# Buying insulin while in Canada **URL:** \ **Category:** Insulin\ **Tags:** cost-of-health-care, cost-of-diabetes\ **Created:** [December 25, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952 "2017-12-25T18:10:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/22 "2018-03-02T20:35:32Z")
Really glad to hear that worked out and you can afford your medications! Fantastic news. ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/23 "2018-03-02T20:46:37Z")
> [@dughuze](#): > > 5 boxes Lantus, 5 boxes Humalog and some ibuprofen total $619 US! That is a GREAT score! AS @Chris was saying, this is essentially our copay. ---
**Author:** ![Jen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jen/32/4777_2.png) [@Jen](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jen)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/24 "2018-03-03T18:28:33Z")
> [@dughuze](#): > > For me, the Lantus would last about 89 days. If I calculated it correctly. I use 28 units a day, 100 units per pen, 5 pens per box, 2500 units in 5 boxes… Each pen has 300 units, not 100. So a box of five penfills is 1500 units. Five boxes of penfills is 7500 units (not 2500). ---
**Author:** ![dughuze](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/dughuze/32/3317_2.png) [@dughuze](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/dughuze)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/25 "2018-03-04T21:14:33Z")
Good to know, thought I wss of but did not know why ---
**Author:** ![dughuze](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/dughuze/32/3317_2.png) [@dughuze](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/dughuze)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/26 "2018-03-08T22:28:05Z")
One last update to this saga. I was writing my Senators because I was so angry that US citizens are being screwed on the cost of insulin. When putting together my facts , I went to Express Scripts to find out my ‘real cost’ out of pocket for 5 boxes of Lantus (which I knew) and 5 boxes of Humalog KwikPens which I did not. The total cost for me for these 10 boxes would have been $4223! A staggering $3600 more than I paid in Canada! Which, by the way, was $611, the $619 total I paid included a bottle of Ibuprofen I needed because I was going skiing on the way back from Canada. Then I called my health insurer, Connecticare, to see if I could log the purchase toward my out of network deductible. No, was the answer because insulin from Canada is not FDA approved. (even though the Humalog is made in Indiana!?!?!?!?) ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/27 "2018-03-08T22:43:20Z")
I applaud your activism, and am really just glad you were able to find a way to afford the insulin you want to use. ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 4:26am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/28 "2018-03-09T04:26:18Z")
@dughuze, you got close to 9 months’ worth of insulin for $619, that’s pretty great! I am glad you let your senators know. The price of insulin in our country is a failure of our health system. ---
**Author:** ![Katers87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@Katers87](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Katers87)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/29 "2018-03-09T14:40:12Z")
The reasons for the high prices are complicated and annoying. I think putting pressure on our congressmen/women is the right tactic. They don’t appear to be listening very well though… ---
**Author:** ![dughuze](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/dughuze/32/3317_2.png) [@dughuze](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/dughuze)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/30 "2018-03-15T22:49:41Z")
Unfortunately, I live in a state where my senators agree with me. So I wont be changing any minds. ---
**Author:** ![Blue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/blue/32/3382_2.png) [@Blue](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Blue)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 9:24am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/31 "2018-03-17T09:24:57Z")
You may not be actively changing any minds with regards to your representatives, but you are giving them an active reason to keep their minds made up to try and reduce prescription insulin prices! ---
**Author:** ![krallison](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/krallison/32/3898_2.png) [@krallison](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/krallison)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 6:56am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/32 "2018-06-10T06:56:41Z")
Anyone know a pharmacy to use in BC - we will be on a driving trip. ---
**Author:** ![Scotteric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Scotteric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Scotteric)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/33 "2018-06-10T19:37:30Z")
Prices are basically the same everywhere. Some smaller pharmacies charge a higher mark-up, so try to stick with a chain (Rexall, Shoppers Drug Mart or London Drugs I remember being the big one when I visited BC). Most do not carry Fiasp or Tresiba in stock, and may not know what you are talking about at first because new drugs are not heavily promoted in Canada. They can be ordered to arrive within a day or two though. Humulin R and Novolin R (called Novolin ge Toronto) can both be purchased in reusable penfill cartridges or disposable pens (unlike in the States I believe) if you use those insulins. ---
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/34 "2018-06-12T01:48:46Z")
@krallison As scott says they all charge about the same. London Drugs is a good recommendation as is Shoppers Drug Mart. My pharmacy (at a grocery store called Save on Foods) now has some Fiasp in stock or can get in the next day. One thing to remember, Novolog is called NovoRapid in Canada for some weird reason. ---
**Author:** ![fortyonesthemike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/54ee81/32.png) [@fortyonesthemike](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/fortyonesthemike)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/35 "2018-06-21T18:24:57Z")
Can anyone make a good recommendation for a pharmacy near Stanstead, Quebec? I am planning a trip and will be in that area. One pharmacy I’ve found with positive reviews is Familiprix but would like to get some feedback from some people that have been there and done that. Also, I know the rule of thumb is generally a 90 day supply but how much is too much? If I bring back 10 vials of Humalog and 10 vials of Lantus is that too much? What do they generally say when declaring at the border? ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/36 "2018-06-21T22:46:02Z")
I can’t comment on the pharmacy, since i have no experience buying in person, but I can respond to the 90 day supply. They can’t possibly know how much insulin you use, so I wouldn’t worry about it. We have a diabetic friend that uses 200 units of basal and close to 300 units of bolus insulin a day. So a 90 days supply would be huge. I would buy what you want and be confident about it. ---
**Author:** ![Beacher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a6a055/32.png) [@Beacher](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Beacher)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/37 "2018-06-21T23:09:43Z")
I don’t know Familiprix, but Shoppers Drug Mart is a reliable national chain known in Quebec as Pharmaprix. Most branches should have common insulins in stock (though maybe not Fiasp and certainly not Afrezza). If you go to this site [https://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/store-locator/stores/stanstead/](https://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/store-locator/stores/stanstead/) it will show you branches in the area, mostly in nearby Sherbrooke, and will give you directions and hours. Stanstead is a heavily anglo area, so language won’t be a barrier (which is usually the case in Quebec anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/38 "2018-06-21T23:30:36Z")
@fortyonesthemike I second Beacher’s recommendation of Pharmaprix. ---
**Author:** ![Scotteric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Scotteric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Scotteric)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2018, 11:58am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/39 "2018-06-22T11:58:55Z")
Jean Coutu is the big chain in Quebec, but there are lots of pharmacies and it really doesn’t make a difference where you go. ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/40 "2018-06-26T00:09:19Z")
In the province of Quebec, I found differences of up to 25% between lowest and highest price for NovoRapid. As per @Scotteric, cheapest I found was Jean Coutu, in Montreal. I bought NovoRapid in 3 different pharmacies, in Montreal and Quebec City. ---
**Author:** ![mike\_g](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@mike\_g](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/mike_g)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 3:27am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952/41 "2018-09-28T03:27:40Z")
I’ve been thinking of making a trip, given that the Manitoba border is only about 300 miles away. I called a pharmacy at a Walmart in Winnipeg, to get a sense of the details. The tech put me in touch with the pharmacist, who explained that I’d need to bring a prescription and have it replicated by a Canadian doctor at a walk-in clinic. I realize insulin is OTC there, but didn’t argue the point. I also didn’t explain I’d be paying cash, no insurance. I know that Mark’s and others require a prescription when insulin is shipped across the border, probably to keep themselves out of trouble, and also to determine a roughly 90 day supply. Maybe I was getting special treatment as a US citizen, or maybe he didn’t know that it is OTC? [Previous page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/buying-insulin-while-in-canada/2952.md?page=3)