BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk

Subject: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:03 PM

We have FINALLY found something that works for my 12-year-old son as far as his allergies and decongestant needs this time of year. I had recently tried Allegra-D and found it controlled my allergies much better than anything else I'd been taking (including smaller doses of Allegra--this is a great combination of time release sudafed and the antihistamine). My doctor gave me a couple of Rx's to see what worked best for me, a once a day Allegra (it is very good) or the 12-hour (also very good).

The 12-hour works so well for my son that I've been giving him mine and switched over to the 24-hour Allegra. Yes, I know the "don't share Rx" dogma, but all of this is OTC in Canada and I can just go buy it for both of us, so I'm not concerned in this instance. And I'm sure I'm not the first parent who has scrimped on their own medication to share with a child. Neither of our insurance plans will pay much for the 24-hour pill, and nothing toward the 12-hour one.

When I made a recent trip to the Northwest I remembered it was OTC in Canada, so I went across the border to purchase a year's supply for him. What would cost me 1.45 a pill in a prescription down here costs .44 a pill OTC in Canada. I didn't load up for myself, though, so I'll be going the Rx route soon for a refill unless I figure out if I can have it mailed to me. I have family in Calgary, but can it be as simple as sending them money and having them mail the medication to me? I told the folks at the U.S. border what I had purchased (10 boxes of Allegra-D) and they didn't even bat an eye. But I was carrying it over, and had purchased it myself.

How have U.S. Mudcatters managed getting Rx type material back from Canada? Is there a limit on the amount to be mailed for personal use? Does it make a difference that this is non-narcotic OTC medicine? I live in Texas now, so though I'd still save enough on a bulk purchase to still experience a savings even with an airline ticket factored in, I would prefer not to have to fly to Canada to make these purchases.

But if I did fly there, should I carry it back or can/should I mail this to myself and my neighbor? I don't mind declaring my purchases, I'm not trying to avoid the duty, I'd still save a great deal even with the duty.

Are there any Canadian Mudcatters participating in this sort of cross-border cost savings arrangement?

Thanks, all!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:16 PM

Tsk, tsk, SRS. You are undercutting the US economy and exposing yourself to the impurities and awful germs that Canadians stir into their drugs and vaccines as part of their nefarious plot the take over the United States. Everyone knows that Canadians are jealous of the US and hold everyone living there personally responsible for the loss of the Franklin Expedition, not to mention the governorship of Ben Franklin, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the Halifax Explosion, and the Meti Uprising -- not to mention the Springhill Mine Disaster. Thus they have, with malice aforethought, induced Americans to poison themselves with medicines tampered with by Canadians (who, by the way, have rendered their own citizens immune with large doses of Labatt and Molson).

If you don't believe this, check it out with the FDA.

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:27 PM

SrS... don't volunteer information to people at the border... -IF- you have a connection to send you over a little bit at a time, just do it... It'll most likely fly under the radar...

Cause I'm pretty sure that moving such stuff in bulk is against some kind of import/export law or other...

But that's just dumb... so go ahead...

and if ya need help, PM me...

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Metchosin
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:39 PM

Hi SRS
Sorry I don't know about the regulations and laws regarding sending antihistimines to the US by mail, but if there is a quota on the number of packages allowed for individual shipments, perhaps you can have more than one person send you some packages and split up the supply. I would gladly send you some from here.

I know some of the frustrations regarding getting a reasonably priced supply of antihistamines as both my husband and eldest daughter have severe allergies and I have been purchasing antihistimanes for years.

What is the formulation of Allegra D? It is sometimes even cheaper to buy a generic drug here of the same formulation rather than the brand name and as a result we now purchase the exact equivalent of Reactine through Canada Superstore here. I think if you are considering a years supply, you might get whoever is sending it to you to check the expirary date, although that is usually not a problem.

We used to have to get Reactin for my daughter by prescription when she was younger, in a bottle of 100 pills, as it wasn't, at one time, available over the counter here. It was oddly, far cheaper that way , despite the dispensing fee. When it became available over the counter, we had to buy it that way and not only did it cost an arm and a leg by comparison, we had all that superfluous packaging to boot, for just a small quantity of pills.

Regardless if I can be of help or not, good luck on your quest.
Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:44 PM

Clinton,

That first trip was with a friend who has bought Rx stuff across the border (she lives 8 blocks south of the International Boundary so does much of her shopping in B.C.), and we decided it wasn't going to be a problem. Telling them I'd bought it wasn't a risk, more of a test balloon. If you don't tell them and they check is when you get into trouble. Bringing back something around $125 (Canadian) in medication isn't a big purchase in the world of pharmaceuticals, but it would have cost me three times that down here.

Anyone have experience with bringing amounts across for personal use? If Canadian Mudcatters (BTW, thanks, Clinton!) are willing to make an extra purchase next time they're in the grocery store and pop it in the mail, that's one way. But to get it all over with in one shot, to purchase enough for six months or a year, is there a trick to it?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:57 PM

"If Canadian Mudcatters (BTW, thanks, Clinton!) are willing to make an extra purchase next time they're in the grocery store and pop it in the mail, that's one way."

That'd be easy, especially if you have a paypal account

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:57 PM

Susan, I don't think Allegra has been reduced to a generic yet. Down here they put Claritin over the counter a year or two ago, but that one doesn't work as well. For me it has a cumulative drowsy effect (and it is still fairly high priced here).

There is a skin lotion that my friend used to get via Rx here that she was asking about when we spoke last night. I'll get the name from her and run it by you, maybe you'll have heard of that as a generic.

Mike, the clerk at Zeller's grinned and asked if I thought I was taking my life in my hands by "buying these tainted Canadian drugs*." This stupid FDA/Bush attitude is clearly a joke up there.

* Just in case any of Ashcroft's cronies are reading this Mudcat thread, this is in no way a conspiricy to do anything illegal.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Metchosin
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:58 PM

Also some of the generic brands are available in 72 pill package size. It wouldn't require many packages to get a years supply. I do know regulations here now require that you declare exactly what is in your parcel on the outside, even if it is a gift.

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 01:00 PM

Silly me and my dyslexia--I couldn't figure out for a moment what the Catholic church had to do with this, needing a papal account!

I haven't set one up, put that is a possibility.

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 01:09 PM

It's easy peasy SrS...

If I can do it, anyone can!

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: dianavan
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 01:28 PM

I'm not sure how it works but my mom gets her thyroid medication from Canada via an e-mail pharmacy. She sends in the prescription, they fill it in Canada and then they send it to her in Arizona. Now she has all her cronies doing it too. They save alot of money and being on a fixed income, it really helps them.

I think there are some problems with this (even from the Canadian side) but it seems to be more about confirming the signature of the physician. If its not prescription, I don't see why the pharmacy can't just send it to you. There may be some 'duty' but I think you will still save money.

Why does Bush allow the pharmaceutical companies to gouge your citizens?

In the long run, I don't think this loop-hole will last because now Canada is afraid of running low on drugs for Canadians. Although with the recent 'flu vaccine' shortage, Canadians have been told that the vaccine given to Americans was never meant for Canadians in the first place - that what the Americans are getting is over and above our needs. What???

d

d

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 02:01 PM

I get prescriptions through Canadapharmacy.com. They actually fill the orders in Washington (the State of.) Depending on what you're getting, the prices can be dramatically less, or just a fair amount less. Add shipping, and for some things, it's probably just as easy to get them at your local (dare I say it) Walmart pharmacy. The process, especially on the first order, is a little slower. You have to mail your prescription to them, and then they have a Doctor review and approve it before the prescription is filled. The whole process takes about a week. I had a problem with the way a prescription was written out (the fault of my Doctor) and they were extremely helpful in resolving it... all with a 1-800 number. Once the prescription is filled the first time, re-filling it moves much faster.

I am not aware of any limitation on orders for prescription medication. If you sent in a forged prescription for 500 bottles of a medication, they might get suspicious..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 02:28 PM

Ummm... folks... This thread isn't about perscription meds...

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 03:16 PM

Dang right, Clinton. I've heard about that legendary BC weed.

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: artbrooks
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 03:19 PM

Allegra-D is fexofenidine HCL plus pseudoephedrine HCL (sudafed).   According to this site, which has a lot of information on it, there is no generic yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Drug purchases in Canada by U.S. folk
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 11:11 PM

But the segue of the discussion to Rx medicines is fine with me--I didn't mean to limit it to the OTC one, but that was my initial question.

By themselves, Allegra isn't that expensive, and Sudafed is darned cheap. But combined, and with the Allegra as a quick release and the sudafed as timed release, it works well. I get too revved up if I try to take a full amount of the regular Sudafed, but one tablet isn't quite enough. My son bounces off of the walls if he gets too much. The one time he had two sudafed tablets, a few hours apart, he couldn't sleep, and came in and woke me up to tell me his heart was racing. This Allegra-D doesn't do that to either of us.

BTW: we have the blessing of his pediatrician to try different antihistamines and decongestants. We tried several he had as samples, and we've tried various over the counter ones. He understands the problem my son has had, and said that whatever we tried, to be patient and give it a little time to see if it would work. This started working right away, which was wonderful. This disclaimer is for Mark Cohen, who might happen to read this thread. :)

A note of caution for some of you thinking of getting Rx's from Canada: Everything isn't always inexpensive in Canada. Find out what the U.S. price is before buying it offshore. The friend I went with last time said she discovered that after the Canadian doctor visit ($45) to get the Rx she needed in Canada for one of her regular meds, it was going to come out costing a lot more--"we get that medicine from the U.S., it isn't made in Canada" was their answer. She went back to her regular Bellingham pharmacy for that one.

SRS