Americans may be concerned by recent reports in the media about the safety of medications made in India (e.g., the New York Times article “Medicines in India Set off Safety Worries”). Problems with Indian drugs should be neither overlooked nor overstated. In this post we try to put this into perspective for American consumers who purchase Indian medication at their local pharmacies, whether they are aware it’s from India or not, or directly from an Indian pharmacy by ordering online.
Over the past decade, prescription medicine made in India has been sold in large quantities in U.S. pharmacies. Today, according to the FDA, Indian medications make up about 33% of all prescriptions filled here. In fact, Walmart’s ability to offer a $4 generic drug program was initially due to importing and selling medicines from the Indian drug companies Ranbaxy and Cipla. However, last year Ranbaxy was found to be making false claims to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and exporting medications to the United States that did not comply with FDA’s regulations. The FDA fined Ranbaxy $500 million and banned importation of its products made in India.
It’s important to note that well-known brand name pharmaceutical companies, based in the U.S. and other rich countries, also have serious manufacturing problems. GlaxoSmithKline was fined $750 million for knowingly selling adulterated prescription medication that ended up in local U.S. pharmacies. In 2010, Eli Lilly was sent a warning letter from the FDA for violations of good manufacturing practices. Those are two examples of many.
The FDA’s discovery of more problems at Indian manufacturing plants is not necessarily due to new health risks associated with Indian drugs. In the past, the FDA could not afford to conduct regular inspections of many, if not most, foreign drug manufacturing facilities. Greater funding under a new law has enabled more FDA scrutiny of Indian drug companies, which has led to increasing regulatory enforcement by FDA. A major problem is that the Indian counterpart to the FDA, the Central Drug Standard Control Organization, needs to do a better job regulating drug safety. In fact, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg recently travelled to India to engage her counterparts in a plan to improve regulatory oversight of drug manufacturers. We applaud her initiatives with India.
Another issue in India is that some Indian manufacturers make less quality, lower cost medicines for sale to poorer countries and to poorer segments of the population within India. This two-tier system is sad but true.
So where does that leave you as a consumer?
Notwithstanding the greater scrutiny by FDA in India, Indian medications sold to Americans are generally of high quality, whether purchased at a U.S. pharmacy or from a PharmacyChecker-approved online pharmacy dispensing from India. To be approved within the PharmacyChecker.com program, an Indian pharmacy must only dispense medications manufactured in plants which are 1) approved by FDA or by other strong regulatory authorities such as those in Canada and the UK; 2) operated by the largest and best Indian drug manufacturers who are known to most consistently sell high quality medication; or 3) approved by Indian regulators and inspected by qualified American personnel to meet FDA standards of Good Manufacturing Practices. In addition, every Indian pharmacy approved by PharmacyChecker.com has been inspected by an American pharmacist with special expertise in international mail-order pharmacy safety, and its pharmacy license has been verified with regulatory authorities in India.
As we’ve written before, international online pharmacies are not just “Canadian pharmacies.” Most of the reputable ones originated in Canada but are now partnered with pharmacies in several countries, including India. Other verified and safe international pharmacies are located in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. There are even pharmacies created specifically for international mail-order pharmacy services on island nations. The ones approved in the PharmacyChecker.com Verification Program meet very high standards.
Where you order from should be based on the best information available and we strive to provide it. India has become the top supplier of generic medications worldwide but not all their medications are created equal.
I ordered online some generic Prozac called Fluoxitine. It up is 10 mg and I am now worried it might not be good. What can I do to ensure it is good medicine? I sure saved money but don’t want to get sick.
The key is that the medication was dispensed from a licensed pharmacy.From what website did you order?
Also, if you’re in the U.S, you should know that Fluoxetine is usually very inexpensive at local pharmacies. You can search local U.S. pharmacy prices available with a free prescription discount card here: http://www.pharmacychecker.com/generic/price-comparison/fluoxetine/10+mg/. In the top right, click Search U.S. Local Pharmacy Pricing. Then enter your zip code.
You might just call your local pharmacy first to check its price.
I am getting generic atorvastatin from CVS Pharmacy in Elgin Il is it safe?
Hi Carol – CVS Pharmacy is the largest pharmacy chain in the United States. It is a licensed pharmacy that is accredited through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. See: https://www.cvs.com/content/accreditation
This is all a bunch of BS. US gold-digging pharmacies are encountering competition from India due to the same drugs being sold at ridiculously cheaper prices than in America. If these guys can’t get it right, then stop complaining. Instead of bi*ch*ng about other countries’ business practices, reform your own policies to stay in competition or increase your Defense budget and go attack some other poor innocent countries that can’t defend themselves you gold digging machiavellian narcissistic gutter rats and pigs.
Is India Mart aka Litex pharmaceuticals Private Limited, a safe supplier of Wegovy? Is this a legitimate pharmacy to order Wegovy to be shipped to Texas, USA?
Hello, I need a reputable pharmacy selling approved Cipro. I suffer from I.C. which has no cure or effective treatment plan and is always complicated by recurrent urinary track infections caused by E.Coli. I need a trusted over seas pharmacy. Thank you.
Hi Laura – Please know buying antibiotics online, such as Cipro, without a prescription presents dangers in the form of counterfeit drugs and other health risks associated with taking a prescription medication while not being under the care of a provider. I’m not sure why you would need an overseas pharmacy in terms of price. Cipro is available as a generic, called Ciprofloxacin, which can usually be found very affordably at local pharmacies. We did recently blog about a study that tested generic Cipro ordered online, from U.S. pharmacies and international pharmacies. Verified online pharmacies tested in the study had a perfect record except one U.S. pharmacy and one international pharmacy that sold a slightly subpotent Indian-made generic. This product is also available at local U.S. pharmacies, according to the study. Online pharmacies that are not verified by PharmacyChecker.com or other verification organizations were far more likely to send a lower quality medication. So overall, stick to verified sites.
If you want brand name CIPRO, you can compare drug prices here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/cipro-prices.
I am looking for best price on Eliquis and am concerned buying from India. Should I be?
Hi Sharon,
PharmacyChecker has verified and inspected all Indian pharmacies in our verification program. I can reassure you that they sell lawfully-manufactured Eliquis. You can compare Eliquis price comparisons among verified online pharmacies here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/eliquis-prices.
I bought Eliquis 5mg by Pfizer from a Canadian online pharmacy and it was shipped out of India. When it arrived I compared its ingredients to those for the same Eliquis 5 mg (by Bristol Myers Squibb) my doctor gave me free samples of. The ingredients were exactly the same so I am not worried at all.
I am looking for 5mg Cialis or its generic equivalent. How do I find a reputable manufacturer?
Hi David, Price comparisons for Cialis 5mg can be found here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/cialis/5+mg/
Hi My brother lives in Cuba and He needs Vesanoid – Tretinoin, 10mg for his PML, this is a serious disease, and this medicine is unavailable there. I live in USA and this drugs price here is unreachable. How do I find a reputable manufacturer?
Juan, You can compare prices among reputable online pharmacies (verified by PharmacyChecker) for Vesanoid by clicking here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/vesanoid/10+mg/
Can I get Telma 40 mg tablets in USA ? It is manufactured in India .Please let me know. Where I will get the same please let me know to buy the same.Thanking Dr.Ramesh.V.
Hi Dr. Ramesh.V. — You can compare the Telmisartan 40 mg prices among PharmacyChecker-verified online pharmacies here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/telmisartan/
Hi Juan
I ordered my vesanoid 10mg from medivacinternationaldelhi. very reasonably priced.
Thanks for joining the conversation, Vicky. We recommend you purchase from PharmacyChecker-verified online pharmacies to not only ensure affordability but safety when shopping meds online. View price comparisons on Vesanoid 10 mg here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/vesanoid/10+mg/
Leona Garrison I have COPD with 40percent of good lungs. I need to buy a couple of medications from India. They Xarelto 20 mg also Daxas 500 mpg this is also known as Daliresp. I also need Spiriva Respimat 2.5 microgram. I would certainly appreciate any assistance. Thanks
Hi, Leona- You can compare prices for these drugs among verified international online pharmacies on PharmacyChecker.com.
Xarelto 20 mg: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/xarelto/20+mg/cpp/
Daxas 500 mcg: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/daxas/500+mcg/
Daliresp 500 mcg: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/price-comparison/daliresp/500+mcg/
Spiriva Respimat: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/brand/spiriva+respimat-prices
I have been getting my inhalers from Canada Drug Center for several years, now that they have been shut down where is a safe place to order them? Spiriva (generic) 18 mcg and (Advair) generic 50/250
Hi Carolyn- All pharmacies featured in the following price comparisons are verified and continuously monitored by PharmacyChecker. Spiriva (generic) 18 mcg price comparison: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/generic/price-comparison/tiotropium+bromide/18+mcg/ Advair (generic) 250/50 price comparison: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/generic/price-comparison/fluticasone&252salmeterol/250&25250+mcg/
High quality? From India? Not if its from Sun Pharmecueticals!!! I have been taking Zolpidem ER 12.5 mg nightly for years for chronic insomnia with wonderful results. I noticed the pills when I refilled my last prescription were completely different. I thought nothing of it at first, but I haven’t had a decent nights sleep in three weeks. I called Walgreens and was told their distributor is now Sun Pharm, and that is all they would be dispensing unless you pay the exorbitant price for brand name Ambien CR. Every single aspect of my life has been impacted by this sugar pill pretending to be medication. Apparently many share my opinion that this companie’s drug DOES NOT WORK!
Where can I buy brand Dilantin ? My insurance stopped covering it.I would like the same one sold in u.s.
You can compare prices for brand name Dilantin among PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacies, here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/dilantin/.
Can I get Indian Blisto 1 MF type 2 tablets in USA
Hi KR– There are US discount prices for Glimepiride type 2 tablets, which you can compare here: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/glimepiride/?sort=cost_per_unit We suggest working with your doctor to determine the medication that is right for you.
I purchase omeprazole which is the generic brand made in India (pill no E69. I have gotten some side affect like headaches and anxiety. Is this do to the medication? Is this normal.
Hi Zoraida– If you are concerned about unwanted side effects, it is best you consult your doctor or clinician. They are the most familiar with your drug therapy.
Hi, I have CLL and need Venclexta but it is prohibitively expensive in Canada.
What is a reputable pharmacy to contact in India.
Try looking if any of these pharmacies list prices for Venclexta: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/accredited-online-pharmacies/
Hello.
Since some of your medications take between 20-30 days to ship, do you offer reminders of when to reorder prescriptions?
Also, does adding tracking create longer shipping times?
Where is the best and safest source for generic Eliquis?
Compare Eliquis prices available at Canadian and international online pharmacies with local U.S. pharmacy coupon prices. The lowest price on PharmacyChecker.com for Eliquis 5 mg is $0.56 per tablet for 168 tablets at PharmacyChecker-accredited online pharmacies.
https://www.pharmacychecker.com/eliquis/?sort=cost_per_unit
Why trust US government with what they say about the safety of meds from India when we can’t believe in any thing the government has to say about anything?
We live in the U.S. and my wife takes escitalopram for anxiety disorder. She does well on escitalopram made by Cipla, but when she takes any made by other manufactureres (like torrent), she experiences bad reactions. Now we’re having trouble finding any Cipla-manufactured escitalopram pills. Is there a way to order them via an Indian pharmacy?