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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Katie Rose on March 16, 2002, at 21:37:24
I live in the US and would like to buy Alertec (Provigil) from Canada because I've read on this site that the price is better there. My insurance doesn't cover it. Does anybody know of a Canadian pharmacy that would mail Alertec to me? Also, I would like to find the lowest price.
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 16, 2002, at 23:34:07
In reply to Finding Provigil/Alertec Online, Best Price, posted by Katie Rose on March 16, 2002, at 21:37:24
If you have a prescription for Provigil it would about the same price to buy it at walgreens and pay the outrageous regular US price of $5 per pill (200 mg). By the time you add in the mandatory $19 for Fedex shipping from Canada you won't save much. Also, I believe they only sell Alertec in the 100 mg strength.
Not only that but since Provigil/Alertec/Modafinil is a schedule IV controlled substance it could be confiscated at the border by U.S. Customs. (Because of increased border security since 9/11 this is much more likely to happen these days).
The laws on importation of prescription drugs vary. If you go to Mexico in person you are only allowed to be back 50 units of each single controlled medication, but can bring back multiple medications, even schedule II's without a valid prescription, BUT you must declare them upon entry- otherwise you could land in a heap of trouble: (source- US Customs & Border Patrol internet sites & personal experience). These laws were a big suprise to me, but apparently are politically motivated: old people (who vote more than any other group) can go to Mexico to buy cheaper prescription drugs.
HOWEVER, Once you enter US State soil, if you are in possession of a controlled prescription drug without a valid US prescription in your possession you could be arrested on the way home by the state or local police (if they searched you or your car).By mail, I believe you can legally import up to 3 months of NON-SCHEDULED medication. Importing scheduled medication (such as Alertec/Modafinil is illegal without a US prescription). If you attempt to import scheduled medication, it may be confiscated- (Drug sniffing dogs sniff out more than 300,000 pills in the mail each year- mostly benzos). You would then receive a letter from US Customs saying that they are keeping your Alertec until you come down to the US Customs office in person, show them your valid U.S. prescription, & claim it.
I would tell you the name of the canadian pharmacy I found Alertec on, but Dr. God, sorry I mean Dr. Bob does not allow the subjects of his regime to talk about such things (illegal). If you do, you get sent to solitary confinement in the dungeon for 1 to 2 weeks.
Cheers,
3 Beer Effect
Posted by Katie Rose on March 17, 2002, at 4:04:15
In reply to Drug importation laws; re: not worth time/hassle, posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 16, 2002, at 23:34:07
> If you have a prescription for Provigil it would about the same price to buy it at walgreens and pay the outrageous regular US price of $5 per pill (200 mg). By the time you add in the mandatory $19 for Fedex shipping from Canada you won't save much. Also, I believe they only sell Alertec in the 100 mg strength.
>
> Not only that but since Provigil/Alertec/Modafinil is a schedule IV controlled substance it could be confiscated at the border by U.S. Customs. (Because of increased border security since 9/11 this is much more likely to happen these days).
>
> The laws on importation of prescription drugs vary. If you go to Mexico in person you are only allowed to be back 50 units of each single controlled medication, but can bring back multiple medications, even schedule II's without a valid prescription, BUT you must declare them upon entry- otherwise you could land in a heap of trouble: (source- US Customs & Border Patrol internet sites & personal experience). These laws were a big suprise to me, but apparently are politically motivated: old people (who vote more than any other group) can go to Mexico to buy cheaper prescription drugs.
> HOWEVER, Once you enter US State soil, if you are in possession of a controlled prescription drug without a valid US prescription in your possession you could be arrested on the way home by the state or local police (if they searched you or your car).
>
> By mail, I believe you can legally import up to 3 months of NON-SCHEDULED medication. Importing scheduled medication (such as Alertec/Modafinil is illegal without a US prescription). If you attempt to import scheduled medication, it may be confiscated- (Drug sniffing dogs sniff out more than 300,000 pills in the mail each year- mostly benzos). You would then receive a letter from US Customs saying that they are keeping your Alertec until you come down to the US Customs office in person, show them your valid U.S. prescription, & claim it.
>
> I would tell you the name of the canadian pharmacy I found Alertec on, but Dr. God, sorry I mean Dr. Bob does not allow the subjects of his regime to talk about such things (illegal). If you do, you get sent to solitary confinement in the dungeon for 1 to 2 weeks.
>
> Cheers,
> 3 Beer Effect
Thank you for your reply. Yes! I do have a valid US prescription from an American doctor. I've been buying Provigil here in the US, but just as you said, it's costing me a pretty penney! Hmmm ... I wonder if and/or when they will ever lower the price.Sorry about that pharmacy question. Thanks for letting me know that I should not ask about that. I really didn't know ... honest! Sorry folks.
Take care,
Katie Rose
Posted by IsoM on March 17, 2002, at 14:41:41
In reply to Re: Drug importation laws; re: not worth time/hassle, posted by Katie Rose on March 17, 2002, at 4:04:15
Katie, I don't know where you live in the States, but I live in Canada only 10 miles from the US border. It's fairly common for Americans living nearby to come to our pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, cheaper, of course. They seem to have no trouble crossing back with their meds, & I asked, & they don't need to hide them either. Mail-order may be entirely different.
Posted by christophre jmc on March 18, 2002, at 2:04:22
In reply to Re: Drug importation laws; re: not worth time/hassle » Katie Rose, posted by IsoM on March 17, 2002, at 14:41:41
Does anyone know if it's possible to get meds that are unavailable in the USA from Canadian drugstores (with a _USA_ prescription)? I know there are some internet services that allow this, but I wonder if I can just take a 20m drive and get something filled locally.Has anyone ever seen a Canadian pdoc while living in the USA? Is it at all possible that insurance would cover that? (My insurance has covered ER visits and prescriptions when I have needed them in Canada.)
Cheers,
Chris
Posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 2:23:06
In reply to Re: prescriptions from the great white north, posted by christophre jmc on March 18, 2002, at 2:04:22
Tell you what. I'll check with my pharmacist tomorrow & post an answer for you back here.
Posted by christophre jmc on March 18, 2002, at 16:01:57
In reply to Re: prescriptions from the great white north » christophre jmc, posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 2:23:06
Posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 17:08:11
In reply to Re: prescriptions from the great white north, posted by christophre jmc on March 18, 2002, at 2:04:22
Chris, I did some phoning about instead of leaving the house - it's snowing like crazy here & this isn't part of the great white north!!! This is Canada's "banana belt", we should be having spring, the flowers are all up.
Anyway, it's possible to see a doctor in Canada if you're American. Your insurance may cover the costs but you need to pay the clinic & they'll give you a receipt that you take back to get reimbursement from your insurance company.
You can also get prescriptions from a Canadian pharmacy but you need to have the prescription written by a Canadian doctor to have it filled. The pharmacist I talked to said they don't fill American doctors' prescriptions. She's not my regular pharmacist so when I see him, I'll double-check. If he tells me different, I'll post back & let you know. If I don't post back with a different story, then this one stands.
Posted by christophrejmc on March 18, 2002, at 22:53:47
In reply to Canadian doctors and prescriptions for Americans » christophre jmc, posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 17:08:11
Wow, You rock! Thanks a lot for going to all that trouble.
Too bad the Canadian docs I know have all moved to America :[.
Posted by IsoM on March 19, 2002, at 13:23:49
In reply to Re: Canadian doctors and prescriptions for Americans » IsoM, posted by christophrejmc on March 18, 2002, at 22:53:47
Cris, I'm supposed to get a prescription refilled today but when I woke this morning, even more snow had fallen. And the weatherman said it would change to rain through the night - hah! There's almost a foot of wet, sticky, impossible-to-drive-in snow everywhere. On the weather report last night, it was said that over 120 previous records for cold have been broken for the last couple of days.
Posted by Katie Rose on March 19, 2002, at 14:55:03
In reply to Re: Drug importation laws; re: not worth time/hassle » Katie Rose, posted by IsoM on March 17, 2002, at 14:41:41
> Katie, I don't know where you live in the States, but I live in Canada only 10 miles from the US border. It's fairly common for Americans living nearby to come to our pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, cheaper, of course. They seem to have no trouble crossing back with their meds, & I asked, & they don't need to hide them either. Mail-order may be entirely different.
Hi. Thanks for your post. My problem is that I don't live TOO far from the border, but far enough to where it would be a difficult thing to do. Well, I guess if I decide to stay on this med. long term, I could try to set up a car pool trip with a friend and turn it into a mini-vacation!
Hope you have a good day.
Katie Rose
Posted by IsoM on March 19, 2002, at 15:04:10
In reply to Re: Drug importation laws; re: not worth time/hassle, posted by Katie Rose on March 19, 2002, at 14:55:03
I'm going to check with my regualr pharmacist, but the one that was on the day I did check, said that the prescriptions that are filled for Americans, are ones that are made out by Canadian doctors. I'll doublecheck that later with my reg pharmacist.
This is the end of the thread.
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