From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: American Medical Association warns of illegal drug importation
Keywords: Interpharm
Date: 6 Oct 92 22:32:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.1992Oct6.223233.23643
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <3885@unisql.UUCP> collene@unisql.UUCP (Collene Pearce) writes:
>>>   Using their credit cards, American consumers can usually order
>>>these medications by toll-free telephone call, often at greatly
>>>reduced prices and apparently without a doctor's prescription.
>Sounds good to me also.  Anyone willing to email me the name/address/phone
>number of one of these "terrible" foreign mail order prescription drug 
>services?
>I'll bet their prices wouldn't still reflect the "research & development
>cost recoupment charges" for Augmentin(sp?) and Pamelor.

Interpharm seems to be a Bahamas-based company, but a friend of mine
who ordered something from them (I think it was Zantac) got their drugs
in the mail originating from Canada.  The ad appeared in an issue of
the Advocate last year, and provided a list of typical brand name
mainstream Rx drugs and prices (which didn't strike me as low, low,
low, but probably cheaper than your corner pharmacy.)  I have absolutely
no idea about the quality, or identity of the substances you get from
such a service.  It might be fine, it might not.  The obvious reason
they advertised in the _Advocate_ was to attract the attention of those
gay readers who might be HIV positive, and therefore might be interested in
drugs like AZT, fluconazole and other substances which would be used in
an HIV+ individual, especially if they didn't have insurance.  However,
Interpharm listed typical mainstream non-controlled substances as well.

Just as a matter of interest, I'll reprint some prices and perhaps some
of those out there who might be taking such drugs could comments on how
good a deal this might be (or not.)   I'm NOT getting a kickback from
this :-); I don't even think it's such a great idea if it leads to
inappropriate self-medication with prescription drugs, but on the other
hand, I think the AMA press release is a little heavy-handed.  Drugs
taken chronically can indeed be a real financial burden on individuals
who are not covered by insurance, and if they could save money by
buying otherwise safe drugs in Europe made by the same giant drug firms
who sell them here by providing Interpharm a prescription, more power
to 'em.

I have also heard that Interpharm is on the US Customs' Service
"watched list" now, so there's no guarantee you'll receive what you
order.

Anyway, here's a few selections from the ad in an old Advocate from
last year (I only have the page ripped out; I placed it in my file of
interesting things--it was the issue which featured an interview with
the creators of the Met's "Ghosts of Versaille".)  This is not to say
the prices are still the same, but I'd be interested to know how they
compare to current pharmacy prices (I haven't had access to a Red Book
or Blue Book in 20 years.)  I suppose I could call my local pharmacy,
but I'm too lazy.  Comparison prices would be welcome.

Here are some very common drugs which many netters might use.  If these
are discount prices, you can see that they're still not cheap.  All prices
are in US$.  All quantities are for 100 tablets or capsules.  I made a point
of choosing only drugs which would still be under patent, and therefore
unlikely to have any generic or second-brand competition.

Hismanal	astemizole	10mg	$83.50
Mevacor		lovastatin	20mg	$155
Pepsid		famotidine	20mg	$87.50
Prozac		fluoxetine	20mg	$99
Seldane		terfenadine	60mg	$45
Tenormin	atenolol	50mg	$49.50
				100mg	$71.50
Vasotec		enalapril	5mg	$55
				10mg	$57
				20mg	$79
Voltaren	diclofenac	25mg	$27.50
				50mg	$52.50
Zantac		ranitidine	150mg	$89
				300mg	$129
Zovirax		acyclovir	200mg	$48

Here's some typical anti-AIDS drugs:

Diflucan	fluconazole	50mg	$284.50
				100mg	$448.50
Nizoral		ketoconazole	200mg	$148
Retrovir	zidovudine/AZT	200mg	$89

Interpharm's phone number is 1-800-361-4477.  They will ask you for your
doctor's name and address.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
Newsgroups: sci.med