Tricky situation - Need advice!!

[jared_24]

I have never used Propecia before.... but I am adamant to try it.

(Option A) Last week I got talked in to buying a 6 month supply (from a well known British hair transplant company) for £300 / $600. The day I received it I thought to myself - hmmm maybe keeping isn't such a good idea - if I start taking and start suffering from bad side effects and decide to NOT carry on using it, I've just wasted £300!! (Afterall, I can't sell it on - its completely illegal to sell on / ebay prescription medication, at least in the UK...)

Luckily enough, I contacted the company and they said I could get a full refund - I just need to post the tablets back to them. Fair enough. (NOTE - they only sell Propecia in a 6 month pack, I can't buy just a 1 month supply)

So then I thought - 'no problem - I'll just get my local GP to give me a private prescription for 1 month.' Again - BAD IDEA. My GP stated in no way would he prescribe this medication to me as it was a BIG risk to my health (due to the hormone thing) and that the clinical trials were not long enough to judge how the effect the drug has on your health in the long run.... Basically he BLATANTLY refused. He even implied the drug could even cause cancer and heart attacks in the long run...... :shock:

(option 'B') Now, my only other route is to go for a consultation at a high street health store - from which I've been told they DO give prescriptions for propecia. The only bad thing is, you have to pay £100 / $200 for a consultation - and even when you do get a prescription you HAVE to buy it from them (which costs about £40 ($80) per month.)

To concur - I don't know what to do for the best. If go for option A - and start taking the propcia I have already bought, I run the risk of suffering from side effects, stop taking it, and losing £300.
But if I go for option B, I have to fork out for a consulation fee and it will probably cost me a lot more in the long run (should I decide keep on using Propecia in the long term.)

What do ya reckon - Option A or B??!!? :lol:

Any advice would be great.
Thanks, Jared.

(Ps - not too keen on the thought of buying it off the net..)

 

[Wash n' Gone]

If Option B is boots, the £90 consultation fee includes 12 weeks worth of tablets so not as expensive as it seems. £300 is an outrageous amount to pay for 6 months worth and if they are offering you a chance to get your money back then return it to them and get it somewhere cheaper.

 

[jared_24]

If Option B is boots, the £90 consultation fee includes 12 weeks worth of tablets so not as expensive as it seems. £300 is an outrageous amount to pay for 6 months worth and if they are offering you a chance to get your money back then return it to them and get it somewhere cheaper.

Yes - its is boots.

Love these lightening fast replies!!!

Have you done the Boots consultation thing?? One thing I'm concerned about is, say after 12 months you decide to keep using Propecia and NOT to pay for the consultations, do they still give you a monthly prescription for propecia?

 

[Wash n' Gone]

Boots also told me that if I didn't get on with the finasteride in the first four weeks they would refund back the extra £60

Seven weeks in now and no sides at all for me.

 

[Wash n' Gone]

Oh and to answer your question. The consultation continue indefinately. You have a consultation first after a month, then another two months and then another three months after that. They will eventually see you every six months and give you a six months supply.

 

[jared_24]

Boots also told me that if I didn't get on with the finasteride in the first four weeks they would refund back the extra £60

Seven weeks in now and no sides at all for me.

Thats excellent news!! Really glad its working out for ya. Hows the hair coming along??

Regarding the £300 price tag - the guy who sold it to me stated it was a massive saving! :lol:

(p.s. I take it you have an anti-propecia GP too..... :cry: I think a private prescription would work out a lot cheaper in the long run. A 4 month supply from ASDA is £103.)

 

[Wash n' Gone]

Don't know, not seen him. Boots is just more convenient. I tend to get my way with these things and would have changed my GP if necessary. UK health authorities have given Finasteride clearance for the treatment of male pattern baldness and it has been used for twenty years in treatment of benign prostate enlargement. Long term, who knows, but that is the same with any drug. There is no reason to think it would be unsafe.

The hair is coming along nicely. I think I am having a little bit of regrowth. Very pleased so far.

 

[jared_24]

Great stuff! I'm sure this time next year your hair will have improved immensely.

Have you not considered the big "hair transplant"? I went for a consultation with a well known, err, 'group' (not dropping any names :lol: ) but after reading all the negative crap wrote about them I decided a hair transplant is probably not the best option to go for and meds is probably the most wise decision - for now anyway.

 

[Wash n' Gone]

I doubt I would ever go for a hair transplant. If hair multiplication comes out in the next ten years, that is something I would definately consider. If the meds keep me near or above baseline in the meantime, I will be more than happy.

 

[jared_24]

Yeah - thats the way I'm thinking too....

 

[jared_24]