure and make sure it's a legit company, and legal in both countries and all of that. If all of that is kosher, I say "go for it". BUT, certainly please do lots of research and know all the risks involved (health risks as well as legal ones!). Good luck!
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy Have you asked your doctor about alternatives to the drug you have been prescribed? For example, Lipitor is the leading cholesterol medication without a generic alternative. However, there are a half-dozen other cholesterol medications in the same class as Lipitor that do offer generics. The difference between these drugs is not large. It's about the same as choosing Tylenol vs. Motrin. The active drug ingredient is different but you get the same effect.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 This thread is really interesting. DH and I are now both on cholesterol meds and boy howdy are they $$$. We have an HSA instead of a "regular" insurance policy so we pay the Blue Cross rates but we pay the full amount. Both are over $100 for 30 pills. My sister swears by her mail in meds. I believe it's through Blue Cross or Blue Shield. I keep meaning to go to the Blue Cross website and check it out. We get our meds at Longs and sometimes they do say DR REDDY (not the cholesterol meds.) I always think that is strange and mean to ask about it. Maybe it's pre packaged? Sport Goofy, I never thought to ask the Dr. for a generic. I'm usually one of the sheep that just does what the Dr. says. Thanks for the heads up.
