Starting on propecia?

[Mr Wabbit]

Hello, Iv been trying 2 decide for ages weather to start taking this. but after looking at my hair iv decided its not going to get any better if i dont do anything, So im after abit of advice. I know its prob been posted before but its hard to scroll through it all. So here goes

1) My main hairloss is at the sides (not sure what its called - temples?) and my hairline. Will propecia be any good for here?

2) I live in the UK so does any one know how much this stuff usually costs?

3) I know there is the possibility of side effects, but are there any serious ones? and if you stop taking it will they go?

4) Lastly what are all the different types i keep reading about? are they all the same thing but just made by different people?

p.s at the min i use minoxidil / spironolactone and nizoral shampoo but havent seen any good results.

Thanks for any advice

 

[Britannia]

Hello, Iv been trying 2 decide for ages weather to start taking this. but after looking at my hair iv decided its not going to get any better if i dont do anything, So im after abit of advice. I know its prob been posted before but its hard to scroll through it all. So here goes

1) My main hairloss is at the sides (not sure what its called - temples?) and my hairline. Will propecia be any good for here?

Yes. Despite the fact the FDA trials did not focus on the frontal and temple areas, evidence exists to suggest it is effective in these areas.

Hell
2) I live in the UK so does any one know how much this stuff usually costs?

About £40 a month from UK pharmacies. You need a prescription from your GP. You can import generic finasteride from abroad (legally) for about £15 a month.

3) I know there is the possibility of side effects, but are there any serious ones? and if you stop taking it will they go?

Side effects including impotence and breast tenderness occur in less than 2% of patients (concluded by FDA approved trials). Sides go away if finasteride discontiuned.

4) Lastly what are all the different types i keep reading about? are they all the same thing but just made by different people?

Propecia = 1mg Finasteride made by Merck
Finpecia = 1 mg Finasteride made by Cipla (this is the generic finasteride priced at about £15).

Then there is Proscar and Fincar which are 5mg tablets and need to be split into 1/5ths before being taken (to obtain the 1mg daily dosage).

 

[Mr Wabbit]

Thanks for that info, it really helped. Just wanna check oh you say

Proscar and Fincar which are 5mg tablets and need to be split into 1/5ths before being taken (to obtain the 1mg daily dosage).

Are proscar and fincar the same thing as propecia but you just have to split them down your self?

Lastly my hair is still fairly thick everywhere else except the front and sides, so do you think that starting now will help me keep what i have? due to all my family are bold and i know its my fate but i wanna hold it back aslong as possible? or could it possibly cost me more hair?

Thanks again

 

[Aplunk1]

Will definitely help you to keep what you have. Propecia is suggested to work over 5 years. Definitely stay on the Big 3, at least, until a better treatment comes out. You won't regret it.

 

[Britannia]

Proscar and Fincar are the same drug as Propecia (finasteride) but five times the strength. So you need to split them yourself into 5 pieces and take one piece a day. Many people chose to do this - it saves money.
Starting treatment with finasteride will certainely help you maintain what hair you have now and possibly achieve regrowth.

 

[larry70470]

Propecia & Proscar

Mr. Wabbit, if you travel internationally or know someone who does you can get your best prices in Bangkok, they offer the full range of Proscar, Propecia and the generic brands. I was one of the first people to use Proscar (5% Finerteride) and cut it into quarters, well before Propecia was released, I had a doctors perscription back then. I used it for 6 months with no results, only side effects so I discontinued using it. Late last year I decided try again. Propecia in Bangkok costs $30 for 30 pills, Proscar costs $35 for 30 pills but you split then in 4's, the generic stuff is about half of the Merck pharmacuticals price. Note that I priced Proscar inHong Kong last week and it was about $44. Also note Nizoral 2% Shampoo is about $9 in Bangkok. I lost track of time but way back when it was theroized that Minoxidil might grow hair I had a doctors perscription where a pharmisit would actually make the mixture for me. So far I had no scccess, good luck to you.
I did see where 4corners Pharmacy is selling Proscar for $95. All pricing is in US dollars.