Filling Blood Thinner Prescriptions Abroad

[knoll]

Given the cost of blood thinners in the US , I am interested in filling my Zarelto prescription abroad. Apparently, Janssen Pharmaceuticals markets Zarelto inside the US while Bayer outside the US. There are many options for the Zarelto brand outside the US including Turkey, Australia, New Zealand with India being the least expensive. Does it matter which country I choose? Are the manufacturing standards and composition the same?

Further, there were reports that the US was going to offer gereric Zarelto by the end of 2024. Does anyone know the status?

[BobD Volunteer]

Beware of buying drugs like Xarelto in places like Turkey and India as not all drugs are equal. Many scams about!

[Omniscient1 in reply to BobD]

Bob is right, but should be mitigated if you buy through a recognised pharmacy. You may find that a lot of the drugs you currently use are from outside the US despite the brand name.

[Eastwick in reply to Omniscient1]

I bought my anticoagulants from Canada for some while. So very much cheaper

[Omniscient1 in reply to Eastwick]

Does that mean that US patients are being exploited or are they subsidized in Canada? (I'm in the UK, just curious)

[Eastwick in reply to Omniscient1]

I believe that they are subsidised as in U.K.

[Omniscient1 in reply to Eastwick]

Turns out the Canadian government stops the pharmaceutical companies from over charging and sets a maximum price for the drugs. Apparently this comes into play a bit in the new inflation reduction act?? In Britain we're subsidised but I don't think the govt is brilliant at negotiating prices (or vested interests work against it,or both).

[knoll in reply to Eastwick]

Are you a US citizen? My understading is that it is unlawful to fill US prescriptions in Canada. Are you buying from a Canadian pharmacy that is filing the prescriiption through another country( ie New Zealand, Turkey, India etc). That is the only option I know of.

Canada has had a generic for Zarelto on the market for several years. Although the US has a generic, Jansen Pharma keeps winning in the courts to have its release deferred. My doctor stated that the generic was going to be released in 2024 but in reviewing my Medicare D plan for 2025, that is not happening.

[Eastwick in reply to knoll]

Not sure where they came from as it was some considerable time ago, a retired doctor friend advised me to do it!

[Omniscient1]

I just read that the FDA is to approve Florida buying drugs from Canada.