For 15 weeks, we tracked prices among U.S. and foreign pharmacies on popular drugs manufactured in in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Our analysis found that these medications were an average 76% less expensive from the lowest-cost PharmacyChecker.com-approved international pharmacy than a local U.S. pharmacy in New York City. Even when medications were available as generics, such as Singluair and Urocit-K, the prices for the brand name abroad were cheaper than the generic in the U.S.
Just for the record, prescription drugs manufactured under government regulation in many other countries are just as safe as those made here. Critics of international online pharmacies (mostly people connected to drug companies or big chain pharmacy interests) often mention poor foreign manufacturing practices, especially for generic drugs, outside the U.S. to scare Americans from ordering medication internationally. But so many FDA-approved drugs currently sold in U.S. pharmacies are imported – 40% according to the FDA – and many are generics. As our vice president Gabriel Levitt said, “We looked only at brand name medications manufactured in the U.S., not because they’re any safer than those made elsewhere, but because we found it so compelling that the same drugs made here are about 76% less expensive abroad.”
For more information, read our recent press release.
Average Savings Buying from an International Online Pharmacy for Brand Name Medications Manufactured in America*
| Drug | Local U.S. Pharmacy Price | Lowest International PharmacyChecker.com Listed Price | Percent Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acuvail 0.45% – 30 vials+ | $249 | $65 | 74% |
| Cardura XL 4 mg – 90 pills | $285 | $67 | 76% |
| Crestor 40 mg – 90 pills+ | $680 | $140 | 79% |
| Cymbalta 60 mg – 90 pills+ | $879 | $116 | 87% |
| Invega 6 mg – 90 pills | $1,932 | $580 | 70% |
| Janumet 50/500 mg – 180 pills+ | $1,050 | $172 | 84% |
| Lotemax 0.5% – 5 ml | $188 | $30 | 84% |
| Lumigan 0.03% – 2.5 ml | $114 | $22 | 81% |
| Pataday 0.2% – 2.5 ml | $161 | $34 | 79% |
| Pulmicort 0.25 mg/2ml – 60 respules | $698 | $117 | 83% |
| Restasis 0.05% – 60 Vials | $394 | $116 | 71% |
| Singulair Granules 4 mg – 90 pills+ | $732 | $176 | 76% |
| Strattera 25 mg – 90 caps+ | $828 | $311 | 63% |
| Tarceva 100 mg – 30 pills | $6,531 | $1,949 | 70% |
| Urocit-K 10 meq – 90 pills++ | $146 | $57 | 61% |
| Average Savings | 76% |
+price calculated from 84 pills.
++price calculated from 100 pills.
I can purchase my name brand meds cheaper online, without insurance than at CVS or Walgreens with it!
Same here.
Jeff, thanks for letting us know. I hope PharmacyChecker.com has been helpful!
Yes, much cheaper abroad, and insulin users, once out of the doughnut hole, out of sight with outrageous pricing for Novolog and Lantus flex pens. Also can't use other pharmacies because Humana has a preferred plan with Wal Mart, which should be illegal!!
If the pharmacy is an out of network pharmacy, it will be the highest cost, as they do not accept the plan at all; however, most pharmacies will be at least a standard pharmacy, i.e., accepts the plan, with standard copays. A preferred pharmacy accepts the plan, but with lower copays. Another preferred pharmacy will usually have the same copays, but there are variations between preferred pharmacies. If you have Medicare, and a Part D plan, you can cross check estimated copays using the Drug Plan Finder at Medicare.gov before heading to the pharmacy.
I can buy a 90 day supply of Multaq (180 tablets) through Canada for about $180 delivered. They are usually shipped from England but sometimes from another country.
My Medicare intermediary says they pay from about $1,299 to around $2,000 for the same RX. Also, they won’t pay any part of my cost because foreign drugs are not covered. Their high “COST” seriously affects my ultimate drug costs because the high cost moves me very quickly into the Medicare Donut Hole.
The interesting thing is that all Multaq tablets are manufactured in France!
does someone know where band Dilantin is manufactured?
Hi Jerry — It appears to be made in New York https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/search.cfm?labeltype=all&query=DILANTIN
no factory there
is it safe to buy Januvia from Canada?
Yes, as long as you purchase through credentialed online pharmacies or a licensed brick-and-mortar pharmacy upon travel to Canada. Compare prices among PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacies here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/januvia/?src=drug-suggest&sort=cost_per_unit