Drugs

[cosmolinguist]

Is there any real reason for saying we can't import prescription drugs from Canada because they aren't safe? I mean, I don't see Canadians dying in droves from taking them. But I don't know much about the situation. Am I just stupid, or are they just trying to keep us from getting stuff cheaper?

Comments

[kalieris.livejournal.com]

I think two things: 1) the drugs from Mexico (versus Canada) aren't all they're advertised to be, and 2) the US drug companies like their price inflation too much to let us bypass it, hence the FDA warnings. I'm not much on conspiracy thories, but I really do believe the FDA is a tool of the drug companies.

[cosmolinguist]

I'm not much on conspiracy thories, but I really do believe the FDA is a tool of the drug companies.

That's pretty much what I'm thinking, too.

[etoilepb.livejournal.com]

I think they weren't always, but over the last ten or maybe fifteen years there's been a distinct shift in the way everything works, drug-wise. Remember how when we were kids, there were no prescription drug ads in magazines or on TV? Because it wasn't legal to do it. I wonder who at the FDA got bought out when to make thigns change slowly in the 80s and quickly in the 90s and have the whole damn thing sold out by now...

[gentleman-lech.livejournal.com]

Being able to import drugs from Canada would cut into the US drug companies' profits. And since Prince George's administration is filled with corporate shills... well, you get the idea.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I always think that the notion that the Canadian drugs need "extra" verification is one of the most unfortuanate stands by a very unfortunate government.

[chuck-lw.livejournal.com]

The explanation is simple. Canadians are subhuman animals with the robust constitutions of simple beasts, and are thus immune or heavily resistant to the toxic effects of the below-veterinary-grade pharmaceuticals sold to the humanity-mimicking creature/citizens in that nation-zoo.

Or at least that's what Ann Coulter says.

[cosmolinguist]

and if Ann Coulter says it, it must be true!

[davmoo.livejournal.com]

I'm in a parroting mood today, so I'll repeat what some others have said :-)

If you're buying from Mexico, its definitely 'buyer beware'. What you think is Viagra could in reality be any number of substances, not necessarily good for you to be taking.

But if you're buying from Canada, and the store also sells to Canadian customers, its all but guaranteed that its just the Shrub Bush administration trying to protect its corporate ass kissers.

[kennedybak.livejournal.com]

There was an interesting article in the Economist about this. I can't remember the details, but the upshot is basically yes, they are trying to keep you from getting stuff cheaper.

[hexar-le-saipe.livejournal.com]

I concur with the rest of the "peanuts."

I also wonder if anyone in the Bush administration sees the irony in the way that the flu vaccine problem was handled by importing foreign medicine that hadn't had a chance to go through he government red tape?

[cosmolinguist]

I concur with the rest of the "peanuts."

That made me laugh.

I also wonder if anyone in the Bush administration sees the irony...

I wouldn't bet on it. Not only do USians have a reputation for being irony-deficient in general, but Bush's adminstration seems to be filled with the most extremely affected individuals. They don't see anything wrong with defying UN resolutions to show Saddam how bad it is to defy UN resolutions, they think universal health care in Iraq is a good goal while universal health care in the US is communism, that dictators who claim to be doing God's will are wrong unless it's the right-wing fundie Christian god they're talking about...

[madscience.livejournal.com]

I think it's mostly just to keep anyone from cutting into the drug industry's racket. The argument has always been that it's to protect us from drugs the FDA hasn't thoroughly tested... but of course, now we know how well the FDA is(n't) protecting us.

[angel-thane.livejournal.com]

There is one (and only one) legitimate concern... and that is transportation. If you're buying one of the small number of drugs that needs to be kept refridgerated, and they send it by regular post...

Of course, if that does happen, it's likely only due to them not being allowed to legally ship drugs to the US.

That said, I really do hope that Canada stops the flow to your country. There is no way that a country like Canada can supply drugs for a country 9 times it's size without endangering it's own supply.

[cosmolinguist]

There is no way that a country like Canada can supply drugs for a country 9 times it's size without endangering it's own supply.

A good point. And this sort of measure certainly cannot be a permanent or universal solution for all in the US who need drugs. Something else should be done, but the necessary overthrow of the pharmaceutical companies' control and maybe even some rethinking or at least investigation of the FDA would take a while, even if they started now. And they certainly aren't starting now.

[angel-thane.livejournal.com]

It could be done in about 14 words, really.

'Unless prices drop, we will be forced to re-examine the timespan of drug patents'