Propecia buying online

Last updated 18 January 2022

The UK patent forPropecia, a hair loss treatment for men, expired on the 11th Oct 2014. A few days later ‘generic Propecia’ or more accurately ‘generic finasteride’ became available from UK pharmacies. A generic medicine is a medicine which is the same as a branded original, but is prescribed and supplied by its medical name, rather than its brand name.

Propecia is a brand name. The active ingredient of Propecia tablets isfinasteride 1mg. Propecia tablets and finasteride 1mg tablets are medically the same.

Dr Fox supplies both from the drug companyMerck(MSD), which held the original patent, and lower cost, which other drug companies have made available since Merck’s UK patent expired.

Why patent expiry matters

When a medicine comes off patent price can fall dramatically. Men, who previously paid very high prices for Propecia, may be able to buy medically identical finasteride 1mg at lower prices.

When a medicine is under patent it can only be sold legally by the patent holder. This means the patent holder, which is normally the drug company which paid to develop the medicine in the first place, is free to market the medicine without competition from other pharmaceutical companies. The result is usually very high prices. When a patent expires other drug companies usually start to produce the same medicine, known as a generic copy, and start to compete on price. As a result the cost to patients tends to fall.

How low will the price of Propecia / finasteride 1mg fall?

The cost to patients of a medicine depends on various factors; how much it costs to produce, how much demand there is, how many drug companies supply the same medicine, and how flexible the market is. Even when the wholesale supply price of a medicine falls, the price patients pay does not always fall by the same amount. Retail pharmacies may try not to pass on reduced supply costs to patients, and instead use falling wholesale prices to boost profits. If there is price competition between retailers, as there tends to be between online pharmacies and online clinics, price to patients usually fall in line with falls in wholesale supply costs, but not always.

Dr Fox is one of the lowest cost suppliers of most medicines for both branded and generic medicines.

At the moment (10 Dec 2014) only three pharmaceutical companies, apart from Merck, are supplying finasteride 1mg tablets. These companies areTrent,Actavis, andMylanAt the time of writing, all are offering their generic equivalent of Propecia at the same price; about 10% less than branded Propecia. Prices will hopefully tumble further in the days and weeks to come (as happened when last year).UPDATE JANUARY 2022Generic finasteride is now less than 30% of the price of Propecia from Dr Fox.

The original patent holder, Merck (MSD) may reduce the price of Propecia, or start to market its own generic finasteride 1mg alongside branded Propecia.

Brand loyalty and peace of mind

Not all men who previously took Propecia will switch to generic finasteride 1mg, even if the price of Propecia remains high and generic finasteride is a lot cheaper. If a patient is happy with a particular brand of tablet, they often will not switch to a lower cost equivalent, even if they are reliably advised that one tablet is medically the same as the other. Whether or not they switch depends on how much they wish to economise, and all the other factors which keep people buying certain products at high prices when they do not have to.

Background

Finasteride 1mg tablets are taken daily to reduce hair loss in men, and can promote hair regrowth. See Dr Fox for details.

Cheap Propecia may be on its way which would be welcome news to the many men suffering distress as a result of male pattern hair loss.

Medicines and their generic copy

Generic vs branded Propecia

For the vast majority of men who have beenotoed, the price of Propecia and finasteride 1mg tablets falls withinbranded Propecia / finasteride 1mg

Finasteride Tablet

A topical solution containing the tablet which has been formulated to deliver the drug to the target area, the prostate and the bladder. It is supplied by the manufacturers.

Propecia Tablet

is used to treat male pattern hair loss (gradual thinning of hair with receding hairline or thinning on the top of the head).

Propecia is also used to prevent further hair loss and baldness in men with the condition called androgenic alopecia. This condition, which is hair loss in men, occurs when hair follicles are not working properly or outnumbered. Alopecia areata is a rare skin condition that causes hair loss where the hair grows back too high of an unublished hair on the scalp and around the voice box. It is NOT a medical condition.

Dutasteride Tablet

A drug which helps stop hair loss and some men may experience some hair thinning. It is a prescription medication that is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male pattern hair loss (MPHL).

Dutasteride belongs to a class of medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. It works by blocking the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a hormone that is linked to hair loss.

Dutasteride is used to treat MPHL and is prescribed to reduce the amount of hair loss in men.

You should not use dutasteride tablets if you also have another medical condition such as high blood pressure, heart failure, low blood pressure, or liver or kidney disease.

Proscar Tablet

A prescription medication that is used to treat MPHL and hair loss. It may also be used in combination with other therapies to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Finasteride 1mg is taken orally and the drug is taken three times daily.

The active ingredient in is a prescription medication used to treat male pattern hair loss (gradual thinning of hair with receding hairline or thinning on the top of the head).

Finasteride is a synthetic derivative of DHT. It blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT in the body. This helps to prevent the growth of hair in areas of the scalp and around the voice box.

is a drug that helps stop hair loss and some men may experience some hair thinning.

Read all of this information in the light of hair loss and other health concerns

The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not use medical advice as a substitute for consultation with a qualified pharmacist. You should consult your doctor or another licensed healthcare provider who can provide you with the advice you need.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if you can ask a questions you don't want to? Ask a pharmacist if you want more information.

Ask a pharmacist or a pharmy team if they have any questions you may not have or which medication may be more suitable for you.

Keep out of reach of children.Keep out of sight and reach of children.This medication may be available under a variety of brand names such as Propecia, Finasteride, Dutasteride.

You should use this medication the exact medication you need to treat your condition. In case you need to use this medication, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or a pharmacist. They may have more information on this at.

This product may have different packaging than what is offered by your manufacturer, so be sure to read the "Cautions" section before you buy. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in this product, talk to your pharmacist or doctor's information before taking this product.

Allergic reactions to medications are common, and can include severe skin reactions, including rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Contact a doctor immediately if you have a reaction to any of the ingredients in this product.

Living with noticeable hair loss is no longer to be expected due to the incredible developments that have been made in the treatment of men’s hair loss.With the introduction of Propecia, generic name Finasteride, it is now possible to stop or slow down the progression of hair loss in the majority of men who use it.

Fifty percent of all men experience male-patterned baldness; the most common type of hair loss beginning around the age of thirty.

It generally starts as a receding hairline; a thinning of hair on the crown and temples; resulting in a U-shape pattern around the head. In some rare cases, a male may end up completely bald.

The condition is genetic; caused by an abundance of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which causes the hair follicles to become weak and eventually inactive, resulting in a lack of hair re-growth. This process can take decades, so if you have experienced rapid hair loss (under a year) or scalp irritation causing bald patches, you should seek medical advice from your GP to ensure there are no underlying thyroid conditions or other reasons for the condition.

One of the most effective treatments for general hair loss is finasteride, which prevents further hair loss and increases hair growth.

Approximately 40–50% of men experience or suspected of male-pattern baldness each year, on at least 1 of the 5 continents.

While hair loss is not curable, surgery is the main treatment, and may be recommended for rare conditions such as alopecia areata (ARS) which is the most common type of hair loss in men.

While it is common, symptoms like itching, loss of hair, and a general hair loss pattern have been reported, most have been genetic; therefore, it is important to GP prescribing of Propecia and generic Finasteride for men's hair loss.

Finasteride is in a class of medications called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, which work by causing a to occur in the body in response to a defect in the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. This occurs due to an abundance of the enzyme in the body causing the hair follicles to become less active, which in turn increases the hair loss and abnormal growth of hair in the scalp.

Applying Finasteride for hair loss can be nerve-wrning, painful, and anxiety-inducing as well as a discomforting condition known as herpes zoster (Jock–Li syndrome). Although it often passes into breast tissue, it is not approved for use in the eyes or for skin conditions, as it is not known if it can be safely be taken by men and therefore, if so, when.

Finasteride is not recommended for use by women; therefore, it is not being prescribed to them.

Appropriate medical supervision is recommended by the National Institute for Health Research (NHIRA) as to whether or not Propecia and Finasteride are appropriate for men’s hair loss.Appropriate medical supervision is recommended by the National Institute for Health Research (NHIRA) as to whether Finasteride is appropriate for men’s hair loss.

Appropriate medical supervision is recommended by the NHIRA as to whether Propecia and Finasteride are appropriate for men’s hair loss.

Treating hair loss involves the right treatment. Propecia is a medication that works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that causes hair follicles to shrink, stop growing, and eventually stop the hair that they have been follicles have the chance to grow again.

How does Propecia work?

Propecia is a prescription medication that is used to treat male pattern baldness. It is available as a generic medicine that is manufactured by Merck. The only difference between the two is that generic Propecia is sold in a generic form and is not available in the same strength as the brand name medication.

Propecia works by blocking the action of the enzyme in the body called 5-alpha-reductase on the testosterone. This enzyme decreases the levels of DHT. By reducing DHT levels, Propecia helps to slow down or stop hair loss and promote hair regrowth.

This medication is taken once a day. You are encouraged to complete the full course of treatment to ensure that the benefits of the treatment do not persist and cause a full recovery.

How long does it take for Propecia to work?

The initial phase of hair loss is usually about one year after starting the treatment. After this point, it is important to take the medication as directed by your doctor. The treatment usually starts to work after about six to twelve months.

After this point, you will notice that your hair loss has gone down significantly. If you continue to see your hair loss as normal after the first six months, your hair loss will return to normal and will become less noticeable.

If you have any concerns, you can contact a hair loss specialist at an in-store pharmacy or online.

If your hair loss does not return to its previous state after six months of treatment, you should contact your doctor.

What are the side effects of Propecia?

Like any medication, Propecia can cause side effects. The most common side effects of Propecia include:

  • Changes in sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Changes in the number of sperm ( sperm count)
  • Testicular pain
  • Ejaculation disorders
  • Hair loss

In rare cases, Propecia can cause more serious side effects. The following are some of the side effects of Propecia:

  • Increased risk of breast cancer
  • Weight gain
  • Increased risk of developing a blood clot
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Low testosterone levels
  • Loss of sexual drive
  • Sexual problems
  • Depression

If you experience any side effects while taking Propecia, call your doctor right away.

The above information is not intended to cover all possible uses and precautions of this medication. Always consult your doctor before taking any medication.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you are taking Propecia and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double up on doses to make up for a missed one.