In the information age, finding out the cost of prescription medications should be easy and straightforward, right? Well, that is generally not the case. Prescription drug prices are influenced by supply and demand, but they’re also influenced by insurance coverage (or lack thereof), region, and the pharmacy’s relationship with the manufacturer. Even within the same city, prices may vary significantly.

Prescription drug prices seem to fluctuate as frequently as stock prices.

Prices for Erectile Dysfunction Medications

Prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) are, if anything, subject to more influencing factors than other drugs. These drugs are incredibly popular, and that works to keep prices high. At the same time, the patchwork of employer-provided insurance programs throughout the United States results in different policies for different employers, and most of these do not offer coverage for prescriptions used to treat ED.

The following table contains a “snapshot” look at the prices for the ED drug Cialis at three top chain pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart), one mail-order pharmacy (Costco), and online facilitator, AccessRx.com. While these prices are subject to change at any time, and may vary somewhat over different regions of the U.S., they do give you a “ballpark” estimate of what you can expect to pay for Cialis.

†AccessRx.com offers 10 tablets of 20 mg each for $167.50, accounting for 20 doses.

Patents and the Threat from Generics

ED drugs are huge moneymakers for pharmaceutical companies, and they want to hold onto patent rights for as long as possible.

Cialis has been on the market for nine years now and has gained market share worldwide based on two marketing strategies: use of Cialis as an “everyday pill” and promotion of its 36-hour effectiveness as the perfect “weekender.”

“Use code CIALIS10 to get $10 Off Your Order Today!*”

While Pfizer, maker of Viagra, has done everything possible to forestall generic versions of Viagra, generics can’t be put off forever. But they haven’t arrived (legally) on U.S. shores yet, so prices for all ED drugs, particularly Cialis, remain high.

Prescription Drug Coverage: Does It Affect Buying Habits for ED Drugs?

Insurance policies that provide coverage for ED drugs are rare, and those that do provide coverage place drugs like Cialis in their highest-co-pay tiers. With the average top-tier co-pay now running to $84, it may benefit men to purchase Cialis and similar drugs outside their insurance policy’s prescription plan. This is particularly true for plans that dictate that certain drugs (particularly “lifestyle” drugs like Cialis) must be purchased from a network pharmacy designated by the plan’s Pharmacy Benefits Manager.

A lot of men are understandably wary of purchasing ED drugs from a busy local pharmacy.

Another reason men consider buying ED drugs outside their insurance plan has more to do with privacy than cost. Though ED is very common and is certainly nothing to be ashamed of, men generally prefer to purchase drugs like Cialis with discretion. There is nothing wrong with doing this, as long as the consumer is careful about evaluating providers of ED drugs.

ED Drugs and Internet Scam Artists

Due to the immense popularity of these drugs, a simple internet search yields numerous suppliers from all over the world, and a high percentage of these suppliers are scam artists. Some of them collect credit card information without sending customers anything at all, while others ship counterfeit drugs that can range from ineffective to downright dangerous.

How can a consumer tell which online sources should be avoided? It’s actually fairly easy. Google searches generally indicate when a site may be compromised, and users should never click on links to these sites. Any site that advertises “Generic Cialis” or “Herbal Cialis” can be dismissed at once, because no generic version has been approved in the U.S., and there is no telling what could be in “Herbal Cialis.”

Unfortunately, despite a close relationship between the U.S. and Canada, consumers should avoid any site billing itself as a “Canadian Pharmacy.” There is simply no way to know whether the drugs obtained through these sources come from a secure supply chain or not, and shipment of counterfeit drugs to Canada is a huge problem, possibly due to U.S. residents’ natural trust in products purporting to come from our neighbor to the north.

Finally, even though prices for Cialis do vary, any source offering a price that is too low to be believable should be avoided. It can be very tempting to click on a link advertising Cialis for $1.50 per pill, but if you do, you not only risk the health of your computer (because such sites are notorious for spyware and viruses), but possibly your own health as well. Counterfeit drugs can be made to look almost identical to the real thing, but the ingredients found in counterfeit drugs include dangerous substances like heavy metals, rat poison, boric acid, and household paint.

Finding a Trusted Source for Cialis

Cialis is particularly popular due to its 36-hour effectiveness, which allows for more spontaneity.

Hundreds of thousands of men have found their answer to discreetly purchasing Cialis and other ED drugs with U.S.-based online facilitators that contracts with U.S.-licensed physicians and pharmacists. AccessRx.com is an online facilitator based in Tempe, Arizona that has been in business for over a decade, safely dispensing genuine name-brand prescription medications like Cialis through U.S.-licensed pharmacists and offering the medications at competitive prices.

Rather than speaking with their local pharmacist or risking running into neighbors or coworkers at the neighborhood pharmacy, many men prefer to have Cialis and other ED drugs shipped discreetly — either to their homes or to FedEx shipping centers for convenient pickup. This is a safe and satisfying option when it’s done through a trusted online facilitator like AccessRx.com, which has a long track record and a positive reputation to uphold.

Even with a world of information at your fingertips, it’s not easy to get straight answers when it comes to prescription drug prices. However, by researching prices up front, you help protect yourself, particularly when it comes to lifestyle drugs like Cialis. Know what to expect in terms of price, and you’ll find it easier to separate the scam artists from legitimate sources. Once you learn what your real options are, you can confidently choose based on price, convenience, and respect for your privacy.

“Use code CIALIS10 to get $10 Off Your Order Today!*”

*3 pills and less receive 5% discount

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