PharmacyChecker Blog

Helping Americans Get The Truth About Prescription Drug Savings
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American Made, Cheaper Abroad: Acuvail


A weekly series identifying prescription drugs manufactured in America and their prices.

Acuvail (ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solution) is an anti-inflammatory used to treat pain and inflammation following cataract surgery. Acuvail is manufactured in the U.S. by Allergan, but its price is much lower in other countries. It costs $249.99 for 30 single-use vials at a Rite-Aid in New York City. From a verified international online pharmacy, 30 vials costs only $65. That’s a 74% savings!

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More Fake DEA Scams Linked with Rogue Online Pharmacies

The dangers of “rogue” international online pharmacies that sell fake or substandard medication go beyond just those affecting your health. Rogues are also known for playing loose with your personal information, including fraudulently charging your credit card or even selling the information to other scammers.

The DEA has issued a press release warning about criminals impersonating DEA special agents in an attempt to extort Americans who may have purchased medication from disreputable websites. The scammers, posing as DEA agents, call consumers and inform them that they have committed a crime in their online or telephone purchase of pharmaceuticals, sometimes citing illegal drug importation. The scammer then insists that the consumer pay a “fine” or face criminal prosecution. The reality is that DEA agents will never personally call a person to demand any form of payment. If you receive one of these bogus calls just refuse their demand and report the rogue activity to the DEA.

Keep in mind that the DEA is primarily concerned with controlled substances, such as Ambien and Oxycontin. Any penalties for ordering non-controlled medication would be served by the FDA and the FDA has never prosecuted or fined an individual for personally importing medications.

This scam is nothing new, and is a reminder that Americans looking to purchase medication from international online pharmacies should be aware of the difference between a potentially dangerous pharmacy and a legitimate one. You can view information on how to identify a fake online pharmacy here. Also, keep in mind that reputable international online pharmacies do not sell controlled drugs to Americans.

If you’re looking for a safe, international online pharmacy, one that will only sell you genuine medication and protract your personal and financial information, then stick to PharmacyChecker.com-verified sites. You can view a list of some verified pharmacies on our website.

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American Made, Cheaper Abroad: Lotemax

A weekly series identifying prescription drugs manufactured in America and their prices.

Lotemax (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension) is a prescription-only medication used for the treatment of steroid-responsive inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, and anterior segment of the globe. It is also used to reduce inflammation following ocular surgery. Lotemax is manufactured in the U.S., but its prices are several times more expensive in pharmacies here compared to those in other countries. You can save 84% by ordering it from a verified foreign online pharmacy: one 5 ml vial of Lotemax costs $188 at a Rite-Aid in New York City, but only $30 from a PharmacyChecker.com-approved pharmacy.

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Will Americans Need International Online Pharmacies Under Obamacare?

This past Monday, we reported that average savings from international online pharmacies are now 87% on popular brand name meds, up from 85% a year ago. As Americans gain access to health insurance through state exchanges under Obamacare, which kicked off yesterday, will there still be a need for the international online pharmacy option?

Yes.

It may come as a surprise, but international online pharmacies benefit people with insurance, not just the uninsured. If a plan does not cover a drug, or has a high deductible or co-pay, ordering from abroad may help those on that particular plan. Fortunately, new health plans will help millions of Americans afford needed medication at neighborhood pharmacies, but some will continue to fall through the cracks.

Twenty-one percent of Americans with prescription benefits skipped filling a prescription in 2012 because of high prices, according to the Commonwealth Fund. Therefore, unless drug prices unexpectedly come down in America, we can predict that millions of Americans will still struggle with high drug prices in the U.S., and that many of them will seek relief from international online pharmacies.

There are other reasons that Americans can’t count on Obamacare to improve their access to affordable medication, especially in 2014. Due to a delay in implementing Obamacare’s spending cap of $6,350 a year, insurance plans that use more than one benefits administrator will not be subject to the cap next year. Instead, they will apply the cap to each benefit separately. Thus, Americans choosing an insurance plan that works with an independent pharmacy benefit manager may see one cap for doctor and hospital visits of $6,350 and another cap of $6,350 for medication! See our blog post “Obamacare Out-of-Pocket Cost Delays A Bad Prescription for Consumers” for more information on this topic.

Last but not least, the new plans may leave you with huge out-of-pocket drug costs if you take expensive medications.  A report in the New York Times shows that plans in some states will require patients to pay as much as 50% of a drug’s cost. Depending on the medication, 50% of a drug’s price can be prohibitive for many Americans. The Times article mentions the drug Tecfidera, which costs $4,000 a month; many Americans will struggle to make the initial payments of $2,000 or more before their out-of-pocket limit is reached.

We believe that over time Obamacare will succeed in helping millions of Americans afford medical care, including prescription medication. But the road ahead is a long one and we can’t let tens of millions continue to go without medication in the years to come. Fortunately, the lifeline of safe personal drug importation through verified international online pharmacies is available. If you choose to order from abroad, make sure you only order form a credentialed, verified pharmacy, such as those listed on PharmacyChecker.com.

We will continue to monitor and report on how Obamacare affects drug prices and access by Americans to prescription medication.

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American Made, Cheaper Abroad: Tarceva

Tarceva 150 mg packing

Tarceva 150 mg packaging

A weekly series identifying prescription drugs manufactured in America and their prices.

Tarceva (erlotinib) is a drug used for treatment of certain types of non-small cell lung cancer as well as pancreatic cancer. Cancer medications are known for their excessively high prices, leading to outcries among doctors within the past few years. A product of drug company Roche, Tarceva is manufactured in the U.S.A. and available at much lower prices from verified international online pharmacies than here at home. At a New York City Rite-Aid, it costs $6,531 for 30 pills (100 mg). From a PharmacyChecker.com approved international pharmacy, it’s only $1,949. That’s a $4,582 savings, or 70%.

Check back next week for the savings on another American drug available abroad.

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American Made, Cheaper Abroad: Cardura XL

Cardura XL packaging

Cardura XL packaging

A weekly series identifying prescription drugs manufactured in America and their prices.

Cardura XL (doxazosin mesylate extended release tablets), a product marketed by drug giant Pfizer, is used to treat signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an increase in prostate size. Cardura XL is manufactured in the U.S., but available at a much lower price in foreign pharmacies. At a Rite-Aid in New York City, 30 pills (4 mg) costs $94. The lowest price from a PharmacyChecker.com approved pharmacy is $26. That’s a 72% savings or $816 over one year.

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