I order Drixoral for my bosses wife from Canamerica. It was prescription in the states (i think), but no prescription was needed to order through their site.

About 10 years ago, our dog (at that time) was getting chemotherapy treatment under the care of a veterinary oncologist. Several (maybe all?) of the chemo drugs were human drugs given at a reduced dosage (that's common for cancer treatment of dogs, maybe cats too but i don't know). None were cheap but a few were VERY expensive.

The oncologist gave us a prescription for and a referral to a specific source in Canada that she trusted because of past dealings with them over a number of years. It worked fine for that specific circumstance.

I'm not sure I would buy something for myself or a pet from an unknown source, whether in the US or Canada or anywhere else. I understand that's what you're really asking about, I can't help you because I don't remember the name and don't have access to it any longer. Sorry.

I asked a pharmacist I know ~~ her advice, it isn't safe anymore. To many places opened & are not trustworthy. She lives several states away so there was no gain for her either way.

Yes, the market has been flooded with "pharmacies." But I think there must be a few that have maintained their standards, and I'm hoping to find one.

I read that Customs officials decided to use "enforcement discretion" in transactions involving a 3-month supply or smaller. I just found a couple of websites consumers can use to make sure their online pharmacy is reliable.

I have been ordering from Canamerica for over ten years. That doesn't prove they're impeccable, but they have been around for a long time.

I am Canadian and I wouldn't order prescription drugs online for my husband, our dog or me - supposedly from Canada or elsewhere.

Re the 3 month issue. We live in Ontario. My husband has 2 eye drop prescriptions but due to the preservative in them they are good for one month only once opened. My husband is only able to order his prescriptions through our brick and mortar pharmacy one month at a time - and only 10 days before the month runs out.

Other drugs that are not limited in use (e.g. sinus meds that you take for 6 days generally are prescribed with no refills and only the one box of 6 can be ordered).

Ongoing meds that people are allowed to take daily or every other day can be ordered only based on a 3 month max (and only within 10 days of the 3 month expiry period). A pill that I used to take daily has been changed to every other day, so my prescription amount has been altered to reflect this change - basically I am able to buy only 1/2 the amount every 3 months. The dispensing fee is the same regardless if someone buys one pill or 100.

I tried to google Canamerica - it is not available from our geographical location - of course, we are in Canada.

I am against being able to buy drugs from abroad that require a prescription in the country in which it is being purchased.

There are so many online "pharmacies" now - it would be very difficult to know exactly what you are getting. I would hate to find out the hard way that the drugs are not as described.

The one I buy from has a representative located in the US who I deal with.

We had a discussion here last year about drugs sourced from China and India. It's a difficult situation, and it's not a simple one. Don't think all good drugs are made in the U.S. and anything coming from China is bad. It's much more complicated than that. Here's a sentence from an article that appeared in the New York Times:

The crucial ingredients for nearly all antibiotics, steroids and many other lifesaving drugs are now made exclusively in China.

I believe companies that sell drugs into the US are subject to some level of FDA registration and scrutiny. I'm sure it's not enough whatever it is. Internet sellers can skirt this rule, that's part of where the danger lies.

I think the biggest gripe with "Canadian pharmacies" online is that many of them aren't Canadian at all and sell mail order from Third World countries lacking any form of regulation. The percentage of shipments of phony or dangerous drugs, drugs that don't conform to what was prescribed or ordered, is very high, it's a big risk. Not only because many have been found with toxic and dangerous contents, but also that many don't contain the substances the patient wants or needs to take.

Everyone can do Google searches, here's an article from Consumer Reports from last year. They advise against internet pharmacy purchases from foreign sellers and explain why:

Per Consumer Reports, avoid foreign online drug sellers

Thanks, Elmer. The reason Consumer Reports gives is that the vast majority of online "pharmacies" are not legitimate. I'm sure that's true. There are, however, resources one can use to verify if a given pharmacy is accredited. Consumer Reports estimates 1.9 million Americans buy medications online. I would hope the system is working for a good many of them.

I don't think the numbers offer any support, you know that. There are probably the same number or more of people who regularly use heroin and cocaine, there's no comfort in that. There are 50 million or more Americans who dispute evolution and think the world is 10,000 years old. Same thing, choosing to ignore a more likely truth is a wrong choice all the same, no matter how many are in the same boat.

The association the article recommends looking for to confirm bona fides includes only mainstream companies like CVS,
Walgreens, Aetna, etc., no surprise. You're not going to find any pure internet
sellers on it. Please be careful.

I get your point, Elmer, but I don't think your analogies make sense, at least as far as relating to what I said. What I meant was if 1.9 million Americans buy their meds online, surely a good many of them (or their doctors) would have noticed if the meds aren't working.

The danger is real, not speculative, and the odds are overwhelmingly unfavorable. For me, if something appears to be an unnecessarily risky or dangerous choice compared to alternatives, the numbers who do it are meaningless and any potential benefit doesn't matter if it's disproportionate to the risk. That's certainly the case for this choice in my mind. You're free to look at it however it makes sense to you, I just wanted to share my thoughts.

The odds are certainly overwhelmingly unfavorable if one just blindly chooses an Internet seller. And the odds might not be so great even when one does the research, as I am attempting to do. It's a calculated risk, I know.

Is the medication you're looking for significantly cheaper in real Canada? Would it be feasible and financially worthwhile for you to cross the border, see a local doctor, and then stop in a pharmacy on your way home to get your prescription filled?

Significantly cheaper in Canada? Yes.

Feasible and financially worthwhile? No.

I would find out who regulates pharmacies in Canada to locate those that are certified as legitimate. I don't know the legal process for them there but here is one organization that might have a list of accredited providers or at least be able to direct you to that information.

http://www.nabp.net/about

I have saved considerably by ordering meds through reputable online vet pharmacies in the States. I make sure they are accredited. The vets were not concerned and filled the prescriptions.

Thanks, Snook. If anyone is interested, an elder law website recommended

https://www.cipa.com/

for verifying Canadian online pharmacies. Only 64 websites carry CIPA's seal.