Introducing our “Top Ten Performers” of the past twelve months. Along with the star performers for weight loss and avoiding COVID-19 infections, there are other popular drugs that have been ordered again and again by our customers.
Enovid
We have written more about developments in COVID-19 and weight loss than any other subjects.
COVID-19 is still high on the list of public concern and interest in 2024. For this reason we kept up the flow of articles about the pandemic and its aftermath. These include dealing with the spread of the virus, like To predict trends in COVID-19 infection rates, the devil is in the detail and More about the emergence of the COVID-19 variant JN.1 . Then there’s information about ways to avoid infection, like Doctors are still worried about COVID-19: learn what you can do to protect yourself, and Five common misbeliefs about COVID-19 and vaccines.
In the end, most of the conclusions we reached come down to two basic suggestions:
- Vaccines work. This is especially relevant for vulnerable population groups, such as people over the age of 65 or who have compromised immune systems. Still, it applies to everyone else as well. As the CDC website says, “COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free. Everyone aged six months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.”
- There are ways to minimize the chance of getting infected. One of the easiest is Enovid, which creates a physical barrier against infection from air-borne viruses and delivers a measured dose of nitric oxide nasal spray (NONS), designed to kill the respiratory viruses that cause COVID-19 in the nasal cavity.
When it comes to weight loss, a phenomenal level of demand for some new treatments grew out of the discovery of the secondary benefits of meds that were initially designed to treat type 2 diabetes. It started off with blogs like Does Ozempic help with weight loss or diabetes? and What You Need to Know About Wegovy for Weight Loss.
More details about how the these medications (largely Ozempic and Mounjaro) came to be the most widely sought-after drugs in the world, causing massive shortages that affected both diabetics and people looking to lose weight, are told in our articles like Riding the Ozempic weight-loss tsunami, Do you qualify for use of the latest weight-loss wonder Ozempic, Why it’s so hard to get your weight-loss drugs.
Not far behind these two subjects, there was a high level of interest in several medications, for which customers have come to rely on IsraelPharm for fast, dependable and affordable supply.
Eliquis or Xarelto
Xarelto (generic name rivaroxaban) and Eliquis (generic name apixaban) are both forms of novel anticoagulants needed by the millions of people who are at risk of blood clots forming inside blood vessels and then traveling to vital organs, mainly the heart, lungs, and brain, where they can cause severe and sometimes fatal consequences. They are both only available as branded versions, without generic equivalents. They also offer greater benefits than many other anticoagulants such as warfarin and dabigatran because their mechanism of action prevents clots from forming in the first place by inhibiting the action of Factor X, a biochemical molecule produced in the liver in a process that produces thrombin – the substance that actually causes blood clotting.
Any choice between Xarelto and Eliquis is one that the prescribing physician will make based on the specific condition of each patient.
Price comparison per tablet/capsule/syringe:
Drug | Dose | US Retail price | IsraelPharm price |
Eliquis | 2.5mg & 5mg | $13.03 | $2.10 |
Xarelto | 10 mg
15 mg 20 mg |
$24.00
$24.00 $24.20 |
$2.90
$3.00 $3.00 |
Vagifem
Thanks to continuous feedback to our site from visitors, we know that menopause, in all its aspects, is one of their primary concerns. This is not just looking for treatments for the problems that come with the transition into menopause but also for ways to improve and sustain a satisfactory sex life, keep healthy, and stay active. The strongest response we get from buyers of all our non-prescription products is the rating for Vagifem, given a five-star review in hundreds of postings. Add to that the fact that in Israel, Vagifem doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription, so we can supply it directly (while still advising that you should discuss using it with a doctor first.)
Drug | Dose | US Retail price | IsraelPharm price |
Vagifem | 10mcg per suppository | $25.60 | $2.96 |
Ozempic and Mounjaro for weight loss
Ozempic is one of the two adult diabetes medications that has taken the world by storm since its release in 2017. The other is Mounjaro, which came onto the market in 2022 and quickly reached the same level of demand that Ozempic’s lead gave it at first. The phenomenal demand for Ozempic comes from two very different population groups. On one side, the original target market of type 2 diabetics continues to grow but at a more measured rate, as more and more people learn about the excellent control that Ozempic gives over blood sugar levels.
On the other side, the level of demand from people who have learned about the excellent results that can be gained from Ozempic and Mounjaro as weight-loss treatments has swamped original market forecasts, so production facilities are still battling, more than three years after the accelerated demand started, to catch up. There’s been an important division between Ozempic now being largely prescribed only to patients with type 2 diabetes, and the newer version known as Wegovy, also based on semaglutide, for weight loss. In the case of tirzepatide, the generic compound in Mounjaro, there’s also been a division, with weight-loss prescriptions being directed to Zepbound. In parallel, we are able to supply compounded version of both semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) that can be prescribed for both diabetes and weight-loss.
Thanks to our excellent controls of the supply chain, as of this writing, we are able to supply almost all of the orders for Ozempic, but it’s still limited to a single pen, which is sufficient for a full month’s dosage. Mounjaro is still running behind the levels of demand, but we are able to meet most orders with minimal delay. Hopefully, even that limit will ease shortly.
Drug | Dose | US Retail price | IsraelPharm price |
Ozempic | 4 prefilled pens | $1150 | $550 |
Mounjaro | 4 prefilled pens | $1375 | $750 |
Motilium
Tens of millions of people in America suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). One of the hardest things about both is reaching a satisfactory diagnosis since the symptoms can indicate several other conditions requiring different treatments.
Throw into this mix the fact that, for now, one of the most widely recommended treatments for IBS and GERD cannot be obtained from a US pharmacy. However, it is approved in other leading countries, including the UK, all over Europe, Australia, and, of course, here in Israel. Thanks to this, as long as your doctor thinks that Motilium is suitable for your condition and will write a prescription for it, we can supply it.
Drug | Dose | US Retail price | IsraelPharm price |
Motilium | 10 mg | not available | $0.75 |
Jardiance
In parallel with the development of Ozempic and Monjaro, which treat type 2 diabetes with a type of drug known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, Jardiance (generic name empagliflozin) was developed to also treat T2D, based on a different format known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors or “flozins”. These reduce renal tubular glucose reabsorption, reducing blood glucose without stimulating insulin release. Other benefits may include favorable effects on blood pressure and weight.
For patients with T2D, a prescribing doctor will evaluate a wide range of specific factors when choosing between Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Jardiance. Each of these streams has advantages and disadvantages based on the overall condition of the person for whom they are being prescribed.
Drug | Dose | US Retail price | IsraelPharm price |
Jardiance | 10 mg and 25 mg | $21.10 | $3.17 |
Vortioxetine
Vortioxetine is the most commonly prescribed medication for psychiatric conditions, namely acute depression and anxiety. In 2021, an estimated 21 million adults reported at least one major depressive episode, equivalent to 8.3% of all U.S. adults. Additionally, it’s reported that almost one-third of all adults experience some symptoms of anxiety or depression. It is especially prevalent in mature males and is closely associated with erectile dysfunction.
Vortioxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that helps restore the serotonin balance in the brain. Low serotonin levels can cause depression, anxiety, mania, and other mental health conditions.
Drug | Dose | US Retail price | IsraelPharm price |
Vortioxetine | 5 mg
10 mg 20 mg |
$19.50
$19.50 $19.50 |
$1.86
$3.30 $5.40 |
Myrbetriq
Myrbetriq (generic name mirabegron) is an FDA-approved prescription medicine used to treat the condition known as overactive bladder (OAB) in adults. People suffering from bladder control may experience symptoms of urgency, frequency, and leakage in passing urine. Myrbetriq helps relax the muscle surrounding the bladder and increases its ability to store urine. This means fewer trips to the bathroom and less likelihood of leakage.
Drug | Dose | US Retail price | IsraelPharm price |
Myrbetriq | 25 mg
50 mg |
$18.37
$18.37 |
$3.83
$2.90 |
Prolia, Xgeva
Prolia and Xgeva are both forms of the generic drug denosumab, which is a human monoclonal antibody. Prolia reduces the risks of bone fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, osteoporosis in men treated for prostate cancer with resulting androgen deprivation, bone loss due to long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy, and bone loss in women that have been treated for breast cancer resulting in estrogen depletion.
Xgeva is used to prevent fractures, spinal cord compressions, or the need for radiation or surgery to the bone in patients with multiple myeloma or with metastases from solid and giant cell tumors of the bone in adults and adolescents. It is used mainly for patients who cannot be treated by surgery.
Drug | Dose | US Retail price | IsraelPharm price |
Prolia | 60 mg x 1 vial | $2,630 | $480 |
Xgeva | 120ml/1.7 mg x 1 vial | $1,853 | $954 |
And now, see what you can save on the most popular drugs on IsraelPharm.
We know that one of the main reasons people come to our website looking to buy their meds is our well-earned reputation as a source of quality drugs at reasonable prices. The table below shows exactly what’s popular on IsraelPharm and why it pays for you to shop for prescription medications from us – very likely, it’s the 50% plus savings compared to retail pharmacy prices in the US.
Drug | Dose | US Retail price | IsraelPharm price |
Eliquis |
2.5mg & 5mg | $13.03 | $2.10 |
Xarelto |
10mg
15mg 20mg |
$24.00
$24.00 $24.20 |
$2.90
$3.00 $3.00 |
Vagifem |
10 mcg suppositories | $25.60 | $2.96 |
Ozempic |
1 x prefilled pen | $1150 | $550 |
Jardiance |
10 mg and 25 mg | $21.10 | $3.17 |
Vortioxetine |
5 mg
10 mg 20 mg |
$19.50
$19.50 $19.50 |
$1.86
$3.30 $5.40 |
Myrbetriq |
25 mg
50 mg |
$18.37
$18.37 |
$3.83
$2.90 |
Prolia |
60 mg x 1 vial | $1856 | $480 |
Xgeva |
120ml/1.7mg x 1 vial | $3285 | $954 |