While looking for something else, I happened to see that Finasteride 5mg is now listed on the $4 prescription list for Wal Mart....30 day supply.

Posting this because I think I remember seeing a couple of guys mentioning using it or considering it.

Quote from: Greeneyedrebel on May 20, 2014, 03:10:19 PM
While looking for something else, I happened to see that Finasteride 5mg is now listed on the $4 prescription list for Wal Mart....30 day supply.

Posting this because I think I remember seeing a couple of guys mentioning using it or considering it.

That's very cheap, especially since that is the 5mg dose, intended for prostate problems.  1mg is normally prescribed for hair loss.  Cut that into quarters and it's practically free.

Now, if only I hadn't made that lifetime vow never to step foot in a Walmart...

I actually was considering this very medication due to the fact that I don't want hair loss and facial hair. When I asked my doctor about this, they told me that only mtfs take it so they didn't really know how it would affect me. Any ftms here used this?

Quote from: Tysilio on May 20, 2014, 05:31:06 PM
Now, if only I hadn't made that lifetime vow never to step foot in a Walmart...

Perhaps check the Rite Aid/CVS/Walgrees $4 lists?

Quote from: Greeneyedrebel on May 21, 2014, 07:25:28 AM
Perhaps check the Rite Aid/CVS/Walgrees $4 lists?

The last coupon I found for this from Rite Aid was $44.83 for a 30 day supply - that still  beats the "regular" price.

Now, Do I violate my priciples and go to the Walmart Pharmacy?  Forty bucks and change, forty bucks and change...

From what Jill F said, if you are on the 1mg dose you could cut those 5mg tablets up and save a lot more than $40 and change........

Quote from: makipu on May 20, 2014, 05:42:16 PMAny ftms here used this?

I'm cis and I use it. I have heard of FTMs being prescribed it. I've heard it may suppress some of the hormones affecting increased body hair so if that's something important to you (more important than keeping your head hair) then you may want to ask your doctor about that.

BTW, I've been chastised and had my posts removed by mods before for talking about specific dosage of this even though it appears to be handled very differently from hormonal supplements, i.e. the dosage seems consistent for hair loss. You may want to preemptively remove dosage information from your posts. The basic idea of cutting larger dose tablets into smaller doses to save money is a good idea though and I have been able to get several different doctors to prescribe the larger dose for me with the understanding that I would be doing that. DO NOT take a larger dose than what your doctor recommends. It doesn't work any better that way and can actually start having negative side-effects that are otherwise very rare on the recommended dose.

Thank you for the info Dalebert. For me, even though I hate facial hair so much, if I am to compare it's not as important as keeping my head hair. I was looking more into it and I am going to try to get it prescribed. However, I just read that  there is a 'breast tissue tenderness or enlargement' as one of its side effects!

Quote from: makipu on May 21, 2014, 01:08:47 PM
Thank you for the info Dalebert. For me, even though I hate facial hair so much, if I am to compare it's not as important as keeping my head hair. I was looking more into it and I am going to try to get it prescribed. However, I just read that  there is a 'breast tissue tenderness or enlargement' as one of its side effects!

Oh, if only...

I'm seeing $9 at walmart with discount for a 30 day supply of 5mg tablets. The 1mg tablets are anywhere between $30-$60. There's a few websites out there for pharmacies to do some comparison shopping.

Cost more than that on the NHS

Finasteride is an AA (Anti Androgen), and will block some forms of DHT, the main masculinization hormone. T is not the main hormone for masculinization, and that it is is a common misconception. T is converted into DHT by the body. The more T, the more DHT. I strongly recommend you seek your Endo, or Doctor's advice before taking this medicine if your FTM, as you could sabotage your hrt to some extent. And yes, breast tenderness/enlargement is one possible side effect of this medicine. Also, Finasteride won't prevent facial hair from forming.

Hope this helps.

Ally

As far as I know, some people buy the cheaper 5mg pills, meant for prostate hyperplasia (Proscar), and cut it on 1MG dosages to make it last longer.

Here Finasteride is incredibly expensive since only the one manufactured by a major brand is sold (no generics), being 50€ per month. Oddly my Dutasterida from pfizer comes at 33€...


BTW, some people report differences with some finasteride generics, specially with Finnpecia, claiming it changes a lot the texture and look of the hair for the worse.

I hope this isnt off topic but I wonder if men's Rogaine 5% has a similiar effectiveness for minimizing hair loss as Finasteride. Would be curious

They work in two completely different ways. Rogaine increases blood flow in the area applied helping the hair follicles to thrive and maybe grow thicker hairs. One could potentially benefit from both. Rogaine is a lot more tedious, IMHO. You have to apply it twice a day, every day. The effects go away when you stop.

In my experience Dutasteride is more effective, but that is an exceptional price, which makes me almost consider switching. Since I am MTF though, I am worried about blocking as much DHT as possible, and I would imagine FTMs would want to strike a balance between blocking DHT for hairline reasons and having DHT for it's masculinizing traits. I would think this would mean cutting up Proscar to Propecia doses, and I wonder how doctors would feel about prescribing Proscar to have you cut it to make it cheaper.

Quote from: dalebert on May 22, 2014, 06:58:28 PM
They work in two completely different ways. Rogaine increases blood flow in the area applied helping the hair follicles to thrive and maybe grow thicker hairs. One could potentially benefit from both. Rogaine is a lot more tedious, IMHO. You have to apply it twice a day, every day. The effects go away when you stop.

Agreed. And if you are not a frequent hair washer, it is going to look and feel really bad at the fourth day (I was a daily washer, but now I don't have that much grease and sebum).

The thing about people recommending taking the "Big Three"  (finas/dutas, minox, ketoconazole shampoo) at the same time, is that even if you stimulate growth with minoxidil / rogaine, it won't be worth if in the end the DHT keeps damaging the follicles.

Unfortunately I had to stop taking Fina after 3 days.  The side effects were too brutal for me.  I had the worst testicular pain ever and just couldn't handle it anymore.  What a waste of $40.

Quote from: Allyda on May 22, 2014, 12:38:39 PM
Also, Finasteride won't prevent facial hair from forming.


Ally

If that's the case then there is no hope for me to prevent facial hair?  I was looking at the information that someone else posted in another thread regarding this medication and it says  it may at least prevent new facial hair from forming. This was the page:

http://americantransman.com/2010/04/12/beards-baldness-and-whats-in-your-pants/

Also, how soon is ok to start it? I've been on T for almost 3 months (After stopping a bit)