Several years ago I was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy a progressive muscle wasting disease.  I tried a wide range of pain medications including and Tramadol (Ultram), Ibuprofen (Nurofen), Feldene (Piroxicam), and Vicodin.  Everything was too strong, too weak or had side effects I didn't tolerate well.  I finally found Celebrex which eased my discomfort without the side effects and I could participate in my life once again.

       I had what I though was good medical insurance, however, my prescription plan only covered generics but was told that the Celebrex generic (Celecoxib)was not available in the US.  So my choices were pay full price for the brand name version at $105 for 30 tablets, go without, or find the generic from an offshore pharmacy at a better price.  I found I could buy 90 tablets of 200mg Celecoxib from a online pharmacy for $27!!!.    I did my research and now buy what I need at a great great price.  I could not have afforded the pain medication I needed with this option.  These were my concerns and what I learned.                        kathleen p,      califonia, usa

**ARE GENERICS SAFE?     Generic medications may look different from their brand name counterparts but they are also regulated by the FDA.  The generics cannot be approved for sale unless they are the bio-equivalent...actually containing the same active ingredients of the patented name brand versions.  Generics are available for manufacture by any company once the 20 year patent owned by the developer expires.  And because there are no research and development costs factored into the production costs they can be made much cheaper. 
 
***IS IT LEGAL TO BUY MEDICATIONS FROM PHARMACIES OUTSIDE THE US?

Federal law prohiits the sale of pain relievers, sedatives, stimulants, and anabolic steroids without a valid prescription.   BE A WISE CONSUMER AND ONLY ORDER MEDICINES WITH THE APPROVAL AND A VALID PRESCIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR.   Federal law also prohibits bringing prescription drugs across U.S. borders even if it for personal use.  Is this law actually protecting us from substandard or counterfeit drugs from overseas or is it an attempt to protect the profit margins of U.S. pharmaceutical companies? AGAIN, USE YOUR OWN GOOD JUDGMENT.

***ARE MEDICINES MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD INHERENTLY UNSAFE?  

Like many industries in the U.S., pharmaceutical companies-EVEN THE BIG ONES- have begun outsourcing their manufacturing operations to other countries.  It has become much cheaper for many many products to be made in other countries.  India and China has seen tremendous growth in the pharmaceutical industry in recent years and Chinese drug industry is projected to become the worlds fifth largest by 2010.  One of the biggest factors in this growth are the affiliations being created with U.S. Drug companies. 

***DO ALL CANADIAN PHARMACIES ACTUALLY SHIP FROM CANADA?

If this issue is important to you, don't assume that all websites marketing drugs from Canada are what they say they are.  If shipping time is over 5-7 days, then most likely what you order is coming from somewhere else.  They may very well be getting some or all of their products from overseas.  Do your research, and contact the organization directly if you have concerns.

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