Medications in Canada: What You Need to Know about Purchasing Drugs

Canada strictly regulates the drug market to ensure patient safety and access to quality medications. As a result, most drugs can only be purchased with a prescription after consulting a doctor. This is done to prevent misuse of medications, which could lead to unwanted health consequences.

It's important to understand that free healthcare in Canada covers many medical services, but not all medications are fully covered by the public health system (Medicare). Some drugs may be partially or fully paid for by the patient if they are not included in the list covered by public or private insurance plans.

Drug Equivalents in Canada

Here's a list of popular drugs with approximate prices:

• Buckley's (cough syrup) — $10 to $12 CAD;
• Advil, Ibuprofen, Tylenol (pain relief) —  $12 to $15 CAD;
• Cordarone (heart medication) — $90 to $100 CAD;
• Créon (digestive aid) — $55 to $65 CAD;
• Buscopan (antispasmodic) — $28 to $32 CAD;
• Tums (heartburn relief) — $10 to $12 CAD;
• Zanaflex, Tizanidine (muscle relaxant) — $50 to $55 CAD;
• Neo Citran (cold and flu relief) — $11 to $13 CAD;
• Otrivin (nasal drops) — $15 to $18 CAD;
• Gas-X (anti-bloating) — $16 to $20 CAD.

Prices may vary depending on the package size, location, and province. It's recommended to consult a doctor before purchasing any medication to ensure its safety. You can find equivalents to drugs that have other names in another country using the Pillintrip.com website, but remember that this resource doesn't always offer exact equivalents, so consulting a doctor is essential.

Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications

Some medications in Canada can be purchased without a prescription. These are called non-prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs. They typically include remedies for minor ailments that don't contain antibiotics or other potent substances. A full list of these products is available on the official Canadian government website.

Over-the-counter medications include activated charcoal, laxatives, allergy medications, throat lozenges, antifungal creams, hemorrhoid treatments, diarrhea remedies, nasal decongestants, heartburn relief, cough suppressants, muscle relaxants, anti-nausea medications, and other common remedies. However, antibiotics and potent drugs such as hormonal pills and psychotropic medications are only sold with a prescription.

Some topical antibiotics like bacitracin, gramicidin, and mupirocin are exceptions and can be used to treat minor cuts and scrapes without a prescription.

Where to Buy Medications in Canada

In Canada, you can buy medications at drugstores and supermarkets. Some of the largest pharmacy chains include:

• Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Quebec) — over 1,300 stores;
• Pharmasave — over 800 stores;
• Rexall — about 400 stores;
• Jean Coutu — over 420 stores;

Pharmacies in Canada are similar to supermarkets, as they sell food, household items, and electronics in addition to medications. However, prescription drugs can only be purchased at pharmacies, while over-the-counter medications are also available in supermarkets and even gas stations.

Online pharmacies offering home delivery are becoming increasingly popular in Canada. This can be a convenient option for people with limited mobility or those living in remote areas.

Drug Classification in Canada

In Canada, medications are classified into three schedules:

• Schedule I requires a prescription and can only be sold by licensed pharmacists.
• Schedule II doesn't require a prescription but are sold only in pharmacies by pharmacists.
• Schedule III doesn't require a prescription and can be sold in any retail outlet where a pharmacist is available for consultation.

There are also unscheduled drugs that don't fall into any of these categories and can be sold without a prescription in any store.

To check which schedule a specific medication belongs to and whether it requires a prescription, you can use the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) website.