Looking for some advice on Propecia RE: The cost of it

[PacWantsHair]

I've been following this forum and the cutting edge treatment forum for a few months and decided to sign up.

I've been constantly worried about my hair for my entire life. To give you guys a brief background, I was born with a birth mark on the top of my freakin' head. Imagine that. Not only was I cursed with a receding hairline, I had a small bald spot on the top of my head as a kid that eventually grew as I grew.

I took care of that and I'll eventually tell you how but I don't want it to seem like I'm pimping another product. And it's not the right forum to mention it.

But I have gotten back on Propecia for the past 12 months (maybe longer, lost track). I used to be on it in my younger 20's. I'm 29 now and I'm getting married in 2012. I desperately want to keep my hair as long as I can - especially for wedding photos. How vain, right? Oh well, I've always cared about keeping my hair.

The reality is I'm starting to fear that my receding hairline is getting worse. Some days I have good days and some days it feels like I'm really losing it. I can honestly say Propecia has helped me because I went through the shedding process and experienced some regrowth and I do believe it's the best preventative drug out there.

But the problem is it costs me 80 bucks a month! I have a solid health insurance company but it doesn't cover it because it's a cosmetic drug. I don't make enough money to justify the amount I spend on my hair a year. But I can't get off Propecia. If I do, I have a feeling I'll lose even more hair.

I saw a site called Perfect Generics (.org) that sells a generic version of Propecia for a really good price but I don't trust it. I've heard of awful stories involving many fake sites producing fake pills and I can't go that route. My guess is this site is also a phony because I havent heard of a generic version of Propecia.

I've heard of another drug around here called "Proscar" or something similar to that. It's 5mg compared to Propecia's 1mg but it is essentially the same thing but for enlarged prostate glands. Is this a cheaper option? I would theoretically have to chop an individual pill into 5 pieces (is this even possible?) to make it work, right? Is it really the same thing as Propecia?

Sorry if some of these questions seem silly, ridiculous, or really basic. I'm just looking for a way to cut down on money spent on my hair. 80 bucks a month for Propecia is just adding up big time and I need to come up with a solution (if one is out there).

Thanks for your help and time.

[Tracy C]

But the problem is it (Propecia) costs me 80 bucks a month!

I've heard of another drug around here called "Proscar" or something similar to that. It's 5mg compared to Propecia's 1mg but it is essentially the same thing but for enlarged prostate glands. Is this a cheaper option?

Propecia and Proscar are the exact same drug (Finasteride), just different doses. Many men get generic 5mg Finasteride and cut the pills into four pieces to make their daily dose. This is significantly less expensive than Propecia.

Have you considered adding Rogaine foam (or generic Minoxidil) to your hair loss treatment? Propecia (or generic Finasteride) treats the cause of hair loss but it is not a hair growth stimulant. Rogaine (or generic Minoxidil) is a hair growth stimulant but it does not treat the cause of hair loss. Many men use both Propecia and Rogaine to treat the cause and try to stimulate hair to grow back.

If your hair loss is diffuse and you do not have bald patches that have been void of hair for a long time, consider giving the laser comb a try. The laser comb is expensive and it doesn't work for everyone but it improved my hair so I feel it is worth a try.

[PacWantsHair]

Have you considered adding Rogaine foam (or generic Minoxidil) to your hair loss treatment? Propecia (or generic Finasteride) treats the cause of hair loss but it is not a hair growth stimulant. Rogaine (or generic Minoxidil) is a hair growth stimulant but it does not treat the cause of hair loss. Many men use both Propecia and Rogaine to treat the cause and try to stimulate hair to grow back.

If your hair loss is diffuse and you do not have bald patches that have been void of hair for a long time, consider giving the laser comb a try. The laser comb is expensive and it doesn't work for everyone but it improved my hair so I feel it is worth a try.

Thanks for the reply, Tracy.

I never considered using Rogaine because I thought it mostly treated the back of your head. Does it help regrow any of the front? If there's any potential for regrowth in the front, I'll definitely give it a shot.

As far as the laser comb, I just started to read about it and I'm seeing a lot of commercials for it. I might even be an ideal candidate for it but I'm trying to figure out if anyone has had any success stories with it. When you say expensive, how costly is it?

[Kirby_]

Wait, laser combs can work for diffuse hair loss? Seriously? Is that worth an attempt?

Which models of specifications should I look for?

[Tracy C]

I never considered using Rogaine because I thought it mostly treated the back of your head. Does it help regrow any of the front?

Rogaine (or generic Minoxidil) can work anywhere that is not completely void of hair. Here are some links for you:

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/medical-treatment/medications/rogaine-minoxidil/

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/medical-treatment/medications/rogaine-minoxidil/tips-on-minoxidil/

As far as the laser comb, I just started to read about it and I'm seeing a lot of commercials for it.

I've never seen a commercial for it - but then again, I don't watch much TV.

Here is a link for you:

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/medical-treatment/laser-therapy/hairmax-laser-comb/

When I bought my laser comb four years ago there was only one model and it was $545.00 (US). They have more than one model now, including a less expensive 7-laser version that is $295.00 (US).

[Tracy C]

Wait, laser combs can work for diffuse hair loss? Seriously?

The laser comb makes individual hairs increase in diameter. This effect is exactly what a person with diffuse thinning needs.

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/medical-treatment/laser-therapy/hairmax-laser-comb/

[Kirby_]

The laser comb makes individual hairs increase in diameter. This effect is exactly what a person with diffuse thinning needs.

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/medi...ax-laser-comb/

Ah, I see, thanks. So it's advisable as part of a good plan of action?

[Tracy C]

It is part of my regimen - and has been for over four years. I wouldn't keep using it if it wasn't doing anything for me. Low level laser therapy doesn't work for everyone though - but I do feel that as long as you don't have bald patches that have been void of hair for a long time, it is worth a try.

[Kirby_]

It is part of my regimen - and has been for over four years. I wouldn't keep using it if it wasn't doing anything for me. Low level laser therapy doesn't work for everyone though - but I do feel that as long as you don't have bald patches that have been void of hair for a long time, it is worth a try.

Cool.

Is this worth a try? I mention it because of its cheaper price than the alternatives.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HDC-LCL2-Laser-Comb/dp/B004XHUGWS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325536349&sr=8-1

[Tracy C]

Is this worth a try?

I would not bother with anything that has not been through the FDA process. The only home use laser device that is cleared by the FDA for the treatment of hereditary hair loss is the Hairmax laser comb by Lexington International.

[MackJames]

I would not bother with anything that has not been through the FDA process. The only home use laser device that is cleared by the FDA for the treatment of hereditary hair loss is the Hairmax laser comb by Lexington International.

Wasn't there some controversy as to the legitimacy of the FDA approval, or more precisely what the FDA approval actually meant in the case of the Laser comb? I vaguely remember hearing something on an old Bald Truth about this subject.

[8868alex]

The Hairmax Lasercomb was "Cleared", not "Approved" by the FDA. According to David Michaels and Randy Veliky of Lexington International, this is because the FDA generally grant clearance to devices and approval to medicines. I use the comb by the way and I would say that it can assist in hair retention.

[Tracy C]

Wasn't there some controversy as to the legitimacy of the FDA approval, or more precisely what the FDA approval actually meant in the case of the Laser comb?

It centers around the difference between "approval" and "clearance". The FDA may "approve" a drug for marketing but they will not "approve" a device for marketing. The FDA may "clear" a device for marketing but they will not "clear" a drug for marketing. See the difference?

Also, many wrongfully believe the FDA "clearance" is for safety only. This is not the case. To obtain FDA "clearance", Lexington had to prove both safety and efficacy.

Since that first FDA clearance back in 2007, Lexington has conducted more studies and submitted more results to the FDA. They have received additional clearances for new models. The FDA really gave Lexington a hard time about clearing the device for treating women’s hair loss. After more studies to prove that the device can treat women’s hair loss, the FDA granted Lexington the clearance to market the 9-laser model to treat women’s hair loss. It is important to note that by that time the safety of the device had already been proven. Lexington had to prove efficacy again - and they did.

There is also the matter of the difference between "statistically significant” improvement and "appreciable” improvement. Just because improvement is "statistically significant", that does not mean the improvement is "appreciable". Again, see the difference?.. Whether the results are appreciable or not depends on how the person using it feels. In my case, with the extensive degree of hair loss I had, "statistically significant” improvement was in fact "appreciable” improvement. Obviously I did not regain a full head of hair - but I did regain enough that everyone noticed it. Everyone commented about it. My feeling on this matter is that if everyone was noticing the improvement, the degree of improvement was appreciable.

Way back when I bought my laser comb, I was unaware of any controversy over it. I simply bought it because my primary care doctor at the time recommended I give it a try. It improved my hair so I have continued to use it ever since. I only became aware of any controversy within the past couple of years. By that time I had already been using my laser comb for a couple of years, so I did not give any weight to any controversy - because I already knew it worked.

At this time, I believe many of those who feel the laser comb is a scam are probably people who are not good candidates for low level laser therapy to begin with. That and/or "statistically significant” results are probably not "appreciable” results to them. Their degree of hair loss may fall outside of what the laser comb is cleared to treat. Or maybe the device simply did not work for them. It doesn't work for everyone - and Lexington is well aware of that.