Freakin Canada...

[WVUPharm2007]

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I waltz into a Rexall and see what they sell without a prescription:

...could you imagine the hell pediatricians would raise if parents could just waltz into CVS and pick this up rather than pay that $20 copay and have their insurance billed for another $50? Man, I wish I could live here... I really do.

I could eat poutine every now and then.

 

[npage148]

Plus with codeine and robaxin OTC I have no idea how the ER's stay open

 

[Digsbe]

Don't pharmacists in Canada also have wider prescriptive authority?

 

[BenJammin]

Tylenol #1 is OTC there and you can bring some over the border too. 50 pill limit though I believe.

 

[farmadiazepine]

Dude, the U.S. is probably one of the most regulated countries in the world regarding medications. Why are albuterol inhalers Rx only? Why is Plan B not available to everyone? Why is Zovirax cream Rx only? Why is Atarax Rx only? Why is Protonix, Dexilant, Nexium Rx only while Prevacid and Prilosec are OTC? Why is Robitussin with Codeine Rx only but comes in a package for OTC use? Why is Zofran Rx only?

In India I was able to go to the pharmacy, and get any medication I wanted. I stocked up on everything I wanted.

And every where else in the world its the same thing, most of the drugs I mentioned are OTC. A patient has a cold sore, they go to the store and pick up Zovirax cream. Because its common sense. It's only here in America, the land of ridiculous, dumb law suits, that everything is Rx only.

Thats why I think America is one of the stupidest countries in the world. It doesn't matter how many smart, intelligent, genius people we produce, it's just that we are so incredibly outnumbered by idiots. The idiots are the majority. That's why we have people suing McDonald's because they are fat.

There are so many common sense medications, like the ones that I mentioned, that are Rx only in this county.

You have pink eye, you know you have pink eye. You have pus, crusties, redness, only in one eye. You need antibiotic eye drops. It's safe. Why is is Rx in America? I don't freaking know. Why is it OTC in every other country outside the US? Because every other country knows how to raise more intelligent people than we do.

 

[BenJammin]

Why is Robitussin with Codeine Rx only but comes in a package for OTC use?

What?

 

[Mosep]

Thats why I think America is one of the stupidest countries in the world. It doesn't matter how many smart, intelligent, genius people we produce, it's just that we are so incredibly outnumbered by idiots. The idiots are the majority. That's why we have people suing McDonald's because they are fat.

I have a feeling it has more to do with the lobbying power of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare industries than the intelligence of the average American.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Why is Robitussin with Codeine Rx only but comes in a package for OTC use?

You can buy it OTC in some states. West Virginia is one of these.

 

[npage148]

In India I was able to go to the pharmacy, and get any medication I wanted. I stocked up on everything I wanted.

I'm pretty sure India is not the best example of proper gov't regulation.

I think overall that is OTC vs legend in the US is not too bad. There's some weird things but it's ok in general. If you understood how it worked a company needs to submit an application to move a drug from legend to OTC. Nothing is stopping Astra from moving nexium OTC expect for market research

The idea of OTC ABX or zofran is an pretty horrible idea. Eye drops for pink eye ok. Z-packs not.

 

[Praziquantel86]

I'm pretty sure India is not the best example of proper gov't regulation.

I think overall that is OTC vs legend in the US is not too bad. There's some weird things but it's ok in general. If you understood how it worked a company needs to submit an application to move a drug from legend to OTC. Nothing is stopping Astra from moving nexium OTC expect for market research

The idea of OTC ABX or zofran is an pretty horrible idea. Eye drops for pink eye ok. Z-packs not.

OTC antibiotics are a pretty bad idea...look at all the MDR stuff in India and Greece for proof. Granted, it's not much better in some cities here...

 

[Ackj]

Why is Protonix, Dexilant, Nexium Rx only while Prevacid and Prilosec are OTC?

Nothing is stopping Astra from moving nexium OTC expect for market research

It will move very shortly after the patent expires. Rake in the big insurance money as long as possible, then when the generic comes out and AZ loses that revenue, they'll move it out front.

In India I was able to go to the pharmacy, and get any medication I wanted. I stocked up on everything I wanted.

How did that work with customs? They didn't have a problem with a bunch of pharmaceuticals crossing international borders?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

More gems from Shoppers Drug Mart

Robaxin/Motrin combo pills (lol...wut?) and, what's this, Voltaren gel? That **** costs like 3 figures in the US...$18.99 in Cannuck land. Hilarious how we subsidize everyone else's healthcare. You're welcome, Canada.

Also saw pseudoephedrine OTC preparation...like, you know...on the actual shelf...amazed me. A weird part of me wanted to just buy all of it. At once. Clearly meth hasn't made it up here as badly. Or their DEA isn't as Draconian.

 

[npage148]

I must look like some weird OTC fiend whenever I go to Canada. Robaxin + IBU is my fix but god it's expensive.

 

[owlegrad]

Voltaren is super cheap in Germany as well. I bought several boxes while I was there. Why? Because I could, that's why. 😀

 

[xiphoid2010]

Robaxin/Motrin combo pills (lol...wut?) and, what's this, Voltaren gel? That **** costs like 3 figures in the US...$18.99 in Cannuck land. Hilarious how we subsidize everyone else's healthcare. You're welcome, Canada.

Also saw pseudoephedrine OTC preparation...like, you know...on the actual shelf...amazed me. A weird part of me wanted to just buy all of it. At once. Clearly meth hasn't made it up here as badly. Or their DEA isn't as Draconian.

If you want to see unregulated drug sale, head over to china. Most pharmacists are unlicensed, most pharmacies are just a self proclaimed dude with a 1 room shop. So toss some narcs, antibotics, and if you prefer dried sea horses in the bag. Cheap too! Can't guarentee its the real stuff though.

 

[SomeGuy]

Don't pharmacists in Canada also have wider prescriptive authority?

It's province by province unfortunately. Alberta is on top when it comes to this.
In Ontario, we could just start doing flu vaccines last year, and I think we're still limited to flu vaccines and not any others.

The whole Plan B kerfuffle in the US is funny to watch. We're one step away from having it sold in gas stations.

Funny enough, when I go to the US, I fill up on OTC omeprazole and 1% hydrocortisone. Naproxen too, but it's OTC here now too. ECASA81 pricing is highway robbery in Canada.

I still think ondansetron should be OTC. Who wants to venture out when they need it?

Don't forget to buy some ketchup chips.

 

[zelman]

Why are albuterol inhalers Rx only? ... Why is Zovirax cream Rx only? Why is Atarax Rx only? Why is Protonix, Dexilant, Nexium Rx only while Prevacid and Prilosec are OTC? Why is Zofran Rx only?...Why is it OTC in every other country outside the US? Because every other country knows how to raise more intelligent people than we do.

Albuterol- because asthmatics who are poorly managed can die. This forces some level of MD interaction.

Everything else- because the USA market pays to develop new drugs. We spend millions-billions developing the drugs you pick up at the corner store in other countries. They can get Zovirax cream for $10 because 5 gram tubes cost $592.99 here. How can we afford that? We can't. But our insurance companies can. And as long as drug companies can sell something Rx only, they will. Because once it's OTC, they have to price it for an OTC market.

 

[rph3664]

You can get just about anything in Mexico too. My sister lives in San Diego, and my dad takes orders before he goes for a visit, no matter how many times I tell him that's really not a very good idea.

The first time I visited her there, I met up with her at a beachfront condo south of Tijuana, and two of her friends considered stocking up on the OTC birth control pills. 😱 I told them not to.

 

[cjb56]

It's province by province unfortunately. Alberta is on top when it comes to this.
In Ontario, we could just start doing flu vaccines last year, and I think we're still limited to flu vaccines and not any others.

The whole Plan B kerfuffle in the US is funny to watch. We're one step away from having it sold in gas stations.

Funny enough, when I go to the US, I fill up on OTC omeprazole and 1% hydrocortisone. Naproxen too, but it's OTC here now too. ECASA81 pricing is highway robbery in Canada.

I still think ondansetron should be OTC. Who wants to venture out when they need it?

Don't forget to buy some ketchup chips.

The controversy is more about parental rights, than anything. You're either your kids' legal voice until they are 18, or you're not. That line has been blurred in many areas.

 

[fewaopi]

If you want to see unregulated drug sale, head over to china. Most pharmacists are unlicensed, most pharmacies are just a self proclaimed dude with a 1 room shop. So toss some narcs, antibotics, and if you prefer dried sea horses in the bag. Cheap too! Can't guarentee its the real stuff though.

Have you been to China yourself and confirmed this? I've browsed through some pharmacies in China, (Beijing and Shanghai) and they seemed legit to me. They have different brand and generic names and drugs probably not available in the US but in other countries too, (we have drugs they don't have as well). I do remember clearly that they have drugs made by Big Pharma and with all the proper labeling etc. All were adequately staffed as well. Not all but some had traditional chinese medicine items next to western medicine drugs.
Also, drugs weren't cheap there for sure. I was surprised how comparable some of the prices are. Overall, slightly cheaper than the States but for the average Chinese it's very very expensive.
Of course I couldn't investigate the quality of the drugs, whether it's really manufactured or they're all just fake boxes, with fake medicines, but I think it's really hard to cheat thousands of people and getting away with it. Hmm well maybe not idk. Do you have personal experience or concrete evidence that pharmacy in China is like the wild west?
Maybe you're right but the image you painted didn't exactly match with what I saw.

 

[xiphoid2010]

Have you been to China yourself and confirmed this? I've browsed through some pharmacies in China, (Beijing and Shanghai) and they seemed legit to me. They have different brand and generic names and drugs probably not available in the US but in other countries too, (we have drugs they don't have as well). I do remember clearly that they have drugs made by Big Pharma and with all the proper labeling etc. All were adequately staffed as well. Not all but some had traditional chinese medicine items next to western medicine drugs.
Also, drugs weren't cheap there for sure. I was surprised how comparable some of the prices are. Overall, slightly cheaper than the States but for the average Chinese it's very very expensive.
Of course I couldn't investigate the quality of the drugs, whether it's really manufactured or they're all just fake boxes, with fake medicines, but I think it's really hard to cheat thousands of people and getting away with it. Hmm well maybe not idk. Do you have personal experience or concrete evidence that pharmacy in China is like the wild west?
Maybe you're right but the image you painted didn't exactly match with what I saw.

I'm from china.

Don't stick to the main straights in Beijing and Shanghai, those are more tightly regulated overly modernized/developed areas, and are indeed more modern than New York and LA. But don't lose the sight that the average chinese today still make about 5000 yuan a month ($900 a month). When you got 1.4 billion people splitting GDP half the size of the US, average people just can't afford to live like that.

P.S when I went back to visit in 06, before starting pharmacy school. My relative there was telling me the typical pharmacist pay was about 3000 yuan a month, not good at all, but then again, if you don't need a license to work as one then...😳

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

I'm from china.

Don't stick to the main straights in Beijing and Shanghai, those are more tightly regulated overly modernized/developed areas, and are indeed more modern than New York and LA. But don't lose the sight that the average chinese today still make about 5000 yuan a month ($900 a month). When you got 1.4 billion people splitting GDP half the size of the US, average people just can't afford to live like that.

P.S when I went back to visit in 06, before starting pharmacy school. My relative there was telling me the typical pharmacist pay was about 3000 yuan a month, not good at all, but then again, if you don't need a license to work as one then...😳

3000 yuan is like 3000 dollars when you factor cost of living... even though the exchange rate is 30 US dollars.

 

[xiphoid2010]

3000 yuan is like 3000 dollars when you factor cost of living... even though the exchange rate is 30 US dollars.

I already roughly factored in PPP (purchasing power parity).

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html

So for the US: GDP per capita is $49.8K (just over $4K/mo), For China is $ 9.1K, that's actually only $758/month.

So while nominally, US GDP is 2x that of China, the two are much closer in PPP terms at about $15.6. tril vs. $12.4 tril. The problem is that China's GDP is spread over 1.35 billion people, vs just 317 million people in the US. Basically chinese on average have to live on 1/6th what an average american has. This is why China adopted the rather draconian 1 child policy to limit population. However looking at the whole picture, when I left china as a child, GDP per capital in PPP term was 1/15th of what they have right now, imagine trying to live on $50/month. It's this rapid rise in standard of living that gets the Chinese government its popular support, just as Reagan once ask americans "are you better off than you were 4 years ago".