If I remember correctly - or if my old brain even remembers at all .... there was an actual store here to buy drugs from Canada.
I Don't know how it worked - how much it costs - or what the law is (or was - I haven't seen the stores lately ).
My insurance finally kicked in , thank Goodness.

Canadian pharamcies used the Internet to take orders for US citizens. I do not know if this is legal for either the US citizens or the Can pharmacies.

joyfilguy posted: He says that recent rule changes allow Canadian pharmacists to fill prescriptions written by physicians in various out-of-province jurisdictions, including the U.S. But - they must see the person for whom the prescription is to be filled."

Do you have a news link to this? I would like to read it. My Google-Fu seams to be weak and I can't find anything on it.

Bud WI,

Can't give you legal chapter and verse ... just a quote from a licensed Canadian pharmacist.

It must be reasonably legal ... U.S. people have been coming up here by the busload to get their meds here.

ole joyful

This issue was also in the Michael moore movie "Sicko". Americans cross the bridges to go to Canada for medical appointments and prescriptions. I remember a few years ago there was a shortage of flu vaccine in the US. Tour groups took busloads of Americans acrosss at Niagara Falls to get flu shots. Not sure if they did any sight-seeing along the way. Niagara Falls Canada is one of my favorite cities-great views of the falls and loads of good,cheap Italian restaurants.

So let me get this right - as a Canadian tax payer I have been taxed which in part pays for the subsidized medication prices. So if we sell our subsidized medications to out of country visitors we could face possible shortages? Sorry to our US neighbours - I'm sure you feel if you pay for the product you should be able to buy it - to me, you should be charged the extra that my tax dollars subsidize.
Any Canadians - am I wrong on this? I mean if I am - please correct me.

That is basically my question mcpeg. Something does not seem to add up here. I've traveled in Europe and some countries do not allow you to even enter for one day unless you can show health insurance papers to prove that you are completely covered in full.

One time when I was returning from Mexico the US border officals conficated my jars of vitamins and dumped them in the sand right in front of me. Vitamins are expensive. I lost lots of money with their stupid stunt. Apparently the reason is that they did not want Americans to return to the US with medications purchased in Mexico so they take no chances and confiscate anything that looks like a pill. Nothing you can do about it either. That is why I am puzzled about hearing that Americans can just run up to Canada by the busload and purchase things like that. I have heard of people traveling to Mexico for dental work and surgery because of the cheaper cost and they do not have any subsidized national health care plan there either.

Just wanted to see a new link or website that explains the rules.

mcpeg, I'm an American and certainly take no offense to your concern and I would agree totally if in your position. That said, I should add that I have problems with all the people coming here for free health care too. People come from Mexico to have children here to be covered by US care at taxpayer expense and to the detriment of other citizens. I don't think that's right. Our state has a more lenient welfare system than many others and we get busloads of people who come in for a weekend to make claims, collect payments and go home. I don't mind helping out, but I don't like being taken advantage of.

The problem of course is the laws of our respective countries and states/provinces. Just like the US is too stupid to tax actors who make millions and have their residency elsewhere, including Canada ;) (Dan Akroyd, Michael J. Fox, Adam Sandler, etc) and pay no taxes here. I don't think that's right either. But we have a dyslexic dimwit in the, well, I won't get into politics, not appropriate. But I do think you are justifiably concerned about it and I for one, share your dissatisfaction, and you needn't be sorry for feeling that way.

Hi McPeg,

My understanding is that as the government-connected health system buys a lot of drugs from the companies for their use, they have negotiated a lower price for the drugs, and that price is what is charged throughout the general system, including for those who pay for their own.

ole joyful

Thanks Ole Joyful
'the government-connected health system' is still funded by my tax dollars. The negotiation is done with my tax dollars on my behalf as a Canadian. So if, let's say, US residents buy our medications and use our doctors - we lose medical appointment spaces and our stock of medication to the US.
Still don't like this at all. And I am sure the US would not like us using up their stock either.

Most of the people in my area have stopped going to Canada due to the many new drug plans avaiable here in the US. Yes, I was one of those did go to Canada to get my flu shot when there was a shortage that one year, but where I went the Canadians did come first, did not have to stand in line and did not have to pay. We stood in line and paid, but had a wonderful shopping trip, and met so many nice people.
At one time the pharmacies in Canada would only take prescrliptions from Canadian Dr's and only after they had proof they had been to that Dr.
But now, I don't think anyone here is going North, South to Mexico, but not north.
But then I would trust the Canadians much more than our southern neighbors.

IT is still illegal for a US citizen to purchase a prescription medication out of country and bring it back to the US. It is a federal offense and is punishable, however good luck finding anyone actually prosecuted for this.

Its only a matter of time before Canadian citizens put a stop to it, as described about (they are taxed for their care, but we are not taxed for the same medicine since we are US citizens). My suggestion: get more active at stopping direct to consumer advertising for prescription meds, which drug companies spend billions of dollars on, which in turn drives our prices up to compensate. Write your senators. (www.stopdrugads.org)

I firmly believe the ads on TV are leading to over medicating the US (this coming from a Pharmacist at that!). Heartburn? Ask your doctor we can fix that. Restless legs? Ask your doctor, we can fix that. Headaches? Allergy? Nail fungus. I realize it is a starting point for talking with your practitioners about your ailments, but walking in and asking in the context of a medication almost always ends in a prescription to make the patient happy- whether its appropriate or not.

Hi pharmer 25,

Some of my acquaintances can be something of a pain in the butt at times.

Do you have medication for that ... for them? Or would it be for me?

If we put a pill into our mouth for a pain in the head ... what would be the procedure for a pain in the other end?

I've heard that some consider me sort of along the same lines, also. Maybe there should be some meds for both of us.

Funny, isn't it, how we find it so difficult to self-evaluate reasonably objectively?

Have the drug companies figured a crutch that can help with that, that you've heard of?

They have something for almost everything else.

Hope you're having a great week.

ole joyful

Maybe some info here that some may find useful but hadn't seen it before.

ole joyful