{"id":57629,"date":"2023-03-22T09:30:12","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T13:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=57629"},"modified":"2025-10-28T10:49:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T14:49:26","slug":"ordering-medications-from-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ordering-medications-from-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to buy prescriptions from Canada?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s 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\u2019re 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?<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: See our best drug prices<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Why buy medicine in Canada?<\/span><\/h2>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe major difference in Canada is we have regulations around pricing that are mandated when a drug gets approved,\u201d 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. \u201cMore specifically, prices are regulated through the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Overview of the PMPRB<\/span><\/h3>\n

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 \u201cprevent pharmaceutical patentees from charging consumers excessive prices.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

USA vs. Canadian prices\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

As a result, American drug prices are, on average, 218% more than their Canadian counterparts\u2014despite the fact that, in most cases, there are no differences between the products. <\/span>\u201cCanadian drugs are often produced or sourced by the exact same companies in the same factories,\u201d Tadrous explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is buying prescription drugs in Canada safe?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you purchase brand-name or generic prescription drugs from Canada legally, there\u2019s little reason to worry about safety. Usually, the meds will be the same ones you would get from U.S. pharmacies, and they\u2019ll be just as rigorously tested for safety as they would be in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

Legality and safety assurance<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cWe have a regulator called Health Canada, similar to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which works to ensure the safety of our drugs,\u201d Tadrous says. Still, there are some things you should keep in mind to make sure you\u2019re 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Precautions to consider<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cThere are some potential risks associated with purchasing drugs in Canada, such as counterfeit or expired medications or incorrect dosages,\u201d says <\/span>Kellie K. Middleton, MD<\/span><\/a>, an Atlanta-based orthopedic surgeon. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To make sure you\u2019re purchasing medication from licensed pharmacies, make sure they\u2019re accredited by a regulatory body, such as the <\/span>Canadian International Pharmacy Association for Canadian-based operations (CIPA)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prescriptions requirements<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the most part, if drugs require prescriptions in the U.S., they\u2019re 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 \u201ccosigning.\u201d Through this process, a Canadian healthcare provider reviews the U.S.-provided prescription and the patient\u2019s medical history, and, if the prescription is approved, it is reissued as a Canadian prescription.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019t 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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