Dr. Michael Bihari, a Massachusetts physician who writes about prescription drugs for About.com, has long advocated licensed Canadian pharmacies as a good option for U.S. consumers seeking low-cost medications.

Recently, “Dr. Mike” took his own advice to save money on his high blood pressure medication (Diovan 80 mg). Here’s an excerpt from his article on the decision:

“Last month I hit the coverage gap in my Medicare Part D drug plan. The dreaded coverage gap, also known as the ‘donut hole,’ is the period during which Medicare drug plan beneficiaries have to pay 100% of their drug costs… While in the donut hole, my monthly cost for Diovan 80mg is $144.00 if I purchase the medication through my Medicare Part D plan.

“To save money, I decided to try pill splitting and buying my medication online from a reputable Canadian pharmacy … I ordered 60 tablets of Diovan 160 mg online, along with a pill splitting device. The cost for the medication was $66.00 plus $10.00 shipping.”

In comments on his post, someone asks if Canadian pharmacies are safe. The doctor’s reply:

“Canada has a good control system and many of the drugs are manufactured by American drug companies in Canada or imported from the U.S. It’s important that you learn how to recognize a legitimate online pharmacy.”

Amen. That makes all the difference.