Prescription savings guide
Buying your medicine from Canada? What changes on October 22, and how to compare before your next refill
Last updated October 9, 2026 · Reviewed by the LowerScript editorial team · Español
Short answer. Starting October 22, 2026, U.S. Customs suspends the low-value “de minimis” shipping exemption, and Canadian mail-order pharmacies have told customers they expect prescription shipments to Americans to stop or become much harder. If you buy medicine from Canada, check what the same medicine costs at a pharmacy near you before your next refill. For many generics, U.S. discount prices are low; for many brand-name drugs, Canada has been cheaper — so also check your Medicare drug plan (open enrollment runs October 15 – December 7) and ask whether a generic is available.
What is changing
- The Associated Press reported on October 8, 2026 that the “de minimis” exemption for shipments valued under $800 is suspended starting October 22, 2026.
- Medications mailed from outside the U.S. will then need additional data and a bond.
- The rule does not specifically target Canadian drugs.
- According to the AP, a Canadian pharmacy association and Canadian pharmacies expect personal shipments to U.S. customers to become difficult or uneconomical.
- Florida’s federally authorized state drug-importation program has not started delivering medicines, the AP reports.
Source: Associated Press, via U.S. News, October 8, 2026. This page takes no position on the rule; it is about comparing prices before your next refill.
Your options before your next refill
- Check the price near you. Use the LowerScript price check to see cash prices at nearby pharmacies. The card is free. LowerScript is a prescription discount program, not insurance: you pay the discounted cash price instead of using insurance for that fill.
- If you have Medicare, compare plans. In 2026, Part D out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100 a year, and Medicare’s negotiated prices took effect January 1, 2026 for drugs including Eliquis, Xarelto, Januvia, Jardiance, Farxiga, Entresto and NovoLog. Open enrollment runs October 15 – December 7, 2026; compare plans at Medicare.gov. Sources: CMS 2027 landscape fact sheets (dates) and Nasdaq’s summary of 2026 Medicare changes (cap and drug list).
- Ask about a generic. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic version of your medicine is available.
- Ask about timing. Ask your pharmacist about timing your next refill.
Canada vs. here: prices for commonly imported medicines
Brand-name medicines were cheaper from Canada in all 18 cases where we could compare exactly. Where a U.S. generic exists, it was cheaper than the Canadian price in all 15 cases. (Closest matches marked * are not counted.) 4 of the 34 medicines have no LowerScript price yet.
| Medicine | Canadian online pharmacy (listed price, source) | LowerScript near Tampa: brand-name | LowerScript near Tampa: generic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eliquis (apixaban) blood thinner ✓ Medicare-negotiated price (2026) Check price near you | $149.00 for 60 tabs 5mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $353.22 5 mg · qty 60 · as of Oct 8 | — |
| Xarelto (rivaroxaban) blood thinner ✓ Medicare-negotiated price (2026) Check price near you | $365.00 for 90 tabs 20mg · ≈ $121.67 per 30 days · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $580.23 20 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 8 | Check price |
| Januvia (sitagliptin) type 2 diabetes ✓ Medicare-negotiated price (2026) Check price near you | $140.00 for 30 tabs 100mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $350.56 100 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 8 | $57.20 100 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 8 |
| Jardiance (empagliflozin) type 2 diabetes, heart failure ✓ Medicare-negotiated price (2026) Check price near you | $144.00 for 30 tabs 10mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $342.42 10 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 8 | — |
| Farxiga (dapagliflozin) type 2 diabetes, heart failure sold in Canada as Forxiga ✓ Medicare-negotiated price (2026) Check price near you | $122.75 for 30 tabs 10mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $399.91 10 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 8 | Check price |
| Tradjenta (linagliptin) type 2 diabetes sold in Canada as Trajenta Check price near you | $112.38 for 30 tabs 5mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $551.89 5 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 8 | — |
| Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) heart failure ✓ Medicare-negotiated price (2026) Check price near you | $264.50 for 60 tabs 49mg/51mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $759.61* 26 mg · qty 60 · as of Oct 9 | Check price |
| Brilinta (ticagrelor) heart attack prevention Check price near you | $153.50 for 60 tabs 90mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $489.62 90 mg · qty 60 · as of Oct 8 | $66.70 90 mg · qty 60 · as of Oct 9 |
| Spiriva HandiHaler (tiotropium) COPD Check price near you | $48.80 for 30 capsules 18mcg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $311.01 18 mcg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 | Check price |
| Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol) COPD, asthma Check price near you | $189.95 for 30 doses 0.1mg/0.0625mg/0.025mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | — |
| Advair Diskus (fluticasone/salmeterol) asthma, COPD Check price near you | $152.75 for 60 doses 100mcg/50mcg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | Check price |
| Flovent HFA (fluticasone) asthma Check price near you | $82.55 for 120 dose 125mcg (110mcg) · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | $28.27 110 mcg · qty 1 · as of Oct 9 |
| Ventolin HFA (albuterol) asthma (rescue inhaler) Check price near you | $12.25 for 200 doses 100mcg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | $7.69 90 mcg · qty 1 · as of Oct 9 |
| Synthroid (levothyroxine) thyroid Check price near you | $12.60 for 90 tabs 0.1mg · ≈ $4.20 per 30 days · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | $4.00 100 mcg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Crestor (rosuvastatin) cholesterol Check price near you | $88.95 for 30 tabs 40mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | $24.72 40 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Lipitor (atorvastatin) cholesterol Check price near you | $350.76 for 90 tabs 20mg · ≈ $116.92 per 30 days · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | $13.19 20 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Celebrex (celecoxib) arthritis pain Check price near you | $240.75 for 100 capsules 200mg · ≈ $72.23 per 30 days · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $518.29 200 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 | $23.24 200 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Zoloft (sertraline) depression, anxiety Check price near you | $147.24* for 100 capsules 25mg/CAP · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | $5.94 50 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Wellbutrin XL (bupropion XL) depression Check price near you | $197.28 for 90 tabs 300mg · ≈ $65.76 per 30 days · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | $7.39 300 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Diovan (valsartan) blood pressure Check price near you | $59.40* for 28 tabs 80mg · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $334.92 160 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 | $9.29 160 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Bystolic (nebivolol) blood pressure Check price near you | $79.95 for 30 tabs 5mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing origin not stated · Over The Border Meds | $217.14 5 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 | $42.64 5 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Linzess (linaclotide) IBS with constipation sold in Canada as Constella Check price near you | $145.50 for 30 capsules 145 mcg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $290.05 145 mcg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 | — |
| Myrbetriq (mirabegron) overactive bladder Check price near you | $114.95 for 30 tabs 50mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | Check price |
| Dexilant (dexlansoprazole) acid reflux Check price near you | $359.30 for 90 capsules 60mg · ≈ $119.77 per 30 days · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $328.24 60 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 | $92.98 60 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Xifaxan (rifaximin) IBS with diarrhea, liver sold in Canada as Zaxine Check price near you | $764.01 for 60 tabs 550mg · ≈ $1,146.02 per 30 days · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $6,409.64 550 mg · qty 90 · as of Oct 9 | — |
| Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) triglycerides Check price near you | $463.00 for 120 capsules 1g · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $313.74* 1gm · qty 120 · as of Oct 9 | $88.68* 1gm · qty 120 · as of Oct 9 |
| Xiidra (lifitegrast) dry eye Check price near you | $344.35 for 60 ampules 5% · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $774.37* 5 % · qty 60 · as of Oct 8 | — |
| Premarin Vaginal Cream (conjugated estrogens) menopause Check price near you | $42.60 for 30 g 0.625mg/g · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $234.27* 0.625 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 8 | — |
| Cialis (tadalafil) erectile dysfunction Check price near you | $96.90 for 4 tabs 20mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $241.98 20 mg · qty 4 · as of Oct 9 | $18.02 20 mg · qty 4 · as of Oct 9 |
| Viagra (sildenafil) erectile dysfunction Check price near you | $63.96 for 4 tabs 100mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $370.89 100 mg · qty 4 · as of Oct 9 | $26.08 100 mg · qty 4 · as of Oct 9 |
| Effexor XR (venlafaxine ER) depression, anxiety Check price near you | $318.90 for 90 capsules 75mg · ≈ $106.30 per 30 days · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $651.73 75 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 | $15.00 75 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Celexa (citalopram) depression Check price near you | $79.95 for 30 tabs 20mg · 30-day supply · brand-name listing origin not stated · Over The Border Meds | $302.81 20 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 | $9.00 20 mg · qty 30 · as of Oct 9 |
| Ozempic (semaglutide) type 2 diabetes Check price near you | $379.99 for 1 pens 2mg/3mL · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | Check price | — |
| Trulicity (dulaglutide) type 2 diabetes Check price near you | $294.99 for 4 pens 1.5mg/0.5mL · 30-day supply · brand-name listing Product of Canada · Great North Pharmacy | $1,910.03 1.5 mg · qty 4 · as of Oct 8 | — |
* Closest match: where we could not price the exact strength or pack size, we show the nearest strength or pack of the same medicine. Check your exact prescription with the price check.
Sources and method. Canadian prices come from Great North Pharmacy’s public product pages, captured October 9, 2026; each option is listed as “Product of Canada”. The pages show prices with a “$” and do not name the currency; its Eliquis 5 mg × 180 price ($389.45) matches PharmacyChecker’s U.S.-dollar listing for this pharmacy, so we treat its prices as U.S. dollars. Shipping is not included. Rows marked Over The Border Meds come from that seller’s public product pages, captured October 8, 2026, in U.S. dollars as listed; that listing does not state where each product comes from, and shipping is not included. “Per 30 days” is simple arithmetic from the pack price (pack price ÷ units in the pack × units in a 30-day supply at a usual dose). LowerScript prices come from our price tool between October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 at ZIP 33602 (Tampa): the lowest price among nearby in-network pharmacies for the strength and quantity shown. “Check price” means we do not have a matching LowerScript price for that row. A check mark means the drug is on the list of drugs with Medicare-negotiated prices that took effect January 1, 2026. Prices change, and savings vary by medication, dosage and pharmacy. Strengths and packs can differ between countries, so compare the labels in each cell. This table compares listed prices; it is not a recommendation to buy from any seller and not medical advice. An asterisk (*) marks the closest match we could list or price: the same medicine in a different strength or pack. Prices are never scaled across strengths; see the note under the table.
Frequently asked questions
Will my Canadian order still arrive after October 22?
We can’t predict that. The Associated Press reports that Canadian pharmacies expect shipments to Americans to stop or become much harder once the federal rule takes effect on October 22. Your pharmacy is the best source: ask how it plans to handle orders placed or shipped after that date, and plan your next refill with that in mind.
Is LowerScript insurance?
No. LowerScript is a free prescription discount program, not insurance. At a participating pharmacy you pay the discounted cash price instead of using insurance for that fill.
Can I use LowerScript if I have Medicare?
The LowerScript card can’t be combined with Medicare on the same purchase, but you can choose, fill by fill, to pay the discounted cash price instead of using your plan. A fill paid with the card does not count toward your plan’s out-of-pocket cap, so weigh that if you are close to it. See our guide: Can you use a discount card with Medicare?
Which is cheaper, Canada or a U.S. pharmacy?
It depends on the medicine. The table above compares listed prices drug by drug: for some generics the U.S. discount price is lower, and for some brand-name drugs the Canadian listing is lower. Shipping is not included in the Canadian prices and prices change, so check the current price of your own medicine and strength.
What about brand-name drugs with no generic?
During Medicare open enrollment (October 15 – December 7), compare plans on your actual medicines at Medicare.gov. You can also ask your prescriber, your pharmacist or the drug’s manufacturer whether a patient assistance or savings program applies to your medicine; see our guide on discount cards and manufacturer coupons.
Do I need a new prescription for a U.S. pharmacy?
Your prescriber sends a prescription to the U.S. pharmacy you choose, or the pharmacy can contact your prescriber for you. Ask the pharmacy what it needs and it can walk you through the steps. If you already have a prescription at one U.S. pharmacy, see our guide to transferring a prescription.
Is the Canadian price in the table what I would pay?
Not necessarily. It is the pack price shown on the seller’s public product page on the capture date, in U.S. dollars. Shipping is not included, and the listing does not say where each product comes from.
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Decisions about your medicines are yours to make with your prescriber or pharmacist. LowerScript is a prescription discount program, not insurance.
Before your next refill: get your free card and check what your medicine costs near you.
Get your free cardMore guides: Can You Use a Discount Card With Medicare? · Generic vs Brand-Name Drugs · Mail-Order vs Local Pharmacy · How to Transfer a Prescription | All savings guides