What is Propecia?
Propecia (pronounced as Pro-pee-sha) is the brand name for generic drug Finasteride of 1 mg concentration, available in oral tablet form. Simply put, Propecia is a tablet brand containing 1 mg of Finasteride. There are also other alternative brands manufacturing Finasteride 1 mg tablets.
What is Finasteride?
Finasteride helps in reducing male pattern hair loss by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Prescription is needed for Finasteride.
Finasteride is one of the only two medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for hair loss. The other medication is minoxidil. Different from Finasteride, Minoxidil comes in either liquid or foam that you can apply on your scalp daily. No prescription is needed for Minoxidil. You can easily buy it from any pharmacies such as Guardian or Watsons.
Prescription is needed for Finasteride
You might be panicking at the fact that prescription is needed for Finasteride but not Minoxidil. You might start thinking that Finasteride is a dangerous medication to take.
Fret not! During the consultation session, the doctor will just be checking your overall health condition and your family history in baldness to determine whether Finasteride is the suitable medication for you.
If your hair loss is caused by a sudden change of habits or conditions, you should probably realize on your own that Finasteride isn’t the best solution for your hair loss problem. If you have a history of male pattern baldness in your family tree and the doctor determines that you can try Finasteride, he or she will explain to you all the potential side effects of Finasteride.
Similar to all medications, there are always some potential side effects that might happen to some people. Side effects may happen with all medications, whether it is by prescription or non-prescription. Side effects vary with individuals, with some people not showing any side effects at all.
The common side effects of Finasteride include
- A decrease in sex drive
- Trouble getting or keeping an erection
- A decrease in the amount of semen
- Read here for a full list of potential side effects
If you are worried about these side effects, there are other ways to help with your hair loss. Have you tried adopting a healthier lifestyle or have you tried applying Minoxidil? Finasteride may not be the only option for you.
In addition, you will need to know that continuous daily consumption of Finasteride is needed to control your hair loss. Once the medication is stopped, the reversal of results will happen.
Where to buy cheap Propecia in Singapore?
Before 2014, Finasteride was primarily marketed under the brand name of Propecia by Merck & Co. However, Merck’s patent on finasteride expired in 2013 and since then, other brands have emerged in the market.
A one-month supply of Propecia in Singapore costs around SGD 90. It is available for sale in any clinic. Before starting the medication, you will need to consult your doctor once. From then onwards, you can just buy it over the counter from the clinic without any consultation.
Some clinics also sell other generic brands of Finasteride and a one-month supply can cost as low as SGD 60. Just ask your doctor whether they carry any other generic brands.
Before buying Propecia or Finasteride
Before you commit yourself on a long-term basis (and probably forever) to Propecia or Finasteride, there are things that you should know:
- Propecia is for use by MEN only since it targets male pattern baldness.
- Females should not come in contact with broken or crushed Propecia tablets.
- Consult your doctor if you have any medical conditions and allergies prior to taking Propecia.
- Let your doctor know all the medications that you are regularly taking, including non-prescription medicines such as over-the-counter vitamins.
- Do not take an extra tablet if you miss a dose.
- Finasteride may not start working immediately. It may take at least 3 months of daily use or more before you notice any results. Be patient and stay positive.
FAQ
Where to buy Propecia (finasteride) online in Singapore?
Propecia or finasteride is a controlled drug in Singapore. You can’t buy it over-the-counter or online in Singapore.
Summary
We understand that you don’t want to be bald. We don’t want you to be bald too. However, it is important to consult a doctor and understand the potential side effects before committing yourself to Finasteride. You may also ask your doctor whether they carry cheaper generic brands of Finasteride as an alternative to Propecia.
