Do you trust generic Eliquis sold online or in Mexican pharmacies?

A friend recently posted something of a rant on his Facebook that his doctor had just placed him on Eliquis and his first 90 day supply using his Medicare pharmacy had cost him around $850. He was sure his Medicare contracted pharmacy was scamming him and that he could get the same generic equivalent at a Mexican pharmacy for about $100 for a 90 day supply (I live in a border city where many Americans cross the border for cheaper medications/medical care). I pointed out that he was likely in the $600 deductible that Medicare charges at the beginning of the year and likely his next 90 day supply would be cheaper. Also, starting this year your maximum out of pocket will be $2000 for all meds purchased through Medicare. I also pointed out that there are several articles over the last several years of generic Eliquis being sold in Mexican pharmacies that have been tested and show no active ingredients. I get it—people want to save money—but for such a potentially life saving drug are you willing to forgoe genuine medication and take a chance. I searched “Canadian Pharmacies” and many that pop up actually ship their drugs from a third party country like Turkey.

Bottom line I’ll stick with the real stuff here in the USA and suck up the cost. It will get better in a few years when a generic becomes officially available. I’m curious what other people are doing. Unfortunately there is no end point to test the efficacy of something bought online or in Mexico but I understand how people want to save money.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2025 06:58AM by cjkdm.

I would guess many factors could be involved surrounding Medicare and the cost.

Does he have a Part D plan?

Depends on IF it is an Advantage Plan, usually 0.00 cost or a plan that has a reasonable monthly premium.

Some pharmacies prefer a 30 day supply vs 90 day as the insurance company reduces their reimbursement, or so I was told, and for a small town family owned pharmacy with great service vs big box pharmacy, I don't have a problem with that.

Also some hospitals/heart centers have a day or two days per month where they offer free prescriptions from the pharmaceutical companies.

I do take Eliquis and have been for about 2 years. I don't like it. I prefer not to take prescriptions but the alternative AND while I might be off base on this part, due to the reported increase of blood clots and such from the Covid vaccines, I had the first 2 injections . . . I am tolerating taking it and hoping it helps prevent that. Crazy? Maybe. Maybe not.

All that said, mine is 47.00 for a 30 day supply.

Good news, Eliquis is on the list for "price protection" or whatever they are calling it starting in January of 2026. I think. Been a couple of months since it was announced but it was 1 of the 10 or 12 that were announced for this first round of pricing "protections".

Bottom Line for Me . . . No I would not trust purchasing this from Mexico. Only other time I had an issue, was 15+ years ago with my Armour Thyroid. It was impossible to get. People were getting it from Canada. Then Canadian supplies were depleted. I instead went to a compounding pharmacy. It was much more expensive, plus at the time my Endocrinologist had me taking 120's 5 days a week and 90's 2 days a week, to try to tweak my levels as best possible thus getting 2 compounded prescriptions cost. Lacking regulations. Too little can be very bad while over regulation is also detrimental to costs & discoveries & innovation. I didn't even purchase from Canada back then and sorry but Mexico would be even an even bigger risk as a supply option in my opinion.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2025 02:47PM by Qwackertoo.

Here in Canada I pay $25.00 for 90 days. As for the Mexican equivalent I would ask a doctor in a big city like Guadalajara or Mexico City about the correct source. Mexican people need this med as much as you or I.

A few of us purchased here:
$50 off first purchase with code . Very quick shipping. My sister in law referred me. She has used this pharmacy for decades.You get good expiration dates. It’s worth investigating during the donut hole periods.


[www.afibbers.org]

Also note that you can buy brand-name Eliquis from a Canadian pharmacy and you are getting exactly the same drug as you would in the US except it is less expensive in Canada. The problem is that you don’t get any insurance reimbursement so it may not prove to be any less expensive. You can also get a generic made in India from Canadian pharmacies but again you don’t know exactly what you’re getting.

The cartels in Mexico have figured out another way to get money out of Americans. Just because a drug appears to be genuine you simply do not know. [www.safemedicines.org]