Vioxx was removed from the market due to an association with increased heart attack risk. In response, Pfizer and Abbott have launched advertising campaigns to distance their products from Vioxx and attract former Vioxx users.

As shown below, the prices on Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra are similar (approximately $250 to $260 for 100 pills) at the lowest priced U.S. pharmacy and about 50% lower ($120 to $130) at the lowest priced Canadian pharmacy listed at www.pharmacychecker.com.

Lowest Prices in U.S. and Canada on Cox-2 Anti-Inflammatories

Drug

Lowest-price Canadian online pharmacy

Lowest-price U.S. online pharmacy

Potential savings over U.S. price

Celebrex (25mg – 100 pills)

$127.72

$253.00

50%

Bextra (20mg – 100 pills)

$123.12

$264.00

53%

Vioxx (25mg – pills)

$120.16

$258.00

53%

Source: PharmacyChecker.com

Dr. Tod Cooperman, MD, President of PharmacyChecker.com, stated “Because of their therapeutic similarity, people who used Vioxx will likely shift to Celebrex or Bextra, as indicated by searches on our website. Americans that use Canadian pharmacies will find savings of 50% on the Pfizer COX-2 drugs. However, Pfizer, unlike Merck, has been aggressive in restricting access to its drugs via Canada. As orders for Pfizer products increase, Canadian pharmacies serving U.S. consumers may need to source these drugs from other pharmacies in Canada and overseas.”

© 2005 HealthNewsDigest.com