If you're burdened with the high cost of your medications, where do you turn? Should you shop in Canada for cheaper medicines or should you get the generic form from your U.S. pharmacy? Savvy shoppers often do a combination of both.
It's no secret that generic medicines can save you money: They cost up to 60 percent less than their brand name counterparts. An estimated 44 percent of all prescriptions in the United States are filled with generic drugs, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
But, you may ask, what is the difference? Do generic drugs undergo the same intensive testing?
Rest assured: Experts say the only major difference between generic and brand-name drugs is the price; generic medications have the same active ingredients and meet the same standards for safety and effectiveness.
A generic drug is less expensive because generic manufacturers don't have the costs associated with developing a new drug. New drugs are produced under patent protection, which gives the company that developed the drug the exclusive right to sell it until the patent expires.
While there is no doubt that generic drugs provide a low-cost alternative, Americans continue to bargain hunt for more options, particularly when shopping for brand name medications.
Because of price controls in other countries such as Canada, a growing number of Americans who are struggling to afford their necessary - and often lifesaving - medications cross the border for more affordable options.
Medications in Canada must meet strict government standards and are just as safe and effective as medications in the United States, says Peter Fiorillo, CEO of RX Processing Corp., a company that gives Americans access to discounted prescription medications from licensed suppliers in the United States and Canada.
What you may not know, however, is that although brand-name prescription drugs in Canada cost an estimated 40 percent less than they do in the United States, generic medications from Canada are actually more expensive, Fiorillo said.
Fiorillo provides these price comparisons: 90 20 mg pills of generic Prozac costs nearly $173 in Canada while the generic version of this antidepressant sells for only $12.37 in the United States for the same dosage and quantity. Ninety 20 mg pills of generic Lisinopril, a drug used to lower blood pressure, sell for $95.26 in Canada and $24.80 in the United States.
Through RX Processing Corp.'s mail-order service, Americans can take advantage of reduced costs on more than 1,500 prescription medications, including FDA-approved generic brands from American suppliers and brand-name medications from licensed international suppliers.
RX Processing Corp. fills its orders over the phone or through its storefronts located throughout the United States. For more information on filling a prescription, visit www.rxprocessingcorp.com or call 1-800-576-7055. - NU |
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