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Prescription for Trouble?
She's a 70-year-old grandmother and retired hospital social worker who requests anonymity because earlier this year, she committed the first crime in her life: She had drugs smuggled in from Colombia. Not cocaine or marijuana, but Lamisil tablets to treat a stubborn toenail fungus.
"At my local pharmacy, it cost more than $7 a pill -- and I needed a three-month supply," she tells WebMD. "I can't afford that, so I wrote to a friend who lives in Colombia. The same prescription that cost $440 at the Target pharmacy cost $180 down there. And when she mailed it to me, it came in the same bottle that my pharmacist had.
"It's a sin what they're doing to us here," she says with a sigh.
That "sin" is the inability to cover the cost of their prescription drugs in the U.S., prompting growing numbers of Americans -- and in particular, seniors like her -- to get their medications outside of our borders.
Canada is the most popular destination, where many brand-name prescription drugs cost up to 80% less than in America -- and from where this suburban Philadelphia granny now gets her TriCor, a medication to lower triglyceride levels.
"I have a PPO drug plan, but it only covers generics. If I need a brand-name drug, I have to pay for it out-of-pocket. Neither Lamisil nor TriCor has a generic equivalent covered by my insurance. And TriCor costs half as much in Canada as it costs here -- almost $100 less per prescription."
She recently learned of the Canadian pharmacy from a friend, who buys her own prescription drugs there at the advice of her son -- a doctor. Both mail their prescriptions northward and the drugs are mailed back to them. "I took it to my doctor after getting it and he said it was the same drug that is manufactured and sold here."
And that's why, technically, she's a criminal: Federal law prohibits the "reimport" of U.S. drugs by anyone other than the manufacturer.
The authorities aren't about to arrest her -- officials acknowledge this is illegal activity but say they won't act on individual citizens who are securing prescription drugs for their personal use. However, there is concern about growing numbers of these "border buys," which especially came to light in 2003.
Concerns About Safety
"Our specific concern is that we don't know what consumers are getting, like we do when products are purchased from state-licensed pharmacies in the U.S.," says Thomas McGinnis, PharmD, FDA director of pharmacy affairs. "If you're going to order medications from outside the U.S., you may get the same thing as what's at your local pharmacy, but you may not. It's a 'buyer beware' situation. We're concerned about the safety of these drugs."
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Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
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