Accupril is an "ACE" inhibitor that is primarily used to treat high blood pressure. It may sometimes be used to treat congestive heart disease (CHF) and other conditions.

The ACE inhibitor therapeutic category is a broad one that contains multiple drug options, many of which are generics for proven drugs that have lost patent protection.

Some relatively inexpensive generic products available in the USA retail network are: Lisinopril, the market leader (about $10 to $34 for 90 tablets); enalapril (about $9 to $13 for 90 tablets); benazepril (about $20 for 90 tablets); and captopril (about $5 to $10 for 90 tablets).

Possible brand-name alternatives for Accupril that are available from the Canadian pharmacy are: Aceon (about $75 for 90 tablets) and Altace (about $80 to $100 for 100 tablets)

Possible brand-name alternatives for Aricept that are available from the Canadian pharmacy are: Exelon (about $390 for 180 capsules) and Reminyl (about $365 for 168 tablets).

Note: If gastrointestinal irritation is not a problem, some earlier NSAIDs available as relatively inexpensive generic products in the USA retail network are: Ibuprofen (about $5 to $7 per 100 tablets) and naproxen (about $15 per 100 tablets).

Note: If gastrointestinal irritation is not a problem, some earlier NSAIDs available as relatively inexpensive generic products in the USA retail network are: Ibuprofen (about $5 to $7 per 100 tablets) and naproxen (about $15 per 100 tablets).

Possible brand-name alternatives for Lipitor that are available from the Canadian pharmacy are: Crestor (about $125 to $165 per 90 tablets); Lescol (about $80 to $110 per 100 tablets); Pravachol (about $135 to $185 per 90 tablets); and Zocor (about $85 to $190 per 90 tablets).

A relatively inexpensive generic product available in the USA retail network is lovastatin (about $50 to $100 per 90 tablets).

Possible brand-name alternatives for Neurontin that are available from the Canadian pharmacy are: Keppra, Topamax, and Trileptal – each of which costs about one-half the USA price.

PRILOSEC

Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used to treat ulcers, heartburn, esophageal reflux, certain chronic GI problems, and other conditions as determined by your doctor. Because it was one of the first in this class of drugs, Prilosec has now lost US patent protection, and it is available as a generic, but the generic price has not yet reached its anticipated bottom. Consequently, members who have chosen to utilize the Expedite-Rx program have been able to obtain brand-name Losec from Canada at less cost than for the cost of the generic Prilosec in the US network.

Note: In mid-September 2003, Prilosec 20mg became available in the US in a non-prescription (over-the-counter "OTC") tablet formulation – Prilosec OTC. Although it produces the same therapeutic effect as the prescription product, the OTC product is currently cheaper than either the US generic or the US and Canadian prescription brands – costing less than one dollar per tablet instead of many times that amount for the prescription version. It has been recommended that Sponsors of funded benefit plans allow inclusion of the OTC Prilosec for copay sharing. You may want to discuss that status with your benefit plan Sponsor.

Note: Many in health care feel that virtually all PPIs are therapeutically interchangeable; therefore, if you are currently taking prescription Prilosec, omeprazole, Losec, Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix, Aerius, Pariet or Aciphex, you may want to ask your doctor about the possibility of your changing to the OTC Prilosec that is available in the US. If you do so, to maintain continuity in your drug profile, you should have your physician or pharmacist see that the OTC drug order is transmitted to the claims processor. (This should not cost you more, and because of our pharmacy provider agreements it may even cost you less.)

ZOLOFT- Pfizer

Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bulimia and other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Possible brand-name alternatives for Zoloft that are available from the Canadian pharmacy are: Celexa (about $125 per 100 tablets) and Paxil (about $150 to $180 per 90 tablets).

Some relatively inexpensive generic products available in the USA retail network are: Fluvoxamine (about $68 to $77 per 100 tablets); paroxetine (generic Paxil), and fluoxetine (about $12 per 100 capsules).*

(*Note: Generic Prozac (fluoxetine) in the capsule form is very inexpensive when compared to the other drugs in this group. If you are taking one of these more expensive products, you may want to discuss with your doctor the possibility of your changing to "generic" Prozac.)

BE AWARE! Generic Prozac tablets can be much more expensive than generic capsules. Some pharmacies have been switching discount card members to the generic tablets to make more money. The tablets can cost members three to four times as much as capsules. (Most Sponsors of funded benefits are denying coverage to the tablets.)

Zyrtec is an antihistamine used to treat both seasonal and perennial allergy symptoms. It can also be use to treat "hives".

Possible brand-name alternatives for Zyrtec that are available from the Canadian pharmacy are: Allegra (about $70 for 180 capsules) and Clarinex (about $76 for 90 tablets).