Is it safe to buy prescriptions from Canada?

In this article:

• Why buy medicine in Canada?
• Is it safe?
• Online ordering
• The bottom line

In this article

• Why buy medicine in Canada?
• Is it safe?
• Online ordering
• The bottom line

It’s no secret that prescription drugs cost more on average in the U.S. than anywhere else in the developed world. In fact, a 2018 study found that, on average, Americans pay more than two-and-a-half times as much for prescription drugs as citizens of 32 other countries. If you’re looking across borders for affordable medications, Canada seems like an obvious choice. But is it really cheaper to get prescription drugs from our northern neighbor, and is it safe and legal to do so?

RELATED: See our best drug prices

Why buy medicine in Canada?

The most obvious reason to buy prescription medications from Canada is cost. Unlike the U.S., Canada regulates the prices of prescription drugs, resulting in much lower average drug costs to consumers.

“The major difference in Canada is we have regulations around pricing that are mandated when a drug gets approved,” says Mina Tadrous, Ph.D., an assistant professor in pharmacy at the University of Toronto and an investigator with the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network. “More specifically, prices are regulated through the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB).”

Overview of the PMPRB

Created in 1987, the PMPRB arose out of concern that patent protections for new drugs could lead to a significant increase in price, making the drugs inaccessible to consumers. A quasi-judicial body, the PMPRB has a regulatory mandate to “prevent pharmaceutical patentees from charging consumers excessive prices.” 

USA vs. Canadian prices 

As a result, American drug prices are, on average, 218% more than their Canadian counterparts—despite the fact that, in most cases, there are no differences between the products. “Canadian drugs are often produced or sourced by the exact same companies in the same factories,” Tadrous explains.

Is buying prescription drugs in Canada safe?

If you purchase brand-name or generic prescription drugs from Canada legally, there’s little reason to worry about safety. Usually, the meds will be the same ones you would get from U.S. pharmacies, and they’ll be just as rigorously tested for safety as they would be in the U.S.

Legality and safety assurance

“We have a regulator called Health Canada, similar to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which works to ensure the safety of our drugs,” Tadrous says. Still, there are some things you should keep in mind to make sure you’re getting the right medications at the right dosages, and you should always check with your primary care provider before purchasing any drugs from Canada in person, online, or by mail order.

Precautions to consider

“There are some potential risks associated with purchasing drugs in Canada, such as counterfeit or expired medications or incorrect dosages,” says Kellie K. Middleton, MD, an Atlanta-based orthopedic surgeon. “I recommend consulting a physician to discuss their medical history and current medications before ordering drugs from Canada, and then researching the Canadian pharmacy to make sure it is adequately licensed and regulated.”

To make sure you’re purchasing medication from licensed pharmacies, make sure they’re accredited by a regulatory body, such as the Canadian International Pharmacy Association for Canadian-based operations (CIPA).

Prescriptions requirements

For the most part, if drugs require prescriptions in the U.S., they’re only available by prescription in Canada, as well. A U.S. prescription refill does not transfer to a Canadian pharmacy. Instead, fulfillment centers require a prescription from an authorized Canadian practitioner, but American doctors can call or fax prescriptions to Canadian pharmacies to be filled through a process called “cosigning.” Through this process, a Canadian healthcare provider reviews the U.S.-provided prescription and the patient’s medical history, and, if the prescription is approved, it is reissued as a Canadian prescription. 

Cosigning is different from the usual process of prescribing a medication and sending it directly to the pharmacy to have it filled. However, most patients shouldn’t see a difference in the process for buying their prescription from a Canadian pharmacy. Some providers in the U.S. may have established relationships in Canada already and can handle the ordering process for you.

Can you order prescriptions from Canada online?

It is generally illegal to import drugs into the United States for personal use if they are not FDA-approved. However, the FDA allows customers to order medications from Canadian online pharmacies and have them shipped to the U.S. under the same guidelines that regulate bringing drugs across the border. That means that you will need a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, and the drugs must be approved for use in the U.S. 

Importation may be allowed under the following specific conditions on a discretionary basis:

• Non-serious conditions with no significant health risk, such as over-the-counter (OTC) products.
• Serious conditions where effective treatment is not available domestically.
• No known commercialization of the product in the U.S.
• The product poses no unreasonable risk.
• The consumer must confirm in writing that the product is for personal use.
• Quantity is limited to a three-month supply, with documentation from a U.S. licensed doctor or proof of prior foreign treatment.

There are also several state-level importation programs that may allow the online purchase of medications from Canada. Florida has conditional FDA approval to import certain medications in bulk from Canada for Medicaid, inmate, and public health patients with conditions like HIV, diabetes, and asthma, but this does not apply to individuals. Other states, including Colorado, Maine, and New Hampshire, are considering similar programs, but face legal and logistical challenges.

As far as safety is concerned, whether the online pharmacy is American or Canadian, the FDA warns that there are many unsafe online pharmacies and has the following suggestions. 

Beware of pharmacy websites that:

• Do not require a prescription.
• Are not licensed.
• Do not have a licensed pharmacist on staff to answer your questions.
• Send medicine that looks different from what you receive at your usual drug store, or arrives in packaging that is broken, damaged, in a foreign language, has no expiration date, or is expired.
• Offer deep discounts or prices that seem too good to be true.
• Charge you for products you never ordered or received.
• Do not provide clear written protections for your personal and financial information, including credit card numbers.
• Sell your information to other websites.

Safe, high-quality online pharmacies should always be licensed by the proper authorities in their country of origin, require a valid prescription, provide a physical address and telephone number, and have a licensed pharmacist on staff to answer your questions.

The bottom line

If you want the best prices, ordering prescription medications from Canada is a great option. The federal laws around drug pricing keep costs low and make Canada one of the best options for purchasing medications abroad. Remember to review the FDA regulations and ensure that you are selecting a licensed and credible pharmacy when looking for the lowest prices.