We're driving from DC to Toronto later this spring, and would like to take advantage of the more reasonable prices for prescription drugs in Canada. Shopping around, it seems like I'd save a couple hundred dollars on a 90-day supply of a diabetes medication that I take.

I've been told that we need to get a scrip from an Ontario doctor or walk-in clinic, and should bring a scrip from back home and a bottle of the medication to quicken that process. Otherwise, the drug stores can't sell to us.

So I checked a couple places, and found a walk-in clinic in Niagra Falls that charges $125CAD to see a doc and write a scrip, and one in downtown Toronto that charges $80CAD.

Are there any pharmacies that have a "doc in the box" who can make this a one-stop shop, or does anyone have any suggestions how to expedite this process or save a few dollars in getting the authorization?

Thanks in advance for your help.

The "Real Canadian Superstore" is a chain of large grocery stores that have pharmacies in-store.

https://www.realcanadiansuperstore.ca/

Many locations also have walk-in medical clinics.

https://www.realcanadiansuperstore.ca/medical-clinics

Many of the pharmacies have full doctor's offices inside or literally next door. Rexall and Shoppers Drug Mart are two of the bigger pharmacy brands. A walk in clinic is going to be easy than a family doctor would. Many do not take credit or debit cards, cash or Canadian cheques only, so factor that in as well. Charges vary from walk in to walk in.

Also be aware that many downtown walk ins are there to serve the working population and are closed on weekends.

In addition to the prescription cost itself, you will also have to pay a dispensing fee (not a huge amount, but it is an additional cost on top of the meds cost)

Superstore at Don Mills and Eglinton has a private walk-in clinic downstairs open to all and a Loblaw Pharmacy upstairs. You can call them to ask the prices. My guess is that you would do better at Walmart in the US.
Pharmacy Address: 825 Don Mills Rd, North York, ON M3C 1V4
Phone: (416) 391-4847
The clinic is http://www.health-local.com/clinic/w...linic-toronto\
"The Don Mills Medical Clinic operates as a walk in clinic and a family practice. The clinic is located on the lower level inside the Superstore on Don Mills Road in Toronto, Ontario. There is an onsite pharmacy and plenty of parking available for your convenience. Contact the clinic with any medical questions or concerns you have and we will be happy to assist you."

Thanks for this. US drug prices are a bazaar of smoke and mirrors.

I'm shopping for Onglyza, a diabetes medication. With my Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, I pay a $90 co-pay for a 90 day supply. And Part D pays the rest. But after two refills, the "real" cost of the drug pushes me into the yearly "coverage gap," which means I have to pay $447USD for my last 90 day scrip each year....or half of the $900USD supposedly real cost of 90 tablets.

So far, I've found a 90 day supply runs between $313CAD and maybe $340CAD,- so, for the last quarter of the year, I can pay $447USD for Onglyza or go to Canada and pick up my last 90 day supply for $234USD.

Finding a Canadian walk-in clinic to authorize my purchase eats into the savings, but it's still worth it if I'm visiting Canada.

The more I look at Medicare Part D, the more I believe it's a huge bonanza for the drug manufacturers, a small benefit for seniors, and a costly entitlement for taxpayers. And the more I understand why so many Americans cross the border to buy the medicines they need.

I don't know if you will find a walk in doctor who will do this, perhaps if you are up front and honest they might, but my family doctor gives me a prescription with 3 'repeats' on it when I go and see her (routine meds, low risk, no need to see her more than once a year if that). Which means 1 doctor's visit, 4 x 3 month prescriptions (they are kept electronically online at the pharmacy for me). I don't believe there is a need to use them within a year (I say this because last time I got a repeat at the pharmacy she asked me if it was a repeat for a different drug I haven't taken in a couple of years). Just another thought.

Just wondering if you have checked for the price of the drugs at Costco? I was reading some U.S.-based website (might have been Consumer Report) about what you can/should buy at Costco and was surprised by the examples of savings over say, a large chain pharmacy. Supposedly you don't even need to have a membership to use the pharmacy in most states.

@ YVR Cockroach: Yes, I've checked. The difference in Oglyza - a non-generic drug - between Canada and the U-S is quite substantial. No matter where you try to buy it in the U-S, it's much more expensive in the U-S than it is in Canada. Twice as much, if not more.

might want to call in advance to find out if the Dr. you plan to get to co-sign the script will do it.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manito...ents-1.3210311

some have been spooked...

This is not as easy as one thinks.

I was also an Onglyza user. When I was living in China, I refilled Onglyza in Hong Kong. Without a prescription, over the counter at a NON franchise pharmacy. It was about $ 100 USD for a three month supply. However - the meds were genuine but VERY close to expiry.

I went back to Canada, my family doctor (who has known me since childhood) gave me a script after cursory questions and interview. It cost me $30.00 CAD to see the doctor because I wasn't covered by medical anymore. He gave me a refillable script so it helped me for a year.

Cost was under $1,000 CAD for a year supply - I think (from memory - I could be out)

There is no way to purchase Onglyza in Canada, that I am aware of, without a Canadian script from a Canadian doctor.

If the OP finds a way, it would be great if he can post it.

Taiwaned, it is called getting a co-signer. You don't need a Canadian script per se. You need a Canadian doctor to co-sign the US Dr. script. This is not new and has been around for years. Just look for information on co-sign and have a look at the link i posted.

If it's daily, the cost for 90 pills is supposed to be USD 1200...

Wow! It's like buying something at an Arabian market. There's really no one price in the US, and it's all bluff, bluster, and strategy. The mail order pharmacy that handles my Medicare Part D charged me $447 last year for a 90 day supply when I went into the coverage gap, which is supposed to be half their retail price. So my calculation for Optum Rx was $894 for a 90 day supply at full price. It's all smoke and mirrors, especially when you figure that same 90 day supply is less than $300USD in Canada. The true north: strong, free, and more reasonably priced prescription drugs.

Provincially-negotiated pricing, though some are pushing for federally-negotiated pricing.

I live in Detroit and drive over to Windsor regularly to fill prescriptions. We take our U.S. prescriptions to a walk-in clinic that charges $35 (U.S or CAN $) to rewrite them. Other clinics in Windsor we've gone to when the doc we like is not in charge US$35 - $40. We fill the prescriptions at Walmart close to the walk-in clinic we like (the Costco pharmacy is slightly cheaper but it's about a 20 minute further drive). The savings can be dramatic - for example, my wife takes Adacand (branded) for blood pressure, 180 days is $800 in the U.S. and CAN$230 in Windsor (and knock off another 25% for the exchange rate difference). Note, none of the walk-in clinics will rewrite a U.S. prescription for narcotics.