July 22, 2020Updated 07:43 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) -- Consumer prices for Propecia, the finasteride prescription drug for male pattern baldness, jumped to more than $2 a month or more than $4 a month in the third quarter as the U. S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) reported higher-than-average price increases for the drug, according to results obtained by CNN Money.
In the first quarter of 2019, the Consumer Price Index () for finasteride - a popular drug used to treat male pattern baldness - increased by $1.7 per 100,000 square-foot product at $2.4 a month, compared to $1.2 per 100,000 square-foot product at $4.8 a month. That was the first time that the drug's price had increased more than twice. The increase was attributed to the increased demand for the drug's generic equivalent, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., which is also the brand-name manufacturer of Propecia.
The increase in prices was driven by the rising prices for finasteride - which is widely used by men who are experiencing male pattern baldness - and the increased demand for the drug's generic equivalent, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., which is also the brand-name manufacturer of Propecia. The increase was driven by the increased demand for the generic version of the drug.
According to CNNMoney, Consumer prices for Propecia rose by $4.2 a month versus $1.9 per 100,000 square-foot product, which is the average increase for the third quarter of 2019.
The Consumer Price Index for Propecia jumped by $1.7 per 100,000 square-foot product, which is the average increase for the third quarter of 2019.
The increase in prices for Propecia was driven by the increase in demand for the drug's generic equivalent, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., which is also the brand-name manufacturer of Propecia.
According to CNNMoney, Consumer prices for Propecia jumped by more than twice as much as the average increase for the third quarter of 2019, which was at $1.2 per 100,000 square-foot product.
The increases were attributed to the increasing demand for the drug's generic equivalent, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., which is also the brand-name manufacturer of Propecia.
The increases were also driven by the price increases for Propecia and the brand-name drug Propecia XR, which is the generic equivalent of finasteride. The price increase was driven by the increased demand for the drug's generic equivalent, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., which is also the brand-name manufacturer of Propecia.
CNNMoney's analysis of the data presented at the CNN Money conference in Washington provides valuable insights into the impact of price increases on consumer prices.
The first quarter of 2019 was a record high for consumer prices for Propecia, which rose by more than twice as much as the second quarter of 2019. Consumer prices for Propecia increased by almost $3 a month, compared to $2.1 per 100,000 square-foot product at the time of the first quarter of 2019.
The increases were also attributed to the increased demand for the drug's generic equivalent, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., which is also the brand-name manufacturer of Propecia. The increased demand for the generic equivalent was driven by the increased demand for the drug's brand-name equivalent, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., which is also the brand-name manufacturer of Propecia.
The increase in prices for Propecia was also driven by the increase in demand for the generic equivalent, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., which is also the brand-name manufacturer of Propecia.
CNNMoney analysis also shows that the increase in consumer prices for Propecia is not only due to increased demand for the drug's generic equivalent, which is manufactured by Merck & Co.
This medication is typically used for hair loss in men. It requires several months to take effect.
This medication is typically used once a day with or without food. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed.
It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand. If the medication is missing or broken, or if you have expired information, contact your doctor for advice. This medication should be stored at room temperature (20-25°C) and protected from light.
It is not advisable to use this medication to treat a medical condition that has not been properly evaluated as it can also cause harm. This medication should not be used for any purpose other than that it can, in your condition, including treating hair loss.
In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some side effects, notably:
Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing side effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.
As was stated on the manufacturer's information. This medication isall excipients should be stored in a cool, dry location.
The effects of this medication may be felt within the first few months of use. Although it takes several weeks for the full therapeutic effect to occur, the medication may still help sustain the benefits of the treatment. Do not stop using this medication without consulting your doctor.
This condition may occur with other medications. Be sure to inform the prescribing doctor of any allergies or drug interactions before starting treatment with this medication.
This medication may cause this symptom. Symptoms may include fatigue, fever, mild to moderate pain in the lower stomach, mild to moderate swelling, and muscle pain.
A condition in which the optic nerve in the eye is damaged. This may cause vision to remain poor for a longer period of time. This medication causes the optic nerve to shorten and discolor.
Symptoms may include dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
NAION should be used regularly and under medical supervision to ensure it remains effective. It takes time for this medication to reach its desired effect and build its required effects. It may cause some side effects.
Propecia (finasteride)
Propecia, sold under the brand name Dutasteride, is a prescription drug that helps stop hair loss in genetically determined men. Originally developed to stop male pattern baldness, Propecia stopped it by inhibiting type II 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that breaks down testosterone. However, it has been found that a small amount of the drug can lead to an enlarged prostate, enlargement of the bowel, and a slight increase in blood pressure.
Benefits of Propecia (finasteride)
Propecia (finasteride) is not FDA-approved to treat male pattern baldness, but it’s widely prescribed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a urinary condition that may occur as a side effect of daily doxycycline regimens that are twice the dose as Propecia (2.5 mg daily).
BPH is a medical condition that affects the urothelium, commonly known as the urinary catheter, which is the tube that connects the bladder and the prostate gland to the penis. Symptoms of BPH include frequent urination, weak urine stream, and a decreased flow of urine. Propecia (finasteride) can also cause an enlarged prostate, especially if taken during a prolonged medical condition called prostatectomy. BPH can cause problems for patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels that may be higher than normal. Propecia (finasteride) should not be used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as it can lead to enlargement of the prostate, bladder muscle weakness, and a decrease in the flow of urine.
Propecia (finasteride) works by inhibiting a large group of enzymes called 5-alpha reductase enzymes, which break down testosterone and finasteride reduces the levels of other chemicals in the body, including the enzyme, DHT, in the body. DHT is a hormone that plays a role in hair loss, and can cause hair follicles to shrink and hair loss to progress. Finasteride prevents testosterone from converting into DHT, reducing the amount of this hormone in the body and reducing the severity of hair loss.
Propecia (finasteride) should not be used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as it can lead to an enlarged prostate, bladder muscle weakness, and a decrease in the flow of urine. It’s also important to note that Propecia (finasteride) should not be used to treat male pattern baldness, as it can lead to enlargement of the prostate, bladder muscle weakness, and a decrease in the flow of urine.
Prices for Propecia and finasteride were remarkably stable at CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart during the second half of 2020.
Average prices for Propecia and its generic equivalent, finasteride, at CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart ended the second half of 2020 almost exactly where they began the six-month period in July. Prices at all three pharmacies started 2020 with a healthy 50% price cut for Propecia and nearly 75% price cut for finasteride, both of which held steady.
Prices dipped by another 10% or so starting in April, but this discount quickly dried up and prices returned to the low-to-mid $4 range for Propecia 1 mg. Generic finasteride prices have held steady ever since at all three pharmacies.
Propecia and finasteride are arguably the most effective treatments to combat male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia. Thenoted that these medications “have been clinically proven to successfully treat hair loss in men to varying degrees.” In some cases, men treated with these drugs have experienced an end to hair loss, while in others, hair loss not only stops but some hair regrows as well.
At CVS, the average price for Propecia began the second half at $4.33 per 1 mg tablet in July. It’s remained at that price through the first quarter of 2021
Similarly, CVS’s price for finasteride 1 mg began and ended the second half of 2020 at $2.70, where it’s remained
Following the same pattern seen at CVS, Walgreens price for 1 mg Propecia began the second half at $4.35 in July and ended it at the same price in December. Walgreens is the most expensive between the three pharmacies but only by pennies.
Walgreens price for 1 mg finasteride was $2.58 in both December and March.
Displaying their usual propensity for undercutting the competition, Walmart’s prices for 1 mg Propecia were consistently the lowest at $4.14 for the entirety of the second half of 2020. That’s remained in place through March.
Finasteride prices at Walmart held steady at the bargain basement price of $1.13 in each month of the second half, producing a completely predictable six-month average of … wait for it … $1.13.
A complete snore-fest at all three major pharmacy retailers? Or a beacon of stability amidst the volatility of literally everything else this year? You decide.
The main culprit behind male pattern baldness is an androgen known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone, the primary male sex hormone. DHT gradually shrinks hair follicles until they can no longer support hair growth. An enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase apparently triggers the conversion of testosterone into DHT. Propecia and finasteride combat hair loss by inhibiting this enzyme, thus reducing scalp levels of DHT.
If the convenience and privacy of ordering your drugs online appeal to you, check out all the many services available from eDrugstore.com, a longtime online prescription drug service. Its prices for both Propecia and finasteride are competitive, and it also offers a limited selection of other lifestyle medications. To learn more, pay a visit to eDrugstore’s.
Dan is a long-time freelance writer focusing on technology, science, health, and medicine, with a lifelong interest in physics, biology, and medicine. His work has taken a particular focus on scientific studies “beyond the headlines,” reading the study to more closely examine the results.
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