Comparison of Canadian online pharmacies with conventional pharmacies for erectile dysfunction drugs. The Cost of Convenience and discretion

Abstract Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition affecting about 50% of men over the age of 40. ED can be related to cardiovascular disease and diabetes requiring further evaluation and workup, unfortunately many men with ED commonly avoid seeking treatment for reasons such as embarrassment. In the past few years, multiple online pharmacies offering easy access to ED medications have emerged, advertising easy online forms, no conventional doctors visit and discreet delivery to their home. We sought to compare the prices of five popular online ED pharmacies with conventional pharmacies, hypothesizing that online pharmacies would come at increased cost to patients. Methods The five online pharmacies were found on the first result page of a google search for “ED drugs online Canada”. Consumer prices for Tadalafil and Sildenafil were acquired through available website information or by contacting customer service. The prices were expressed as price per pill and compared with four conventional pharmacies in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Pricing differences were expressed as a percentage. Results When comparing the price per pill of the smallest order of tabs that can be purchased, the price of ED medications from online pharmacies was on average 15% higher without including the dispensing fee of the conventional pharmacy comparators. Once taking dispensing fees into account, the cost ED medications from conventional pharmacies was about 3-4% higher compared to online conventional pharmacies. Dispensing fees ranged from $12.99 to $16.00 per order. Savings could be seen with conventional pharmacies when order quantities increased as the dispensing fee is fixed per order. Conclusions Online pharmacies in Canada that boast convenience and discretion to customers offer similar pricing to conventional pharmacies. Despite their competitive pricing, their focus on discretion further perpetuates common stereotypes of ED that may prevent men from seeking help from their care providers.