Americans Got Their Medications for 78% Cheaper By Ordering Internationally in 2021

Written by Lucia Mueller | Posted January 17, 2022 | Updated March 21, 2022

Price comparisons of the most searched prescription drugs on Pharmacychecker.com in 2021 showed patients saved an average of 78% off what they would pay at their local U.S. pharmacy by opting to order internationally from accredited websites. PharmacyChecker.com was established in 2003 to help consumers find trustworthy online pharmacies. Eligible pharmacies may apply to the PharmacyChecker Verification Program in which they are verified for licensure and standards of pharmacy practice, and monitored for continued compliance with program standards. Websites authorized to publish the PharmacyChecker Seal market and sell prescription drugs dispensed from licensed pharmacies in good standing in the countries where they are located.

Coming in third among the most sought-after medication on PharmacyChecker.com in 2021, Eliquis (apixaban), a brand-name drug prescribed for the prevention of strokes or blood clots in people who have atrial fibrillation, is incredibly expensive in the United States and currently doesn’t have an FDA-approved generic available in local pharmacies. As a result, Americans are understandably on the lookout for deals on the Internet. And they’ve been successful in doing so: Eliquis is 84% cheaper, on average, if ordered internationally. Additionally, its generic, apixaban, is approved and available from accredited international pharmacies. 

Rifaximin (Brand name: Xifaxan) is an expensive medication prescribed for the treatment of traveler's diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. This generic version of Xifaxan is currently unavailable in the U.S., leaving many patients to play the manufacturer discount coupon game or battle insurer restrictions. Many times, people end up having to pay out-of-pocket. PharmacyChecker data shows that Rifaximin is 98% cheaper, on average, if ordered online from a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy. 

International Pharmacy Prescription Requirements

Patients must have a valid prescription to order medication from PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacies. When a doctor in the United States sends the prescription to an accredited pharmacy in Canada, it is then reviewed by a Canadian physician. Should your pharmacy be based in Turkey, it is the same process but by a Turkish physician. The same goes for New Zealand, India, the UK, and so on. Based on that review, which includes the patient’s medical information, a new prescription is written. This practice is often referred to as “cosigning.” The PharmacyChecker Verification Program views the cosigning process as an additional review of the patient's health profile by a licensed practitioner to determine the suitability of the recommended treatment.

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Price Comparisons of the Most Searched Medications on PharmacyChecker.com in 2021

  Drug Name Average International Price (Countries) Average Canadian Pharmacy Price Average U.S. Retail Price How Much International Mail Order Saves Patients
1 Ivermectin 3mg $2.08 per unit (Australia, Canada, Mauritius, New Zealand, United Kingdom) N/A $5.95 per unit 65.04%
2 Tadalafil 20mg $3.92 per unit (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $10.48 per unit $44.37 per unit 91.17%
3 Eliquis 5mg $1.56 per unit (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $2.26 per unit $9.90 per unit 84.24%
4 Xarelto 20mg $2.53 per unit (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $3.62 per unit $19.60 per unit 87.09%
5 Sildenafil 100mg $3.17 per unit (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $8.63 per unit $39.46 per unit 91.97%
6 Hydroxychloroquine 200mg $0.51 per unit (Canada, India, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $0.66 per unit $2.46 per unit 79.27%
7 Jardiance 25mg $2.07 per unit (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $3.50 per unit $18.33 per unit 88.71%
8 Rifaximin 550mg $1.02 per unit (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom) N/A $56.30 per unit 98.19%
9 Januvia 100mg $2.10 per unit (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $4.35 per unit $20.13 per unit 89.57%
10 Myrbetriq 50mg $2.22 per unit (India, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $2.99 per unit $17.04 86.97%
11 Apoquel 16mg $3.00 per unit (India, Turkey, United Kingdom) N/A N/A N/A
12 Vardenafil 20mg $3.87 per unit (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $13.21 per unit $44.91 per unit 91.38%
13 Pimobendan 5mg $1.15 per unit (Australia, Canada, Mauritius, New Zealand, United Kingdom) N/A $1.80 per unit 36.11%
14 Stromectol 3mg $9.88 per unit (Australia, Canada, Mauritius, New Zealand, United Kingdom)   $11.04 per unit $5.92 per unit Cheaper in the United States. Download This U.S. Pharmacy Discount Card
15 Premarin Vaginal Cream 0.625mg $113.74 per 30 gram tube (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom) $80.95 per 30 gram tube $409.19 per 30 gram tube 72.20%
16 Domperidone 10mg $0.51 per unit (Canada)   $0.30 per unit N/A N/A
17 Symbicort Inhaler 160/4.5mcg $2.45 per dose (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom) N/A $3.02 per dose 18.87%
18 Rybelsus 7mg $8.83 per unit (Canada, India, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $10.04 per unit 33.56 per unit 73.69%
19 Trelegy Ellipta 100/62.5/25 (95/55/22) mcg $2.26 per blister (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom) N/A $11.33 per blister 80.05%
20 Janumet 50/1000mg $1.05 per unit (Australia, Canada, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom)   $2.17 per unit $10.29 per unit 89.80%

Sources: These are the top 20 most-searched medications on PharmacyChecker.com in 2021. Price Information was collected on January 17, 2022. All international pricing is from data published on PharmacyChecker.com. Average U.S. Retail Price calculated using data published on GoodRx.com.

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