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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MHRA branded PropeciaThe MHRA has announced that it would supply finasteride 1mg tablets to men in the UK, who previously took no-><br/>daily for 5 years and are unhappy with their decision to stop taking the medicine.
Last updated 28 February 2022
No. While Boots is the mostubiquitoushigh-street pharmacy in the UK, it is often not the cheapest option for many medicines, and not for men requiring Propecia to treat.
Currently (March 2022)Boots sell finasteride tablets from 82p each– this is for generic finasteride 1mg, not branded Propecia from Merck. Boots sell Propecia from £1.19 per tablet.
To buy Propecia from Boots you will need to register with the Boots Hair Loss Online Clinic, and complete a medical questionnaire. After 2 days you can either pick-up your order from a Boots store or local Post Office, or have it delivered
Dr Fox also provides a mail order optionfor just 38p per tablet(plus small prescription fee and P& P). Dr Fox also provides.From online doctor and pharmacy.
| Supplier | 28 tablets | 56 tablets | 84 tablets | 168 tablets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr FoxGeneric finasteride | £12.20 | £21.50 | £31.20 | £58.80 |
| Branded Propecia | £42.40 | £81.70 | £108.40 | £214.00 |
| Boots Pharmacy | £51.00 | £91.00 | £110.00 | £200.00 |
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Propecia 1mg tablets are prescription-only medicine for the treatment of male pattern hair loss and contains the active ingredientfinasterideIt is a daily tablet usually taken for many years, so cost savings can be significant. Propecia is sold in packs of 28 (4 weeks) or 84 (12 weeks).
Finasteride 1mg should not be confused with finasteride 5mg. Finasteride 5mg is used for the treatment of benign prostate cancer.
Propecia is a brand name for finasteride 1mg. Propecia lost its patent protection in allowing lower cost generics to be licenced for sale in the UK. Generic finasteride 1mg tablets and Propecia tablets are.
For further details please read:
Topical (minoxodil 5%) foam or lotion applied to the scalp twice daily is the only other effective hair loss treatment, and can be used at the same time as Propecia.
Men can also visit their GP or private doctor to obtain aprivate prescription for Propecia, and take that paper prescription into a Boots store. Doctors will charge for private prescriptions, usually £8-£20 but this can be much higher.
If you have a private paper prescription for 84 x Propecia 1mgtablets (12 weeks worth) prices are:
If you already have a private paper prescription you can post to our pharmacy ().
Prices posted on Dr Fox pharmacy doorbellNotes: while Dr Fox prices will be accurate on Commission day, Boots Pharmacy and Dr Fox offer no warranty for these products, and the products of their pharmacy.
Propecia is a prescription medication that is used to treat male pattern baldness, a condition that affects up to 1 in 10 men over the age of 50. It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body, which is a hormone that causes hair loss.
Propecia contains the active ingredient finasteride, which is a type of medication known as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. Propecia is taken orally once daily for approximately seven days, starting at a dose of 1 mg once per day. This dose is the same as the recommended dose for most patients, but it can be increased to 1 mg once per day or decreased to 1 mg every other day based on individual needs.
To determine the appropriate dosage for you, take Propecia as directed on the label or by your healthcare provider. You should not take more than one dose in a day. If you are taking other hair loss medications, be sure to inform your healthcare provider about all the medications you are currently taking so that they can use this medication safely.
If you have any questions about taking Propecia, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist. If you are allergic to finasteride or any other medications, contact your doctor before taking Propecia.
To reduce the risk of side effects, take the medication as directed, but do not take it more than once per day. If you are experiencing hair loss, talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage to minimize the risk of side effects. If you experience any side effects that persist or worsen, stop taking the medication and contact your doctor.
Read More About Hair Loss TreatmentThis dose is the same as the recommended dose for most patients, but it can be increased to 1 mg once per day based on individual needs. Your healthcare provider may recommend taking Propecia daily for at least six months to see if it helps you.
To determine the appropriate dosage for you, take the medication as directed on the label or by your healthcare provider.
If you have any questions about taking Propecia, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Read More About Side EffectsIt works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that causes hair loss.
If you are experiencing hair loss, talk to your doctor before taking Propecia, but do not take it more than once per day.
Hi, I am a 30 year old male with 3-4 years of experience in this area, I have been using Propecia for my hair loss. I have been using Propecia for hair loss for many years now, but have been struggling with hair loss lately. I have been experiencing hair loss, and have been seeing some things on my scalp that are starting to become noticeable.
I am not a balding, or thinning hair. My hair is not falling out easily. I am balding in my head but has not been as bad.
My hair loss has not been great. My scalp looks healthier than it used to and my hair is growing in length, thick, and bald. I have been losing around 2-3 hairs a day as my hairline has been thinning, but it is still starting to grow. My scalp is looking normal and my hairline is fine and thick. I am very tired, and am a bit worried that I will be bald at some point in the next few years. My hairline is getting thinner and has not been falling out. I am very worried that the hair loss will be permanent. I am only 18 months old and have been taking Propecia for 5 years. It has been very bad and has not helped any. I am afraid it will cause my hair loss. I am also a bit worried that I will not be able to see my best friend now. I am afraid that if I am too young to have a baby, I will not have access to any family to support me in the future. I am scared that if I go to the doctor and see if I am still balding, I will have to take a little over-the-counter hair transplant surgery to try and get a permanent cure.
The last time I used Propecia for my hair loss, I went to the doctor and was told to take Propecia. I was told that I should take Propecia daily, and would not take it for a long time. So I did. I took Propecia for 3 months and saw some changes in my hair that have been causing my hair loss. I am afraid I will not have access to a family to support me in the future. I am afraid of losing my hair to be permanent.
I am also a very young person with a high school education and have not had children. I have a young woman who is not able to do well and has had no hair loss. She has been taking a very low dose of Propecia to control her hair loss. I have been worried about her getting hair loss.
I am a 45 year old male. I am taking Propecia daily for hair loss. I have been trying to stop using it for about 5 years now, but I have not been able to stop it. I am very tired and am very worried about losing my hair. I am afraid that the hair loss will be permanent.
I am concerned about how the hair loss will be treated. I am afraid that I will not have access to a family to support me in the future. I am afraid that if I go to the doctor and see if I am still balding, I will have to take a little over-the-counter hair transplant surgery to try and get a permanent cure.
I am a 40 year old male. I am taking Propecia for hair loss. I am a very tired and I am afraid that the hair loss will be permanent.
I am a 23 year old male.
HONG KONG (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the first hair loss drug to be sold online, with a price tag of just $12.98 for the month's most popular hair loss pill.
The price tag was set at $10.82 and includes two new products - Propecia and Finasteride - while the online pharmacy is aimed at men who are looking for a more affordable and effective solution to hair loss.
The Food and Drug Administration's approval applies to the use of finasteride, the active ingredient in Propecia, for treating male pattern baldness and has been on the U. S. market since 1997.
The FDA has previously approved Propecia, for the treatment of hair loss, which has been marketed under the brand name Proscar. Other hair loss products include Rogaine, which is applied topically, and Minoxidil, a topical solution applied directly to the scalp.
"We are very pleased with the approval of the drug," said FDA commissioner Francis M. Koul, who is also the director of the FDA's Office of the Inspector General in charge of product marketing.
"This is a first-of-its-kind solution to the problem of male pattern baldness and will hopefully increase awareness of the problem for the better," he added.
The FDA will work with the company to create more effective options for those who are looking for a more effective way to improve their hair density.
FDA spokeswoman Julie Carnel was unavailable for comment.
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