Importing Non-PBS Prescription Medication from Overseas?

Jolakot on 24/05/2025 - 15:34
Last edited 24/05/2025 - 16:13 by 1 other user

My partner has to take Midodrine 5mg 3-4x each day to function (long-covid), which the government refuses to put on PBS despite it being a generic medication.

Each month costs us $100 for 90 tablets, even after price-checking dozens of regular and compounding pharmacies to find the best price. We've tried cheaper alternatives suggested by the specialist but none of them work nearly as well, the difference between being able to work full-time vs struggling to get out of bed, can't afford to not take it. Already blown through our private health non-PBS rebate for the year.

However in the US and Canada, Midodrine costs 1/3 of what we pay here, and apparently it's 1/10 the price in India. Made me wonder if we can import it to avoid being ripped off?

The TGA website says we can import 3-months worth of medication from overseas with a prescription, so the idea seems legally above-board.

I found a reputable Canadian pharmacy that's selling 300x tablets for $120 AUD and accepts international prescriptions, but international shipping to Australia is $125 AUD, which really kills the savings given we can't order in bulk. Indian stores seems to have it at much lower prices, but I'm not sure which companies are above-board or what shipping would be like.

Has anyone done something similar? Any recommendations for stores that accept Australian prescriptions with reasonable shipping costs?

Thanks!

Health & Beauty Medicine

Comments

  • Mike444 on 24/05/2025 - 16:32
    +2

    I'd just buy it from India but in a small amount (basically a test), people buy a lot worse things that get through no problem. It's a gamble though.

    • Jolakot on 24/05/2025 - 17:31

      Not that it's an issue with customs or legality, happy to do all the paperwork etc to make government happy, but rather how do you confirm that you're not getting vitamin tablets or poison or something - don't know what stores are reputable

      • simplystu on 24/05/2025 - 23:53

        The more reputable companies - when buying prescription drugs from overseas…

        Provide similar to a stat Dec form from a proper science lab to confirm such analysis of drug.

        Although highly doubt would get such a form when purchasing from India / the cheaper sources that OP has suggested.

    • jinkerjinx on 25/05/2025 - 10:30
      +2

      I bought a medication as a test from an indian 'pharmacy' (due to desperation).

      I threw it in the bin because
      * the 'pharmacy' ended up being a cigar store or something similar.
      * the pills didn't look/seem right.
      * i couldn't find a local lab with the ability to confirm the pill contained the active ingredient.

      I think I've since read news articles there is an issue with counterfeits in India (ok, maybe the articles are funded by big pharma, but just be careful eh)

      • Jolakot on 25/05/2025 - 14:29
        +1

        Yeah this is my worry as well, the worst case isn't that you get ripped off or sent vitamin pills, the worst case is that you get sent the wrong medication or poison. No real recourse, and you're not getting any sympathy from the media either

        • simplystu on 25/05/2025 - 18:53
          +1

          perhaps even more so … for those of us that get drug tested at work on a regular basis … is it worth possibly losing your job over ???
          (especially with cheap generics from OS) … who knows what else that pill has that you are taking.

          If you refer to my reply afew up … some of the more reputable O/S prescription pharmacies - will also provide a form in the parcel/satchel (similar to a stat dec) from a drug analysis company, to say the drug is actually what it says it is … (India + Karachi/Pakistan + turkey) highly doubt you would get that.

          But OP wants cheap - so some sacrifices must be made.

  • dtc on 24/05/2025 - 17:58

    Can you use reship.com?

    • Jolakot on 24/05/2025 - 19:17

      "Cross Border pharmaceuticals are prohibited"

      Unfortunately not, although that's a good idea, I might see if any of their competitors allow it

  • 87percent on 24/05/2025 - 18:00
    +2

    Medication is cheaper in the US than here?!?

    • bargaino on 24/05/2025 - 18:38

      Only rarely. Melatonin because it is OTC there.
      Generic off-patent drugs can be just as cheap in the US as here, from places like Walmart.

  • boomramada on 24/05/2025 - 18:22

    Yeah melatonin from iherb for fraction of the price

  • GordonD on 24/05/2025 - 18:50

    OP, sorry, I don't have any knowledge of importing pharmaceuticals.

    But there is a medical question I'd be interest in the answer to if you don't mind saying.

    Midodrine is used for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension - low blood pressure - where other treatments have been tried and failed. So presumably you or she are measuring her blood pressure. What sort of numbers are you getting?

    I'm only asking because I have an interest in post-COVID conditions, and had a condition at one point that caused my blood pressure to literally crash to the point where they had to take extreme measures to keep me alive and prevent organ damage. The big joke afterwards was that I didn't know until I got there how serious it was so I drove myself to hospital with so low blood pressure that I only had black and white vision and couldn't stand up. Who needs those to drive at 1 am. It seemed like a good idea at the time in my brain-fogged state.

    • bargaino on 24/05/2025 - 18:58
      +1

      OP has a prescription, so I assume is following medical advice. This is not the sort of thing anyone should be self-medicating!

      • GordonD on 24/05/2025 - 19:05

        Thanks for your advice that checking your blood pressure, or even asking your GP what reading they got, when you have a blood pressure problem and are taking medication for it, is "self medicating". Is checking your weight yourself when you have a weight problem self-medicating too? Or checking your blood sugar when you have diabetes?

        • bargaino on 24/05/2025 - 19:23
          +1

          Not sure what you are on about, and my response might not have been relevant to your intended question.
          But if you are experiencing feelings of persecution or paranoia, mention that to your GP too.

    • Jolakot on 24/05/2025 - 19:40

      It's for POTS, sounds pretty similar to what you had.

      Your body doesn't properly squeeze the blood vessels in your legs to prevent it from pooling due to gravity when you stand up, so your blood pressure crashes. Your heart tries to compensate by beating faster, which makes it worse as it isn't refilling enough on each pump. Your brain doesn't get enough blood and you faint or feel light-headed.

      Midodrine increases the base amount of squeeze in your blood vessels, which helps keep it from spiralling out of control.

      Tried a bunch of meds and lifestyle adjustments after getting into a (very expensive) specialist, nothing really helped until starting on Midodrine

    • HandsomeSquidward on 25/05/2025 - 08:57

      What you're describing sounds like a common post viral complication. It is called dysautonomia.

      Dysautonomia is an umbrella condition and there are a lot of different types. POTS it's probably the most commonly known, characterised by sustained tachycardia upon sitting or standing.

      Contrary to popular belief to be diagnosed with POTS your blood pressure does not need to drop, and that would be considered orthostatic hypotension, or possibly simply orthostatic intolerance.

      Despite it being a fairly common condition with plenty of treatment options most cardiologists will not recognise POTS and it's associated conditions. If you wish to be diagnosed and treated you need to see someone who specialises in dysautonomia. This might not necessarily be a cardiologist, dysautonomia is dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system so it affects many aspects of the body, many different clinicians can specialize in it if they have an interest.

      If you're looking for medical help in this area, Google the NASA Lean Test. This is testing for a few different kinds of dysautonomia that can be done at home. Then you can take those results to your GP along with the name of a dysautonomia aware specialist that you have been recommended from the dysautonomia community, and ask for a referral. Don't let your GP decide who to refer you to because they'll probably just refer you to any cardiologist and you'll be wasting $600 on someone who doesn't believe your condition exists.

      • GordonD on 25/05/2025 - 10:37

        If that is a response to my posting, no that's not what I had. I had AGEP, which is an extreme auto-immune reaction to medication. People complain about how long it takes to get attended to in ERs. Well, stumble in, lift your shirt and show the triage nurse your body is covered it red splotches, and you see how fast they can move.

        • HandsomeSquidward on 25/05/2025 - 10:41

          Right, that sounds horrible. And it was a post viral reaction? How awful for you.

          • GordonD on 25/05/2025 - 14:37

            @HandsomeSquidward: No, it was nothing to do with a virus, it was my own immune system getting confused by a medication - which might have been faulty - and attacking the outer layer of my skin.

            It was inconvenient having to spend a week in hospital in a bed with a broken TV and phone unit, and having lots of doctors come in and look because they'd never seen someone with that condition. And not being able to eat or talk for a while. Then it was messy having the red splotches turn into pustules, and the pustules break open and ooze, then the outer layer of skin die and peel off. But it was all an odd experience because there wasn't any aches or pains or feeling sick associated with it. Without those things that are part and parcel of being ill, it was like watching it happening to someone else.

            • HandsomeSquidward on 25/05/2025 - 15:12

              @GordonD: Ok, my apologies. I misread your original comment. I thought you said you had an interest in post viral conditions, having had one yourself. My bad.

              Let's hope it doesn't happen again to you.

  • thatonethere on 24/05/2025 - 19:30
    +1

    I had similar with Kaluril. Cheap and limited side effects for high blood pressure. Then it was binned by the manufacturer in Australia as it was too cheap. Like $7 a month.

    Had to get a more expensive option. Which may be the only option for u.

  • bobbieb on 25/05/2025 - 08:17
    +1

    I've used https://www.inhousepharmacy.vu/ without issue for many years. They are happy to deal with Australian prescriptions - although they don't strictly require them to be uploaded.

    Unfortunately, from my basic search it looks like they're out of stock of Midodrine at the moment. It may be worth a closer look.

  • StonedWizard on 25/05/2025 - 08:26
    -1

    OP you’d be better off flying to India and buying a 1 - 2 year supply of medication from there.

    • 2esc on 25/05/2025 - 09:15
      +1

      By the time you add up the flight, a night or possibly 2 for accomodation, time off work that would be similar to the $1200 they are already paying here and that would be before they even purchased the medication.

      Certainly not worth flying to India for one years supply. Not knowing how cheap the medication is it may not even be worth it for 2 years supply.

      Before they even consider that they need a guaranteed quality supplier and a price that makes it worth it.

      • StonedWizard on 25/05/2025 - 10:12

        Only 1 person needs to go or OP can make it into a holiday. You don’t need a quality supplier, you can buy it from a pharmacy in India.

        You can fly to India for $600 return, decent chain hotel is around $100+ per night (cheaper for local chain) and OP can also stock up on other medications they or family need.

        I routinely bring back 1+ year supply of my medications and customs has never cared.

        • Jolakot on 25/05/2025 - 14:33

          It's a prescription only medication, TGA says we can only import 3 months of it at a time, and no more than 15 months worth in a 12 month period.

          I'm sure there are much cheaper ways to get it by skirting the law, but not worth the risk just to save money.

          • StonedWizard on 25/05/2025 - 15:56

            @Jolakot: You don’t need a prescription for these types of medications in India, you can buy them from any pharmacy, as it’s manufactured in India and has a 3 year shelf life and sold in blistered packs. You’re not bringing in bulk bottles of medication like it’s sold as in Australia.

            What I mentioned above was purely a suggestion on a way for OP to obtain his medication cheaper, I’m not saying it’s the best option for them.

            As a reference, one of the medications I take is $ 100 per a month in Australia and is only $25 for a yearly supply in India for the exact same brand as what’s sold in Chemist Warehouse.

            • Jolakot on 25/05/2025 - 19:50

              @StonedWizard: You still need an Australian prescription to bring it into Australia, and a maximum of 3 months based on that prescription is allowed by the TGA.

              I'm sure you can get away with it, but you're still technically smuggling in a controlled substance. The consequences seem very harsh compared to the benefits

              • StonedWizard on 25/05/2025 - 20:57

                @Jolakot: Jolakot - Very valid, but every Indian person I know does this, depending on how frequently they go back home.

    • cfuse on 25/05/2025 - 09:19
      +2

      Until they try to walk through customs with it.

  • cfuse on 25/05/2025 - 10:30
    +1

    Is the postage from the Canadian company a flat fee? Because that screams group buying to me if it is.

    I don't know how cooperative your prescriber is, nor what dosages Midodrine are available in (10mg appears to be the biggest I could find), nor whether you can simply chop the individual dose up (some meds that won't work for) but writing a script for a much larger dose and then dividing it up yourself for use might be a possibility. Nobody said you have to use the '3 month supply' in 3 months.

    • Jolakot on 25/05/2025 - 14:38

      Yeah it's a flat fee, but 10mg is significantly more expensive than 5mg, so it wipes out the savings entirely.

      On the Canadian site it's $0.26 USD for a 5mg, but $2.60 USD for a 10mg, so 5x more per mg.

      Although funnily enough, the 10mg is shipped from the UK not Canada, and is only $20 USD for shipping to Australia. Even then it's still more than we pay here per mg, but I might send them an email and ask if there's anything they can do.

      Although I wonder if we could order 3 months worth for several people in one order? I know others in the same situation, something to consider

      • cfuse on 25/05/2025 - 15:31

        Although I wonder if we could order 3 months worth for several people in one order? I know others in the same situation, something to consider

        That's what I meant by group buy.

        The 3 month limitation (per script, per person) is an Australian import constraint, the Canadian vendor isn't going to care about that, or what medications you bundle together, or how much you buy in one go. All they're going to care about is how much money it makes for them. Pharmacy is just pick pack with extra paperwork.

        Four or five bulk orders per year is entirely manageable for a group buy from your end. Yeah, managing a group is a PITA (especially given the extra complication of scripts) but if you need the savings you'll put up with it.

  • bunkr on 25/05/2025 - 11:46
    +1

    One of the more reputable (all things considered) is an online pharmacy supplier called 1MG. I have used them in the past (like 8-10 years ago). However I do not think they have an international delivery mechanism. It is the same issue you will find at other places too.

    The biggest hurdle you will face, I think, is to find an international drop shipper who would receive your package and send it to Australia.

    • Jolakot on 25/05/2025 - 14:47

      Interestingly, their site is only marginally cheaper than here, $87 for 90 tablets of 5mg instead of $100 at local pharmacy, not including delivery costs from India.

      I may have been wrong about India having cheaper Midodrine, perhaps the information I saw was comparing the price for 1 strip (seems like their standard unit of measurement) to a box of it here.

      Seems like my best bet would be finding a US or Canadian company that can forward the package here, but can't really find any unfortunately

  • umyeahokay on 25/05/2025 - 14:51

    I've used alldaychemist on and off for at least eight years, never had any dramas.

    They have what you're after too:

    https://www.alldaychemist.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Midodr…

    • Jolakot on 25/05/2025 - 19:54

      Their profit margins must be insane, $300 AUD for 90 tablets (compared to $100 locally), and that's with a discount! I'm clearly in the wrong industry

  • urahara on 27/05/2025 - 05:57

    Checkout makismd on twitter OP.

    • Jolakot on 27/05/2025 - 16:47

      I'll put it down next to homeopathy, essential oils, faith healing and aromatherapy for things to try if our doctor run out of ideas.

      Thinking about it, can we brute-force health by taking homeopathic Ivermectin made with holy water? Could even add some fragrant essential oils just to cover all of our bases.

  • Waltervp on 29/05/2025 - 07:50

    Personally i would just order it and see. I've ordered a bunch of things from overseas (i have cystic fibrosis) and usually everything goes through without a hitch. Worth a try. Worth the loss of one batch. And the next thing is seeing if it is real and works…. not ideal, but we are forced to try these things. You don't think it's a controlled illegal substance, and it shouldn't be if you've done your homework, so there shouldn't be a problem.

    • Waltervp on 29/05/2025 - 07:53

      AI tells me: You can legally import a 3-month supply of prescription medication (like Midodrine) for personal use without TGA approval if:
      - The medication is prescribed by an Australian-registered doctor.
      - The medicine is not a controlled substance (Midodrine is not a controlled drug in Australia).
      - You do not sell or supply it to others.
      - It is sent via mail or courier (not carried in luggage unless declared).

  • ATTS on 29/05/2025 - 15:51

    Just out of curiosity, when struggling to get out of bed does your wife just sleep all day?

    • Jolakot on 29/05/2025 - 19:04

      Fiancé actually, he sleeps more than usual during flare-ups or without meds but not excessively, maybe 9-10 hours total.

      Spends the rest of his time either on laptop working, doing chores in small increments with rest in between, or watching TV in bed. Getting out of bed slowly to avoid blood pressure crashing takes a good 15 mins, and fatigues quickly.

      Why?

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