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The
Economic Freedom
Network

 
Public Policy Sources

Prescription Drug Prices in Canada and the United States --
Part 1: A Comparative Survey

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Appendix 2

Differences between Canadian and American Wholesale Prices

Drugs sorted by Canadian (discount) or premium (column 7)

Product

Patent
Protection 1

Class 2

(1) Estimated US Wholesale Price per Tablet or Capsule (US$)3

(2) Ontario Drug Benefit Program Direct Unit Cost (US$)

Difference: Price 2 minus
Price 1 (US$)

Canadian (discount) or premium4

Trimeth/Sulfa (Septra)

G

IN

1.54

0.03

(1.50)

(98%)

Lorazepam

G

NS

0.76

0.03

(0.73)

(96%)

Amitriptyline

G

NS

0.09

0.00

(0.09)

(96%)

Hydrochlorothiazide

G

EL

0.09

0.00

(0.08)

(95%)

Glyburide

G

HO

0.80

0.05

(0.76)

(94%)

Diazepam

G

NS

0.07

0.00

(0.07)

(94%)

Naproxen

G

NS

0.97

0.07

(0.89)

(92%)

HCTZ/Triamterene

G

EL

0.40

0.03

(0.37)

(92%)

Synthroid

B

HO

0.23

0.04

(0.20)

(85%)

Furosemide Oral

G

EL

0.03

0.00

(0.03)

(85%)

Prednisone Oral

G

HO

0.03

0.01

(0.03)

(81%)

Premarin tabs

E

HO

0.40

0.08

(0.32)

(79%)

Glucophage

E

HO

0.50

0.13

(0.36)

(73%)

Zoloft

E

NS

1.80

0.55

(1.25)

(69%)

Coumadin Tabs

B

BL

0.52

0.17

(0.36)

(68%)

Augmentin (Clavulin)

B

IN

1.89

0.60

(1.29)

(68%)

Ranitidine HCL

G

GI

1.67

0.54

(1.13)

(68%)

Lanoxin

E

CV

0.17

0.06

(0.11)

(64%)

Biaxin

B

IN

2.67

1.02

(1.65)

(62%)

Prevacid

E

GI

2.95

1.38

(1.57)

(53%)

Ibuprofen

G

NS

0.05

0.03

(0.03)

(49%)

Prozac

E

NS

2.12

1.11

(1.02)

(48%)

Cipro

E

IN

2.80

1.53

(1.27)

(45%)

Procardia XL (Adalat XL)

B

CV

1.13

0.64

(0.49)

(43%)

Paxil

E

NS

1.83

1.10

(0.73)

(40%)

Pravachol

E

CV

1.73

1.04

(0.69)

(40%)

Vasotec

E

CV

1.29

0.80

(0.49)

(38%)

Zithromax

B

IN

5.37

3.40

(1.97)

(37%)

Amoxicillin

G

IN

0.11

0.07

(0.04)

(35%)

Alprazolam

G

NS

0.10

0.06

(0.03)

(34%)

Acetamin. w/Cod.#3

G

NS

0.05

0.03

(0.02)

(34%)

Verapamil SR

G

CV

0.92

0.60

(0.31)

(34%)

Cephalexin

G

IN

0.30

0.21

(0.10)

(32%)

Amoxil

B

IN

0.18

0.13

(0.05)

(28%)

Lipitor

E

CV

1.54

1.10

(0.44)

(28%)

Lotensin

E

CV

0.65

0.47

(0.18)

(28%)

Accupril

E

CV

0.78

0.57

(0.21)

(27%)

Zestril

E

CV

0.75

0.56

(0.19)

(25%)

Prinivil

E

CV

0.74

0.56

(0.18)

(24%)

Zocor

E

CV

1.87

1.52

(0.35)

(19%)

Norvasc

E

CV

1.09

0.88

(0.20)

(19%)

Metoprolol Tartrate

G

CV

0.10

0.08

(0.01)

(13%)

Cardizem CD

E

CV

1.19

1.17

(0.02)

(2%)

Trazodone HCL

G

NS

0.10

0.15

0.06

58%

Atenolol

G

CV

0.09

0.40

0.31

350%

Avg:

(43%)

Std Dev:

68%

Median:

(45%)

1B = branded only; E = exclusive; G = generic.

2BL = blood formulation and coagulation; CV = cardiovascular; EL = elctrolyte, caloric, and water balance; GI = gastrointestinal; HO = hormones and substitutes; IN = antiinfective; NS = central nervous system.

3See discussion.

4Difference (column 6) divided by the US wholesale price (column 4). Figures in parentheses indicate Canadian discount; figures without parentheses indicate Canadian premium.

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