Propecia to go generic January 2013

[JohnTurner]

I am a pharmacist and have access to info like this through my subscription services and it is confirmed propecia will go generic on or about January 2013. We are 7 months away from never again having to go through this online pharmacy/proscar pill cutting stuff.

Just a light at the end of the tunnel of sorts I guess.

 

[Mestys]

There are generic forms of Proscar. I currently purchase generic proscar from my local pharmacy for £2 ($3) for 30 tablets. That is 4 months of Finasteride.

Generic proscar will always be substantially cheaper, but for people who are not confident cutting pills or prefer the simplicity of 1mg finasteride pills then this would be a great thing.

 

[abcdefg]

I was thinking about waiting to start propecia until after this to save some money. Any idea price wise what we are looking at from say 30 pills for 60 dollars for propecia verses the generic version? Will there be substantial difference?

 

[Wuffer]

Propecia is generic in Canada (I don't think Merck Canada was awarded an extension of the patent on finasteride like in the states), but it's still way cheaper to buy generic Proscar and cut it up into quarters. I think generic Propecia is about $30 a month, where as I can get a years supply of generic Proscar for under $100.

 

[wstef]

Are the "patents" on drugs applicable to only certain countries?

I mean, people get hold of generic finasteride very easily.

However, why will it going off-patent affect prescriptions? Surely if it's the same drug it will be under the same regulations regardless of who makes it?

What I am hoping it does is reduce the cost of proper Propecia, because I am likely to stick with it if it works for me.

 

[Wuffer]

I believe a patent must be obtained in each country a company is trying to sell the drug in, and is applicable to local patent laws. I am not 100% certain about what happened in Canada, but I believe the patent laws here apply only to the finasteride chemical itself, meaning it was valid when Proscar was available but not applicable to Propecia which was released like 8 years later.

All the patent does is stops any other generics companies from being able to manufacture or sell the chemical, but after that it's fair game. Brandname Propecia will still be around, and Merck will still probably make some good coin from the drug, but the generic option will be available as an alternative. Merck will probably keep Propecia on the market as long as it remains profitable.

Chances are, it will not significantly decrease the cost of brandname Propecia, but why wouldn't you go with the generic version instead? You won't need to even get a new prescription, just ask the pharmacist for the cheaper generic alternative. Generics are almost always identical to brandname, only they might look a little different.

 

[Rawtashk]

I was thinking about waiting to start propecia until after this to save some money. Any idea price wise what we are looking at from say 30 pills for 60 dollars for propecia verses the generic version? Will there be substantial difference?

Why are you waiting for this? There are plenty of ways to (legally) get finasteride before it's available in the states. Generic Proscar is the easiest way.

 

[abcdefg]

My issue with proscar besides being able to actually get a prescription for it, would be I want .25mg or less and Im not sure on splitting proscar into 8 or more pieces. Propecia is easier to split into .25 or less and I want to start on very small dose even if it inhibits close to same amount as 1mg.

 

[kehcorpz]

It will still be cheaper to buy generic proscar. And the patent expires in November not January.

 

[Cmack2209]

I am a pharmacist and have access to info like this through my subscription services and it is confirmed propecia will go generic on or about January 2013. We are 7 months away from never again having to go through this online pharmacy/proscar pill cutting stuff.

Just a light at the end of the tunnel of sorts I guess.

Excuse my ignorance, but does this mean you'll be able to purchase it in normal highstreet stores?

 

[rj2000]

There are generic forms of Proscar. I currently purchase generic proscar from my local pharmacy for £2 ($3) for 30 tablets. That is 4 months of Finasteride.

Generic proscar will always be substantially cheaper, but for people who are not confident cutting pills or prefer the simplicity of 1mg finasteride pills then this would be a great thing.

How are you managing to get proscar from your local pharmacy for£2? I still trawl the internet to find a supplier! Help!

 

[Mestys]

How are you managing to get proscar from your local pharmacy for£2? I still trawl the internet to find a supplier! Help!

Book an appointment with your local GP. Tell them you would like to use Finasteride to teat your Androgenic Alopecia. They will write a prescription for 1mg Propecia, before they do that tell them that it would be substantially cheaper if you could be prescribed 5mg Finasteride, explain that you have a pill cutter and can divide the pill.

I got my prescription from Tesco pharmacy for £2. (30x 5mg pills)

 

[rj2000]

Thanks for getting back to me, I will give that a go and see what they say, i have been a few times as my hair is thinning at the front but aside from that they have been trying to get to the cause of my itchy scalp, I think its all connected but I have had to have patch testing, bloods etc etc and all come back clear so was going to ask to try it for the thinning but also for the itch!