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