With insulin prices skyrocketing, no wonder the diabetic community is taking to social media to network and share their experiences as they swap tips and tricks not only for moral support, but also financial.
This month, we received an interesting consumer comment via our Facebook page asking if we knew that Americans are driving to Canada to buy insulin without a prescription. Well, no. As our primary focus is mail-order pharmacy, it wasn’t on our radar. Nevertheless, it sparked our interest and we’d like to share our findings with the PharmacyChecker community.
After calling 20 pharmacies across Canada (specifically in the following cities: Québec City, Toronto, Alberta, Victoria, Winnipeg and Regina) the answer is clear: Americans can obtain insulin without a prescription in Canada. All pharmacists that I called reported—rather matter-of-factly—that you do not need a prescription for any insulin product, which would include Lantus Solostar, Humalog and Levemir. We specifically talked about Lantus Solostar, a popular, long-acting insulin. The price in Canada for a three-month supply of Lantus Solostar (3 ml) is currently around $447.00 while the average retail price in the U.S. is a staggering $1,160.39. Apparently, they practice what they preach: all patients—including Americans—do not need a prescription to obtain insulin in Canada. While a prescription is not needed, the drugs are available only from the pharmacist and must be retained within an area of the pharmacy where there is no public access and no opportunity for patient self-selection (also known in the U.S. as Behind the Counter (BTC).
There are some important nuances about insulin sales in Canada that might interest you. To start, insulin is not on the Health Canada Prescription Drug List. Health Canada—the regulatory agency in Canada that is comparable to the FDA in the United States—lists insulin as a Schedule II drug. The word “schedule” in the U.S. is used to identify those medications associated with greater potential for addiction, such as Ambien or Vicodin (a prescription opiate) and other controlled substnaces. The lexicon is confusingly different in Canada and important to explain here! In Canada, Schedule II drugs, while not as strictly regulated, do still require professional intervention from the pharmacist at the point of sale and possibly a referral to a practitioner. Click here for the drug schedules regulations in British Columbia.
And did you know that when you’re crossing the border, the U.S. Customs Border Patrol (CBP) is not allowed to stop the importation of FDA-approved medication from Canada for personal use – even though it’s technically prohibited? See: Public Law 115-31. Now you know!
Something to keep in mind for those Americans ordering medications from Canada (or from any other country) through a PharmacyChecker-verified online pharmacy: you must have a prescription if a prescription is required in the United States even if one is not required elsewhere!
So, in practice, insulin products can be sold in Canada without a prescription after consultation with a pharmacist. Sound great? It is! Nevertheless, be sure to give that friendly Canadian pharmacist a call to make sure they can help you before filling up your tank for that road trip to Toronto.
Can you please reference the specific section in the new public law 115-31 so I can read the actual language that was used regarding the importation of FDA approved medications for personal use? I am having difficulty finding it in this lengthy appropriations legislation…and a “search” brings up nothing. I assist individuals in the US with the processing of their valid prescriptions with licensed, credentialed overseas mail order pharmacies and am anxious to know of any changes to current law regarding these practices. Thank you!
See Title II – Section 206: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/244/text.
open the link to the written language. Press Control and F at the same time. This will open a box in which you can type prescription drug. It will highlight those two words everywhere they are in the document. If you go down 3 or 4 highlights of those words you will come to the personal use rule that you are looking for.
Sec. 206. None <> of the funds made available in this Act for U.S. Customs and
Border Protection may be used to prevent an individual not in the
business of importing a prescription drug (within the meaning of section
801(g) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) from importing a
prescription drug from Canada that complies with the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act: Provided, <> That this section
shall apply only to individuals transporting on their person a personal-
use quantity of the prescription drug, not to exceed a 90-day supply:
Provided further, That the prescription drug may not be–
(1) a controlled substance, as defined in section 102 of the
Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802); or
(2) a biological product, as defined in section 351 of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262).
————————————————————————————————
So be ready to hit the road every 3 moth anyway.
Looking to purchase Lantus Solostar 100 Unit/ML for my cat and am low income with no insurance coverage for this . can you help me or know where I can purchase at low cost?
Hi Armenda — I encourage you to speak with your veterinarian about alternatives that could prove cheaper. We don’t have local pricing for this exact medication on PharmacyChecker.com, but you could find luck on Chewy.com. Lantus is generally very expensive so consulting your vet about cheaper alternatives is ultimately the best plan of action here.
Can I buy Toujeo Insulin from a Canadian mail order Pharmacy and have it shipped to US? Which Pharmacy is lowest cost, do I need an RX? How quickly can I do this, if it is possible?
Cheers,
Paul
Hi Paul– Please follow this link to PharmacyChecker reviewed and approved online pharmacies that sell Toujeo 300 u/ml https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/toujeo/300+u&252ml/
Shipment details depend on the pharmacy.
Can I order Toujeo insulin and Humalog solostar and have it sent to me an do I need a prescription…?
PharmacyChecker.com is not a pharmacy. We verify international online pharmacies for your safety when shopping for meds online. You must have a prescription to buy insulin through a PharmacyChecker-verified Canadian online pharmacy. Many of our pharmacies have chosen not to sell insulin given PharmacyChecker.com’s strict policies on shipping temperature-sensitive medications. We hope Canadian pharmacies will supply insulin to U.S. customers with a valid prescription in the near future.
There is the problem. Insulin was officially OTC (Over The Counter) in Canada, and shipped to me in the United States WITHOUT A Prescription in years past. TODAY, insulin will still be shipped to the U.S., but the Canadian pharmacies are now REQUIRING a prescription from a U.S. doctor be included with any order, even though insulin itself is NON-PRESCRIPTION (in BOTH Canada and the U.S.).
In summary, Life-sustaining insulin that I simply ordered and had shipped previously as a person with Type 1 diabetes is now REFUSED to be supplied unless a PRESCRIPTION is provided.
It appears that enough influence has been used to change the policies of Canadian insulin suppliers to make obtaining insulin more difficult for the patient.
I can travel to Canada, walk into a pharmacy, buy insulin, and bring it back to the United States, all without a prescription, but it will NOT be shipped to me unless I have a prescription. A perfect Catch-22 situation.
This is why people in the U.S. are now refilling pen cartridges themselves from cheaper vials (you can find the procedure with a web search).
To buy online pharmacies in Canada required no presc5iption in 2007to 2009. All you needed to know was the brand and dosage. You pay by credit c a rd online and they ship it to your home after 4 weeks. Via postal mail.
Hmm I….cross the border alot in the past. I never have to declare my meds . I just leave them in my bag. They don’t search your stuff when a citizen. They are to know length of stay. When you fly.?all is emptied and search through.
When someone mail it it has to be declared. The difference.
I hope this helps.. Canadaonlinepharmacy was a site from within canada don’t know if its closed. I hope this helps Alitalia. I bought antibiotics.
Do u sell Delgudec-liraglutide (Xultophy) 100/3.6 ? If so how much is 5 pens ? I use 5 pens a month 50 units.
Hi Tammie — PharmacyChecker does not sell medication; we are not a pharmacy. PharmacyChecker-accredited Canadian and other international online pharmacies do not list prices for this product. If you live in the U.S., enter your ZIP Code to find discount prices in your area. https://www.pharmacychecker.com/xultophy+100-3.6
I have the same question that Paul Solomon have can I buy Toujeo insulin from Canada
I use 80. Units per day of Toujeo
How much is a 90supply to send to Illinois
There are currently no PharmacyChecker-verified pharmacies shipping refrigerated products internationally to patients in the U.S. We hope Canadian pharmacies will supply refrigerated medications, such as insulin, to U.S. customers with a valid prescription in the near future.
If I have a prescription for a friend and buy the insulin for them OTC in Canada is it illegal for me to bring it back into Texas?
I’m not sure they would honor the prescription/request without your friend being present. Additionally, according to the FDA, it’s not legal for you to import medicine for your own use under most circumstances. However, individuals are not prosecuted for doing so. I don’t know if that enforcement discretion would apply to a person bringing back a medication for a friend. It’s worth noting that, despite the law, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is not allowed to stop a person crossing the from Canada from importing FDA-approved medication for personal use. But, in your case, it’s not for your personal use–it’s for a friend.
I had the same question that Paul Solomon have can I buy Toujeo insulin from Canada mail order to US?
I am in desperate need of Humalog or Novolog. Can I order from Canada and ship to the US?
Hi Dona–Check out price comparisons for Humalog among verified international online pharmacies here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/listing.asp?Search=1&criteria_1=Humalog&x=22&y=22 Here’s a link for Novolog: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/listing.asp?Search=1&criteria_1=NovoLog&x=22&y=22 You can order Novolog and/or Humalog to ship to the U.S. through any of these online pharmacies.
apparently PharmacyChecker does not list any pharmacies which sell either Humalog or Novolog
There are currently no PharmacyChecker-verified pharmacies shipping insulin to patients in the U.S. We hope Canadian pharmacies will supply insulin to U.S. customers with a valid prescription in the near future.
Insulin is a temperature-sensitive medication and requires cold chain management during shipment. To best guarantee safe shipment, pharmacies in the PharmacyChecker Verification Program must ensure that shipments of insulin are not exposed to temperatures below 2 degrees or above 8 degrees Celsius. That requires very fast delivery times. Unfortunately, it is not clear whether major private mail couriers with the capability for overnight delivery, such as Federal Express and UPS, will ship insulin and other medical products from pharmacies in Canada to people in the U.S. Allowing Canadian pharmacies to do so would enable them to meet PharmacyChecker’s standard for shipping products, such as insulin.
For more information, please see our blog post: https://pharmacycheckerblog.com/buying-insulin-canada-safety-standards
Mark’s Marine Pharmacy will ship in a temperature controlled manner
I need to buy 7 vials of humalog insulin. what will it cost to buy it from canada
Hi Thomas, We recommend you call a pharmacy in Canada to check pricing before driving there to buy your Humalog. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=rexall+drugs+canada There are currently no PharmacyChecker-verified pharmacies shipping refrigerated products internationally to patients in the U.S. https://www.pharmacychecker.com/humalog/
We want to purchase Humilin R ( regular ) 100 ml in cartridges with a pen that will administer 1/2 units. Only vials found in the US. Can you advise of a pharmacy in Canada that can ship to us in Texas US? Thanks!
Hi Wendy– You can compare prices for Humulin among verified online pharmacies here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/humulin+r+cartridges/100+u&252ml/ Just click the logo of the pharmacy of interest and order through their website. You must have a prescription.
Hello,
Just to share my experience, For past 3 months i have driven to Canada across the border 3 times and bought Humalog – KwikPen for my mom. The price in US is north of 400 even with insurance. In canada I pay approx $70 for exact same thing. On my third trip to same pharmacy they (diff pharmacist) asked me for prescription. I advised them my mom had run out of insulin and needed temporary supply (which is the reason i had been giving them on all my previous trips) until she got to doctors again. I have not told them explicitly i am from US. I fear they will not sell it to me. However the pharmacists told me that they have no dosage record in their system and while she has the authority to dispense and sell insulin, its a liability for them and said i need to get Doc prescription next time. I dont know if this was just this particular pharmcist who took this stance or its common practice. What i plan to do is purchase insulin through a online Canadian pharmacy using US prescription and have it shipped to a Canadian address. I can just drive over one weekend and pick it up from my friends place. Is that possible? Any reputable online Canadian pharmacy?
Hi Jason–Thanks for your story. I did suspect that the practice of Canadian pharmacists selling insulin to Americans without a prescription would vary from pharmacist to pharmacist. If you order through a Canadian online pharmacy verified by PharmacyChecker, you must provide a prescription and address from the same country. So if you live in the United States, you must get a prescription from your U.S. doc and provide a U.S. address to send the medication. You can find reputable online pharmacies here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/online-pharmacy-ratings.asp Compare prices for Humalog Kwikpen: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/listing.asp?Search=1&criteria_1=humalog&x=0&y=0
Im almost 68 years old. I use humalog (10u) and lantus solostar(50u). Im almost in the top to cover my Medicine and my health insurance can’t cover for it. Those medication gere tge prices i can’t afford vecause is too high. I was looking for where i can buy it cheaper. economically its what i only can do to help myself. I need you tell me how much vials i need for 3 month and hiw much i need to pay yo. I can give a medical order from my doctor. I hope you can answer my doubts. Thanks a lot.
Hi Edith- PharmacyChecker.com is not a pharmacy. We verify online pharmacies to ensure your safety when shopping for meds online. Compare prices among international online pharmacies for Humalog here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/humalog/100+unit&252ml/ for Lantus Solostar here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/lantus+solostar/3+ml/
I use to buy insulin with global pharmacy plus in Canada
They don’t sell anymore insulin
I use to buy Humulog and lantus
Use I can buy with guy
Let me know
Hi Ivana! Here is a list of the best online pharmacies with the lowest drug prices that meet critical safety standards to protect patient health when buying medication online: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/online-pharmacy-ratings.asp We suggest using one of these pharmacies.
I’m getting conflicting messages when researching this issue. I’ve read – and it directly states – that buying online from US to Canada (with prescription) is ILLEGAL. Yet going across the border to buy insulin with or without a prescription is fine and no problems at customs. The basic question is the buying online from US to Canada (with prescription). Legal or Illegal???
Thanks
Hi Sheilagh – There are laws that may technically forbid you from importing a genuine, safe and effective medication for personal use that you should know about – but it’s important to know that people in the U.S. are not prosecuted for doing so. Millions do so each year. Read more here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/us-pharmacy-regulations.asp
I couldn’t care less about any idiotic regulations that the US to protect big Pharm profits on whether it is legal or not.
However,I do want know how insulin is shipped from Canada to the U.S. bring that insulin needs to be refrigerated.. How is the insulin kept cool during shipping?
Thanks,
Jon
Hi Jon, Please check out our recent post that details our insulin refrigeration policy: https://pharmacycheckerblog.com/buying-insulin-canada-safety-standards
I amusing Novolog 70/30 Flex Pen. Can I have this shipped to me in Virginia? Can you supply some Pharmacy names and phone numbers so I may call? Thanks.
I have contacted THREE pharmacies here in Quebec asking for lantus without a prescription and they have all refused me or say that I need to consult a QUEBEC dr. So what do I need to do. I am in desperate need of Lantus for my diabetes.
Hi Lisa, Which pharmacies did you consult? Are you currently residing in Quebec?
There are cheaper long acting insulins than lantus. There are also much cheaper insulins than Novolog or humalog if you’re willing to adapt to a short acting insulin(30min – 5hrs)like humilin R. Novel of/humalog are fast acting(15 min – 2hrs) U should talk to a doctor but if you’re smart about managing your own insulin, it’s a simple adaptation. US price list for research here: https://m.goodrx.com/insulins
how would someone get started with getting prescriptions of lantus – novalog or generic brands of insulin I can not afford my insulin and i am taking large quantities of insulin can use some help
Hi Daniel, We recommend you speak with your doctor concerning obtaining a prescription for insulin or changing your prescription for insulin. You can use this card to save money on most medications available at your local U.S. pharmacies. The PharmacyChecker Discount Card provides Americans with significant discounts at all major chains and most independent pharmacies nationwide: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/prescription-discount-card/
I can get you insulin from CANADA for half the price you pay in USA
Insulin lispro is not a Schedule II drug in the US, It’s not a scheduled drug and only Rx in the US. To be a Schedule II drug the drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. None of these apply.
Hi David, Health Canada—the regulatory agency in Canada that is comparable to the FDA in the United States—lists insulin as a Schedule II drug. The word “schedule” in the U.S. is used to identify those medications associated with greater potential for addiction, such as Ambien or Vicodin (a prescription opiate) and other controlled substnaces. The lexicon is confusingly different in Canada and important to explain here! In Canada, Schedule II drugs, while not as strictly regulated, do still require professional intervention from the pharmacist at the point of sale and possibly a referral to a practitioner.
I am in need of Toujeo Solostar 300 Unit/Mlinj and will have to start purchasing from Canada as we can’t afford the cost here in Illinois. What is the closest pharmacy to the Toronto airport? We can fly standby the same day in and out of Toronto and we would take a cab to the nearest pharmacy.
Hi Eleanor– It looks like you have several options. I recommend calling a few pharmacies beforehand. https://www.google.com/maps/search/pharmacy+near+Toronto+Airport-Terminal+1+(Ground+Level),+Mississauga,+ON,+Canada/@43.6986073,-79.7075679,12z/data=!3m1!4b1
I am in the US. Do I have to go to Canada to sell insulin pens? Lantus and Novolog
Hi Chase– This blog post is only speaking to the topic of buying affordable insulin in Canada. Without more detail, I’m unsure what your inquiry is about.
I am looking into travelling to Canada from Southeast US to buy inexpensive insulin for families here who have trouble affording it. Do you know of any regulations that would stop me from doing this? I understand that there is a regulation about personal use. I do not plan to sell the medicine, just give it to the families as a gift or at the Canadian purchase price. Would it help if I were to establish a 501c3?
Hi Fatback –
Yes, there are laws against importation of prescription drugs and other medical products that would make your proposed non-profit initiative technically illegal – and could lead to enforcement actions against you. That’s because you propose redistributing the imported insulin, instead of importing it for your own use, which, as this blog post discusses, is not something a person gets into trouble for.
Regarding the formation of a 501c3: the law would remain prohibitive of your proposed idea but I recommend reaching out to the diabetes patient community to explore the idea. There was an article published about this issue a while back: https://khn.org/news/false-lead-senators-offer-to-help-patient-import-cheap-insulin-goes-nowhere/.
Thanks for reaching out.
Gabe