HealthWarehouse.com Blog

Orlando Price Survey

2012-07-24T11:05:00.000-04:00

We just completed our survey of prices in the Orlando area. Again, we're on top (or should we say below) the competition.

Cash Price at Competitors in the Orlando Area and HealthWarehouse.com

	Costco	CVS	Publix	Target	Walgreens	Walmart	HWH
Amlodipine Besylate	6.10	53.59	33.95	21.99	38.99	21.72	6.00
Atorvastatin	14.98	107.99	100.95	96.99	104.99	47.54	14.00
Clopidogrel	15.31	172.99	111.00	157.99	174.99	57.72	15.00
Simvastatin	7.01	41.79	14.95	19.49	24.99	19.08	3.50
Sumatriptan Succinate	25.88	154.99	182.00	125.00	154.99	94.68	21.00
Tamsulosin HCL	19.54	87.59	110.00	66.99	103.29	66.62	18.00
Zolpidem Tartrate	10.50	51.99	51.00	37.49	32.99	37.32	10.00

Free Friday - July!

2012-07-17T05:30:00.000-04:00

We're at it again! We're hosting another Free Friday! This Friday, July 20th, new prescription customers or those transferring prescriptions to HealthWarehouse.com can obtain a free 30-day supply of any generic medication we carry. The offer is only on July 20th, 2012. Details are provided below:

- Only available July 20th from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. ET
- Valid on new and transferred prescriptions only*
- Limited to $500 per customer / per order
- Typical turn-around of 3-5 business days
- Valid for a 30-day supply only
- Enter the code noted on the banner upon checkout to receive the generic medication for free

Help us spread the word by tweeting #FreeFriday @HealthWarehouse! Thanks!

Fine print:
* In order for current customers to qualify, medications must be transfers or new prescriptions that have not been previously ordered.

Free Fridays Launched

2012-06-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

Today we launched Free Fridays, a program allowing new prescription customers or those transferring prescriptions to HealthWarehouse.com to obtain a free 30-day supply of any generic medication we carry. The offer is valid all day today. Details are provided below:

- Only available June 15th from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. ET
- Valid on new and transferred prescriptions only
- Typical turn-around of 3-5 business days
- Valid for a 30-day supply only
- Enter code FFJUN12 to receive the generic medication for free

Houston Price Survey

2012-06-14T12:55:00.000-04:00

We just completed our survey of prices in the Houston metropolitan area...guess who came out lowest?

Cash Price at Competitors in the Houston Metropolitan Area and HealthWarehouse.com

	Costco	CVS	Randalls	Target	Walgreens	Walmart	HWH
Amlodipine Besylate	6.10	54.99	28.59	22.00	49.99	21.72	6.00
Simvastatin	6.40	41.79	23.59	20.00	27.99	19.08	3.50
Sumatriptan Succinate	53.54	439.99	481.19	269.96	458.97	283.62	53.00
Tamsulosin HCL	23.22	92.99	106.59	66.99	103.29	66.62	18.00
Zolpidem Tartrate	10.50	49.79	39.99	37.49	34.99	37.32	10.00

Don't overpay for your prescriptions!

Prison - At Least the HealthCare's Better

2012-06-12T12:00:00.000-04:00

We've recently come across a few articles such as this one from The Daily Beast about people either receiving better healthcare in prison or taking extreme measures to obtain cheap health services and medications. While these are extreme examples and highlight levels of mental illness, it's terrible to see individuals willing to take such risks to obtain healthcare.

Whether or not you agree with prisoners getting better care than ordinary citizens, one thing is common to all...that healthcare costs are high and continue to move up. The best way to avoid high healthcare expenses is to prevent one's health from deteriorating by living an active and healthy lifestyle. Based on the more than 314 million search results by typing in 'how to live healthy' in Google, we're pretty sure a solution exists for all that is both cost-effective and can be incorporated into busy schedules.

While accidents happen and hereditary conditions are more difficult to control, taking health into one's hands can be the most satisfying and life extending measures. Not only will you do yourself a favor, but you'll likely encourage others to do so as well.

We're Connected! Are You?

2012-06-05T11:55:00.000-04:00

We can’t get enough of our customers and we love connecting with you! Help us spread the word about HealthWarehouse.com and we’ll show our appreciation by entering you in our sweepstakes for a chance to win one of five $50.00 gift certificates. How does it work? For every 1,000 new fans, followers and friends we make across on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and Pinterest we’ll be selecting five random lucky winners. Simply join us on any of these social networks between now and June 15.

What if we get even more than 1,000 new connections, you ask? We’ll be giving away an additional $50 gift certificate for every 200 more connections we make. Please help spread the word among your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to get the word out!

More Details:

What: What do you have to do to win? All you have to do is “Like”, Follow, or Fan our Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, or Pinterest pages, and you are automatically entered into the drawing! Each separate connection counts as one drawing, so enter by connecting on all four platforms to increase your chances of winning.

When: Enter this sweepstakes starting today through end of day Friday – June 15^th, 2012.

How: How will I know if I won? We’ll contact you via direct message on the social media outlet where you connected to notify you of your prize!

Where: How do I find your social media pages? It’s fairly easy! You can go to Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, or Pinterest and search HealthWarehouse, you can find our social media buttons on the HealthWarehouse.com website, or you can go directly to:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/healthwarehouse

Twitter: http://twitter.com/healthwarehouse

Foursquare: http://foursquare.com/healthwarehouse

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/healthwarehouse/

Any stipulations? Just one. To be entered into the drawing, you must “Like”, Follow, or Fan our actual pages, and not the post or status update. We’ll announce the winners on Tuesday, June 19^th.

Pets and Heartworms

2012-05-31T10:30:00.000-04:00

As Summer is quickly approaching, and we all spend more time outdoors, our furry friends typically follow us along and enjoy the warmer weather as well. As we all come out, unfortunately so do mosquitoes, which are known transmitters of heartworms. This presents a problem to our canine and feline companions, who are vulnerable to heartworms.

How do they get heartworms? A mosquito bites an animal infected with heartworms and becomes a carrier of the disease. Once present in the mosquito, it then bites other cats and dogs, spreading the disease. The heartworms themselves live in the animal and make it to the heart within two to three months where they begin to reproduce. Eventually, they will be present long enough (around seven months) to mature and affect the animal, creating all sorts of health hazards, including the risk of death if left unattended.

The best way to fight heartworms is to prevent them in the first place (a dog can contract heartworms several times in its life - there is no immunity). At HealthWarehouse.com we carry medications, including heartworm treatements, to help keep you pet safe. You can find both Heartgard®, and Interceptor® at discounted prices, which should make for a fun-filled, and healthy Summer.

Paying for Healthcare with Cash is Best

2012-05-29T12:02:00.000-04:00

The Los Angeles Times recently came out with an article illustrating how paying for hospital services can be greatly discounted when paying for them on a cash basis. The findings correlate with our experience - that by circumventing health insurance, consumers can lower expenses for healthcare services...sometimes significantly.

Bottom line...make sure you compare prices before getting healthcare service. As mentioned in the article "It changes the game when healthcare's secrets aren't so secret."

HealthWarehouse.com Continues to Lead the Pack

2012-05-22T11:00:00.001-04:00

Today we announced that HealthWarehouse.com offers the best prices on Clopdogrel (the generic name for Plavix®) in the United States. How can we continue to provide such low prices? It's simple...we take out the middle man (or woman ;-) ).

If you compare our prices to our competitors, it's clear to us that the other guys either have a lot of middle men or are using your hard earned dollars to pay for a lot of extras (rent, advertising, overhead, etc.). So, unless you like giving money away like it's burning a hole in your pocket, get your prescriptions with us. If this isn't convincing enough, we think the table below will help.

Cash Price at Competitors in the Cincinnati Area and Savings at HealthWarehouse.com
	Costco	CVS	Kroger	RiteAid	Target	Walgreens	Walmart
Clopidrogel	$ 98.35	$ 189.99	$ 74.59	$ 163.99	$ 179.99	$ 209.99	$ 40.00
Savings (%)	64	82	53	79	81	83	13

What would you do with all the money you can save at HealthWarehouse.com?

What really SCARES us!

2010-10-28T21:38:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year when ghosts and goblins and zombies abound. But do you want to know what really scares us?

The HIGH prices some pharmacies are charging for prescription drugs!

It is absolutely HORRIFYING what some pharmacies are charging! Even though these other pharmacies source their medications from the same manufacturers and suppliers that we do, they may charge double, triple, or even ten times what we do. Why do they do this? The simple answer is: "because they can." For too many years, we have never bothered to question how much our prescriptions cost us. We just handed over our insurance card and our hard earned money as well. Now that the economy looks scarier that a Lon Chaney movie, people are starting to take a hard, close look at what they're spending. So are we!

We compared our prices for many prescription drugs with those of our competitors using their "drug savings" plans. If these results don't SHOCK you, nothing will! We think it's time to stop letting these other pharmacies TRICK us. It's time to let HealthWarehouse.com TREAT you to affordable pricing, fast delivery, and award-winning customer service. Let us know what you think and what you were paying before you found HealthWarehouse.com.

Drug name    Generic name      HW.com   drugstore.com   Walgreens  CVS Caremark
Arimidex anastrozole 1mg $ 25.00   $ 436.90 $ 324.99 $ 167.16
Imitrex sumatriptan 100mg   $ 27.00   $ 199.97 $ 94.99 $ 96.01
Flomax tamsulosin 0.4mg   $ 30.00   $ 120.99 $ 89.99 $ 56.08
Cozaar losartan 100mg $ 16.00   $ 86.66 $ 81.99 $ 88.71
Norvasc amlodipine 2.5mg $ 3.50   $ 15.99 $ 24.99 $ 26.25

Healthcare 2010: Filling The Gap

2010-01-29T08:56:00.000-05:00

While the healthcare debate rages in Washington, ordinary Americans continue to suffer from the lack of affordable choices. The gap between between insured and uninsured Americans continues to widen as the economy struggles. Even the security of having health insurance from employers is beginning to wane as companies reel under the weight of high health insurance costs.

In terms of prescription drugs and choices to purchase them , the gap has grown into a chasm. On one side, we have the legal established players who continue to overcharge consumers for prescription medications. On the other side lurks the murky world of illegal online pharmacies which continue to boom due to lack of affordability in the legal channel. Many of us who had never thought about purchasing medications from a Canadian or overseas pharmacy are now faced with just this dilemma.

While HealthWarehouse has come a long way in bringing much needed change to the prescription drug landscape, our work is far from finished. In 2010, we look to focus on the following:

1. Continue Lowering Prescription Drug Costs by relentlessly sourcing FDA-Approved medications legal for sale in the US at lower prices, remove inefficiencies which contribute to high drug costs, and bring a wider range of medications within reach of all Americans.

2. Bring Unparalleled Convenience To Consumers by improving our processes for delivering medications safely, reliably, and quickly nationwide with 100% free shipping. While we are known for exceptional shipping times, we're never satisfied and continue to look for ways to get medications to customers more expeditiously.

3. Improve Our Award Winning Customer Service by implementing new systems to remove the drudgery of picking up and refilling prescriptions at pharmacies. We'll continue to offer "real people" rather than overseas call centers or computer voices.

In the greatest, most prosperous country in the world, forcing our own citizens to shop overseas for medications shouldn't even be an option, but the lack of affordability is driving Americans to risk their lives and do just that.

Our goal is to fill the void by making the legal route affordable and provide a safe, reliable way for Americans to shop in American again. We don't think that is too much to ask.

The Twelve Days of HealthWarehouse

2009-12-14T23:37:00.013-05:00

On the twelfth of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me "first month free" prescriptions, savings on OTC items, low-cost syringes, mobility aids, daily Twitter deals, "Facebook only" discounts, diabetic supplies, FDA-approved medications, 90-day returns, $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the eleventh of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me savings on OTC items, low-cost syringes, mobility aids, daily Twitter deals, "Facebook only" discounts, diabetic supplies, FDA-approved medications, 90-day returns, $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the tenth of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me low-cost syringes, mobility aids, daily Twitter deals, "Facebook only" discounts, diabetic supplies, FDA-approved medications, 90-day returns, $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the ninth of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me mobility aids, daily Twitter deals, "Facebook only" discounts, diabetic supplies, FDA-approved medications, 90-day returns, $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the eighth of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me daily Twitter deals, "Facebook only" discounts, diabetic supplies, FDA-approved medications, 90-day returns, $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the seventh of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me "Facebook only" discounts, diabetic supplies, FDA-approved medications, 90-day returns, $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the sixth of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me diabetic supplies, FDA-approved medications, 90-day returns, $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the fifth of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me FDA-approved medications, 90-day returns, $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the fourth of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me 90-day returns, $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the third of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me $3.50 drugs, live phone support, and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the second of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me live phone support and FREE shipping in the U.S.!

On the first of these holidays, HealthWarehouse gave to me FREE shipping in the U.S.!

3 Common Pharmacy Tweets From PharmacyWatcher On Twitter

2009-12-14T06:50:00.000-05:00

We've been monitoring pharmacy "tweets" for some time on the micro-blogging site Twitter. It's fascinating to watch how people feel about their pharmacy experience in a real-time unedited format. In fact, the format is so unedited, we've removed the expletives from the tweets.

3 Common Tweets From Pharmacy Watcher (@pharmacywatcher) on Twitter

1. "The pharmacy line was longer than the post office. That is wrong."
This is probably the most common theme we see. While drive-thru windows help to alleviate some of the crowds during rush hour, the small size of pharmacy windows makes it difficult to physically fit more people behind the counter which leads us to the next tweet.

2. "Asking stupid ?'s will get you slapped. "Do u guys have a pharmacy?" Ugh!?! Read the sign outside. "XXXXX!!! PHARMACY!!!"
As many of us have experience, the pharmacy counter itself is often an afterthought to the rest of the store. Chances are you've had to work your way through the maze of aisles guessing on which corner the pharmacy counter is located at.

In addition to the difficulty experienced finding the pharmacy counter itself, this tweet highlights the arrogant attitudes we see when speaking with transfer customers on the phone. This is a common theme in healthcare since patients have little choice but to purchase their medications every month. Customers feel as though they are taken for granted and this tweet highlights why that might be the case.

3. "Was just attacked by a crackhead in a XXXXX pharmacy and yes the police got involved."
Unfortunately in today's society, pharmacies have become focal points for trouble. With large inventories of expensive, addictive drugs, there's no telling what can happen while waiting for your prescriptions.

While many pharmacies take safety into consideration by providing on-site security, the lure of medications and sadly the addiction which causes it can create an unsafe environment when shopping.

To follow @pharmacywatcher, click here. Just a small disclaimer, the content here is unedited and raw. If you are offended by offensive language, etc., we recommend you not follow this link.

For a more "sanitary experience" you can also follow our official Twitter feeds at @healthwarehouse and @hw_deals (for specials). We are also active on Facebook at http://facebook.com/healthwarehouse.

We look forward to connecting with you.

How Fast Is "Fast Shipping"?

2009-12-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

We're often told we ship fast, but how fast is fast? Fast doesn't necessarily mean we're fast, but probably means we're faster than most people are accustomed to in our industry.

Our stated delivery time is 2 - 9 business days and sometimes it takes all 9 business days to get there. Unfortunately, we can only control the order process from the time the order received to the time it is picked up by USPS or UPS. Once it is in the hands of the mailman or the brown shorts, we can only guess when it will arrive.

However, the part we can control (picking and packing) often results in our fast delivery times. On average, the majority of our 100% Free Shipping orders arrive in 2 - 5 business days even all the way out to California.

While it sounds basic, here is why we are so fast at getting our orders out:

1. We are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. This puts us within reach of 80% of the US population in 2 to 3 days. Sorry California, but your times are averaging 3 - 5 days with some packages arriving as fast as 2 days. We're working on making your delivery times faster too.

2. We work every minute of the day, as fast as possible, packing your orders until the US Postal Service or UPS shows up at our door to pick up packages. Keep it a secret, but if it means making a little small talk with the mailman, we'll do it. Anything to buy us a little more time to get a few extra packages out. ;-)

3. Anything we can't get out before we run out of things to say to the mailman, we do the old fashioned way. We load up a truck and drive it down to the main post office in Cincinnati to ship the last remaining packages.

We're obsessed with shipping every single package possible the same day down to the last hour, minute and second. We don't relax for one second until every single package has been shipped or the post office is closed.

Of course, all the speed doesn't mean we're sloppy. All orders are barcode scanned and triple checked to make sure every customer is getting exactly what they ordered. Accuracy cannot be sacrificed for speed, after all, we're talking about medication here.

Why do we go through such extra lengths to get orders out the same day? The answer is simple: Buying medications is not like buying books or a tv. Buying medications is often a life or death situation, and any delay can be life threatening. Every order must be accurate and shipped in a timely manner.

If you shop with us, you probably already know this, which is likely why you shopped with us in the first place. That and we offer 300 prescription medications for $3.50, free shipping, 90 day returns, no restocking fees, friendly customer service. . . .OK time to stop.

Tell us what you think? What do you consider fast shipping when ordering online?

Co-Pays Will Disappear (If Only We'll Let Them) - Part 2

2009-12-01T10:57:00.000-05:00

We talked about co-pays in terms of prescription medications, however, another area where co-pays could go is for standard procedures at hospitals. Hospitals charge exorbitant amounts for small procedures such as getting stitches with bills in the thousands.

For those who are insured, insurance covers the vast majority of the cost leaving us a deductible or co-pay. However, everyone ends up paying this inflated cost as insurance premiums rise to cover the fees. This is another case where a new model is emerging.

Two friends of ours: Dr. John Muney, founder of AMG Medical Group in New York City and Dr. Vic Wood, founder of Primary Care One in West Virginia & Ohio are innovators in this space. They offer comprehensive healthcare (almost everything offered in a hospital) for a low flat fee under $100 a month.

Yes, you read correctly. In fact it's $79 a month for AMG Medical Group and $83 a month for Primary Care One, with NO CO-PAYS.

Both doctors faced uphill battles getting state approval, however, once people saw the benefits of offering truly affordable healthcare, the rest was history. Dr. Muney says, ""What is happening in the American medical system is 70% of our healthcare cost is not spent on healthcare. It's bureaucracy. People ask me, 'What's the catch?' I say, 'There isn't one.'"

Therein lies the problem: Here are two doctors with obvious answers to the healthcare debate bringing affordable care within reach of most Americans, but we can't believe it. We've been trained to believe we must go to hospitals, use our insurance, and pay co-pays.

So, have we convinced you that co-pays are unnecessary? Probably not, but until American's can get their mind around comprehensive healthcare being as good as any hospital for a flat fee, the co-pay will be alive and well and the status quo will prevail.

Co-Pays Will Disappear (If Only We'll Let Them) - Part 1

2009-11-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

We're often asked if we accept insurance for purchasing medications. This is a great question as most pharmacies charge high enough prices that it makes sense to use insurance. Insurance can help offset some of the high cost of prescription drugs especially when it comes to brand names.

What happens when the price of the medication is actually below the insurance co-pay? Such a situation didn't really exist until the $4 prescription drug list came out. Now many pharmacies offer this program and hence the co-pay maybe on its last legs.

Let's take a common drug like Simvastatin (Generic Zocor) used to control high cholesterol. Typical insurance co-pays range between $10 - $20 for medications with some going as high as $25.

At typical pharmacy prices, it makes sense to purchase this drug using your insurance since the price of this drug is above $20 for 30 Tablets. However, when the price is below the co-pay at $3.50 for 30 Tablets, it doesn't make sense to use your insurance.

With insurance, you would pay a minimum of $10 assuming your co-pay is $10. Paying cash, you would only pay $3.50 saving you $6.50. The savings is even higher when you purchase higher quantities.

The Simvastatin example will only become more common, as co-pays rise, generic manufacturers get direct access to the consumer, and more retail pharmacies try to match the flat pricing model.

The word "co-pay" in relation to prescription drugs may finally become obsolete as consumers opt to save money by paying cash rather than use their insurance. In our opinion, it couldn't happen soon enough especially when people save money on their medications.

5 Reasons Why Prescription Drugs Are So Expensive In America

2009-11-15T15:55:00.000-05:00

Recently we had the opportunity to speak with a doctor from New York, a nice gentleman who like many Americans was in the Medicare "donut hole". His local CVS was charging $200 for his medication, and Medicare did not cover his cost, so he decided to go online.

He came across our site and found the drug listed for $60. His first thought was how is this possible? It must be an illegitimate generic or there must be some catch. How could the same drug at CVS for $200 be $60 with free shipping?

This is probably the most common question we get and so we thought it might be useful to explain the discrepancy in price.

There are 5 reasons why prescription drugs are so expensive:

1. Regulations - The United States has some of the strictest standards for drugs in the world and this is a good thing considering our health is at stake. In addition, the America sometimes operates as 51 small countries, all with their own rules and regulations. Each state has their own special requirements for obtaining prescription licenses.

2. Limited Competition - Regulations while protecting our health also limit competition because it is extremely difficult to obtain the necessary licenses to sell prescription drugs. This means very few companies are licensed to sell prescription drugs to consumers compared to the size of the market.

3. Lack Of Innovation - The healthcare field as a whole is a slow moving industry. In general, the industry is satisfied with the status quo. After all, "if it ain't broke, why fix it?" The system is not broke as long as you are on the right side of the equation. Unfortunately, for most of us, this is not the case.

4. Brick And Mortar Pharmacies - The way the majority of us get our drugs is by going down to our local brick-and-mortar pharmacy. Have you noticed how many pharmacies are concentrated in a small area of a typical suburb in the US? A quick search near HealthWarehouse in Loveland, OH, brought up more than 10 pharmacies. Can you imagine how much real estate and personnel costs? Take a place like San Francisco or New York City and the costs skyrocket further. Factor these costs into the price of your drugs.

5. Inefficient Distribution System - A typical drug from its origin at the manufacturer to the destination at the consumer has passed through more than a few hands before it reaches you. These middle steps also contribute to the cost of prescriptions.

Going back to the price discrepancy for our Doctor friend and the reason why our prices are so much lower than the others is simple: We are more efficient at getting the drug from the manufacturer or wholesaler to you the consumer because we ship from a single warehouse in Cincinnati, Ohio and sell via the Internet. When you remove the cost of purchasing expensive real-estate, buildings, and personnel across the United States, the price of medications comes down to levels which are affordable for the average consumer.

At $200 a month, our Doctor's cost would have been $2,400 a year. At $60 a month, his cost comes down to $720, a savings of $1,680! While $720 is a lot of money, it pales in comparison to $2,000. We're fairly certain he'll be happy keeping his money in his own pocket rather than spending it at the pharmacy and that's the way it should be.

Tamiflu - What you need to know

2009-10-15T09:59:00.000-04:00

With the onset of flu season, many people are asking what they can do to avoid contracting influenza. Obviously basic hygiene is of critical importance this time of year. Proper hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, eating a well balanced diet, and staying hydrated are all important steps, not just during flu season but any time of the year. Healthcare providers are recommending, as usual, that everyone who is able receive a flu vaccine. Many people are asking if there are any other drugs that can prevent or treat the flu. One medication that HealthWarehouse.com offers and that has been around for a while is Tamiflu. Here are a few facts about Tamiflu from the manufacturer, Roche Laboratories.

What is Tamiflu?
Tamiflu (oseltamivir), a prescription drug, is an oral anitviral treatment for influenza. It is not a substitute for the flu shot which is the first line of defense for flu protection. It belongs to a class of medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors (NAI). These medicines prevent the influenza virus from spreading inside the body. When neuraminidase is inhibited, the virus is unable to exit the host cell and spread to and infect other cells in the body. Unlike older antivirals, such as M2 inhibitors, NAIs, such as Tamiflu, are effective against the influenza A and B viruses.

How is Tamiflu used?
Tamiflu is used for the treatment and prevention of influenza in people one year and older. It is given orally, typically in a capsule form (75mg), and is systemically absorbed, meaning that it can reach key sites in the body where the influenza virus multiplies. Treatment with Tamiflu must begin within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms for full effect.

What are the benefits of Tamiflu?
When administered according to its approved dosage (75mg, twice daily for five days) and within 48 hours of the first appearance of symptoms, there is a reduction in the duration of influenza illness and the severity of symptoms. In flu treatment studies of patients who took Tamiflu according to these guidelines, adults felt better 30 percent faster, and children felt better up to 26 percent faster, than flu patients who did not take Tamiflu. In children, treatment with Tamiflu may also reduce the incidence of middle ear infections (associated otitis media) and the likelihood of febrile influenza (flu marked by fever).

It has been suggested that Tamiflu may also help prevent or lessen the symptoms associated with H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu). The available evidence of the clinical effectiveness against avian influenza is largely anecdotal and, in the majority of cases, is associated with significant delays in the start of treatment (not within 48 hours of the first appearance of symptoms).

When should Tamiflu not be used?
An intranasal flu vaccine like FluMist should not be given within two weeks before or 48 hours after taking Tamiflu, unless it is deemed appropriate by your doctor.

For more information on Tamiflu, visit http://www.tamiflu.com or ask your healthcare provider.

Great news for residents of the Volunteer State!

2009-10-07T12:17:00.001-04:00

Great news for residents of the Volunteer State! HealthWarehouse.com is now licensed to sell prescription medications in Tennessee!

Along with Tennessee and the recent additions of Kentucky and Vermont, we are now approved to sell prescription medications in 41 states and Washington, D.C. We can now offer over 75% of U.S. residents a convenient and affordable option when purchasing prescription drugs, especially over 300 generic medications that we currently offer for $3.50 for a 30-day supply.

“Healthcare costs continue to rise and millions of Americans are struggling to pay for their prescriptions,” stated HealthWarehouse.com CEO Lalit Dhadphale. “Our goal is to transform the industry by offering a safe, low-cost, and convenient option for consumers. As an online pharmacy, we are able to remove inefficiencies in the pharmaceutical distribution process and pass these savings directly on to patients. Our innovative approach has and will continue to make a real difference for millions of families throughout the U.S. by bringing affordable healthcare within reach.”

Prescription medications: How to "reform" our habits

2009-08-24T14:54:00.001-04:00

As summer begins to fade, and Congress begins to reconvene, the debate on health care reform is sure to intensify. In all of the contentious debate, however, there has not been much movement regarding the cost of prescription medications. Now to be fair, the Obama administration did reach a deal back in June with the nation's top drug manufacturers to reduce the cost of brand-name medicines for Medicare part D beneficiaries during the "gap" in their coverage. While this may be a start, it still does not allow Medicare to negotiate prescription medication costs. It certainly does not help those of us not currently utilizing Medicare part D, much less Medicare at all.

So what are the rest of us to do? Part of the solution is obviously to rethink the way we obtain our prescription medications. In the past, we've generally just taken the prescription our doctor has given us to the local pharmacy without much thought. With costs continuing to rise, we all need to be more prudent and ask more questions.

Can you obtain a larger quantity prescription? We all know how buying in larger quantities can save money. This is no different when it comes to prescription medications. You shouldn't hesitate to ask your physician if prescriptions can be written for 90-day or even 180-day supplies. Not only will larger quantity prescriptions save you money, but it will also save you the time and hassle of refilling.

Can generic medications be used instead of the brand-names? Generics can cost up to 90% less than the brand-name counterpart. If your physician will authorize a generic substitution, just think how much you could save.

Have you compared prices? We all shop around for the best prices. Why shouldn't we do the same with prescription medications? Ask your pharmacy for the cost before placing your order. Costs can vary dramatically between pharmacies, up to four times the amount of the lowest cost you may find. Many times a generic medication may cost you less than the amount of your insurance co-payment. Why part with more of your money than needed?

Should you order from a "brick and mortar" pharmacy? Rethinking the way we purchase our prescription medications should include where we purchase our medications. In this day and age, we no longer need to make a trip to a nearby store to purchase anything. Online commerce is burgeoning and often results in substantial savings. Just think about all the overhead that goes into a "brick and mortar" business: the cost of all that real estate, utilities, all those employees to pay to staff and stock merchandise. All these costs are naturally passed on to us, the consumer. Many people have found it cheaper and more convenient to order online. Ordering your prescription medications online should be no different. However, beware of unlicensed, illegal, or overseas "pharmacies." It is illegal to sell prescription medications without a valid license or to sell medications that are not FDA-approved. It is also illegal to purchase prescription medications from "companies" that do not meet those criteria or do not require a prescription.

Obviously, we at HealthWarehouse believe that we can help on all these fronts. Don't just take our word on it! Compare us to other pharmacies. If you can find a better price, better quality, and better service, please let us know. As our CEO, Lalit Dhadphale, has said, "(O)ur goal is to transform the industry by offering a safe, low-cost, and convenient option for consumers. As an online pharmacy, we are able to remove inefficiencies in the pharmaceutical distribution process and pass these savings directly on to patients. Our innovative approach has and will continue to make a real difference for millions of families throughout the U.S. by bringing affordable healthcare within reach." And to further that goal, we have a lot of exciting changes in the works. In the next few months, look for a new and improved website that will make not only ordering prescriptions and healthcare supplies easier but will also make it easier for you to compare prices and even get great healthcare information. We are really excited about these changes and can't wait until we can roll them out! So keep an eye out and let us know what you think.

HealthWarehouse.com Announces $3.50 Prescription Drug Program

2009-07-13T11:04:00.000-04:00

Leading U.S. online mail-order pharmacy to offer prescription drugs at prices below those of competitors

HealthWarehouse.com (Ticker: IONN.OB) a leading online pharmacy, today announced that it will offer a 30-day supply of over 300 popular generic prescription drugs for $3.50. With outstanding service and prices below that of competitors, including Wal-Mart and Target, HealthWarehouse.com is poised to set the standard for delivering significant value to consumers on prescription medications. The program will initially be available to customers in 37 states and will be expanded to all 50 states and US Territories in the coming months.

“Healthcare costs continue to rise and millions of Americans are struggling to pay for their prescriptions,” stated HealthWarehouse.com CEO Lalit Dhadphale. “Our goal is to transform the industry by offering a safe, low-cost, and convenient option for consumers. As an online pharmacy, we are able to remove inefficiencies in the pharmaceutical distribution process and pass these savings directly on to patients. Our innovative approach has and will continue to make a real difference for millions of families throughout the U.S. by bringing affordable healthcare within reach.”
Key components of the program include:

• Pricing of $3.50 for a 30-day supply of generic prescription medications
• Pricing of $9.50 for a 90-day supply of generic prescription medications
• Coverage of nearly 300 generic medications in all major therapeutic categories, including diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol
• Processing of all prescription orders and refills online or via phone and 100% free shipping from a state-of-the art pharmacy directly to the patient’s home

“All Americans should have access to affordable FDA-approved drugs,” continued Dhadphale. “For example, a 30-day supply of Zocor is $150, the cost of the generic (Simvastatin), at a regular pharmacy is $28, while the same prescription at HealthWarehouse.com, is only $3.50. We are confident that our program delivers real value to patients.”

For a complete list of the drugs available through the HealthWarehouse.com Prescription Drug Program, visit www.healthwarehouse.com

Business combination should enable HealthWarehouse.com to accelerate expansion of industry-leading $3.50 prescription drug program

2009-05-15T11:27:00.000-04:00

Cincinnati, Ohio (May 15, 2009) – HealthWarehouse.com, Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation, and Clacendix, Inc. (OTCBB: IONN.OB) announced today the completion of their business combination pursuant to a securities exchange agreement. The combined company will assume and execute the HealthWarehouse.com business plan as its sole business. In connection with the business combination, Clacendix intends to change its name to HealthWarehouse.com. Until the name change becomes effective, Clacendix shares will continue to be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the ticker IONN.OB.

Under the securities exchange agreement, Clacendix acquired all the outstanding capital stock of HealthWarehouse.com from the existing stockholders of HealthWarehouse.com in exchange for newly-issued shares of Clacendix common stock. As a result of the share exchange, HealthWarehouse.com is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clacendix and the former HealthWarehouse.com stockholders will own, on a post-transaction basis, approximately 82.4% of the outstanding common stock of Clacendix. Prior to the close of the business combination, HealthWarehouse.com completed a financing, raising net proceeds of $1.2 million from accredited investors. Clacendix will file a Form 8-K on or before May 20, 2009, which will contain detailed business and financial information concerning the combined company.

HealthWarehouse.com, a licensed U.S. online mail-order pharmacy, is working to revolutionize the way Americans purchase prescription drugs and healthcare products. In addition to offering cost savings, HealthWarehouse.com seeks to enhance the consumer experience by providing exceptional customer service, convenience and privacy. With some of the lowest priced prescriptions in the United States, 100% free shipping and 90-day returns with no restocking fees, consumers have responded by making HealthWarehouse.com one of the fastest growing online pharmacies.

Clacendix CEO, Norman Corn said, “We are truly excited, having searched for a suitable business combination candidate for over a year. HealthWarehouse.com is growing at an incredible rate with an impressive business model that we believe delivers outstanding consumer value.”

Upon the close of the business combination, the company appointed Lalit Dhadphale as Chairman, President and CEO, in addition to his duties as a director of HealthWarehouse.com, he will now serve as director of the combined company. Patrick E. Delaney, Chief Financial Officer at Clacendix, will continue in the same role.

“This is a significant step forward for our company,” states CEO Lalit Dhadphale. “We are excited to leverage the public financial markets to fund expansion and further accelerate our strategy to deliver consumers a convenient and affordable option when purchasing prescription drugs in the United States.”

About HealthWarehouse.com

HealthWarehouse.com, Inc. is a licensed U.S. online mail-order pharmacy based in Cincinnati, Ohio. HealthWarehouse.com is the first company to offer FDA-approved generic prescriptions at $3.50 for 30-day supplies and $9.50 for 90-day supplies with 100% free shipping. HealthWarehouse.com’s mission is to redefine the meaning of healthcare and relentlessly strive to make it affordable for all Americans.

The information contained in this press release contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A forward-looking statement is one which is based on current expectations of future events or conditions and does not relate to historical or current facts. These statements include various estimates, forecasts, projections of Clacendix’ future performance, statements of Clacendix’ plans and objectives, and other similar statements. Forward-looking statements include phrases such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “assumes,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “will be,” “should,” or similar expressions. Although Clacendix believes that its current expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure you that the expectations contained in such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, as they speak only as of the date of this press release, and Clacendix expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein.

LifeScan’s Decision to Discontinue Two OneTouch Strip Products

2009-05-13T11:45:00.000-04:00

Are your OneTouch test strips becoming harder to find and possibly increasing in price? Effective December 2008, Lifescan has made the decision to discontinue two of its OneTouch test strip products due to decline in demand. If you are using a OneTouch FastTake or One Touch Basic, II or Profile glucose meter, now may be the right time to look into upgrading your system.

LifeScan’s decision to cease the manufacturing of the two categories of OneTouch test strips was cited as a result of declining demand; it is not the result of any type of safety issue regarding the products. The final batch of FastTake test strips will have the expiry date of March 2010. Compatible strips for the other meters listed above, the expiration of these last test strips will be January 2010.

With the ever-present proliferation of counterfeit test strips, if you choose to continue shopping for these strips, please keep the noted expiration dates in mind. If you haven’t already switched, now is a great time to consider upgrading your meter and corresponding supplies; doing so will ensure the ease of sourcing your diabetic testing needs and potentially save you both time and money.

For additional questions related to LifeScan products, contact the U.S. Customer Service at: 1-800 227-8862

Americans Overwhelmingly Preferring And Requesting Generic Drugs

2009-03-17T20:24:00.000-04:00

Americans are beginning to become fed up with the high cost of brand name drugs. Consumers are learning more about generic drugs which is leading to an increase in requests for generic medications. In a study done earlier this year, the top two reasons doctors prescribed generic drugs in the past year were patients asked about them or actually preferred them to the brand name equivalent.

A Harris Poll recently found that 81% of American consumers say they prefer generic medications to brand name medications, an increase of 13% since October 2006. SeekingAlpha.com did a great job breaking down the Harris Poll.

What the poll fails to look at is 'Why American consumers prefer generic medications'. It is believed (and quite obvious) that the American consumer is sick and tired of the ridiculous costs of brand name drugs. Americans have always been good at adapting and in these tough economic times Americans are beginning to seek out ways to save money. For a lot of people medications are a necessity, however, many of these people are looking to the generic equivalent as a cheaper alternative.

The more informed American consumer is beginning to put the pressure on the doctors as well. Many people wonder why generic prescriptions aren't prescribed all of the time? It's a logical question that has people baffled by the answer. The reason is the branded drugs have representatives who leave samples of these branded medications with the health care provider, with the intention and belief that the health care provider will select this branded drug as a result. Generic medications, while much less expensive than the branded medications, do not have samples to be left with the health care providers.

Apparently it doesn't take much to persuade most doctors, but the American public is fighting back and requesting that their doctors prescribe generic equivalents. In the next few years some of the largest drugs come off patent which will allow Americans the opportunity to choose the generic equivalents and save money. The American health care consumer is becoming smarter and more informed, and the "Generic Revolution" is starting.

How To Save Big On Prescription Drugs

2008-11-21T12:59:00.000-05:00

We are a pill-popping nation. Americans are taking medicine for everything from heartburn to erectile dysfunction. But a growing number of people are having trouble paying for medicine. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation Poll found that 29 percent have not filled prescriptions in the last two years because of cost.

Here are some tips on how to be a smarter patient and stretch your health care dollars:

SHOP!

Few consumers realize that the retail price of a prescription can vary among local drugstores by 300-400 percent; shopping around can save plenty. Mail-order pharmacies and online retailers offer even greater savings. The value of drug purchases also varies with the quantity of medicine purchased. Maximize your savings by finding out what quantity of pills gives you the best value and purchase your medicines from the retail or online pharmacy that gives you the best price.

Find out the retail price of a prescription before using a prescription drug insurance plan

Your prescription drug co-payment may be higher than the retail price! Always find out what your drug costs retail before using any prescription coverage, then you can choose the most economical way of paying for it.

Insist on treatment with generic drugs

Generic drugs cost up to 90 percent less than their brand-name counterparts. Insist your doctor prescribe medications that are generically available. Obtain generic substitutions for expensive brand names whenever possible.

Insist on cheaper medicines within the same class, or a cheaper class of medicine for the same treatment goal

Because doctors don't often consider cost when prescribing medication, they tend to choose the latest, most expensive drugs. There are usually cheaper medication choices. Ask your doctor if a substitution for an expensive drug would be an appropriate way to bring prescription costs within your budget.

Buy a three month supply

Usually it's less expensive to get a 90-day supply instead of buying one month at a time.

Look into prescriptions by mail

Sometimes you have to plan ahead on this one, but it can end up saving you a lot of money.

Prescription drugs are becoming more and more expensive, but if you follow these tips and do your research you can end up saving a lot on your prescription bills - without sacrificing your health.