Why Finasteride Isn’t a “Free Trial” Type of Drug
Finasteride is the generic name of the active ingredient used in popular hair loss drug Propecia, made by Merck.
While many popular drugs, including “lifestyle” drugs like Viagra, offer free trials so that potential users can determine how effective the drug is for them, finasteride is not the type of drug that works well in a free trial. While some men notice results soon after starting the drug, doctors generally advise men to take the drug for several months to learn whether it will be effective. The range of results with finasteride varies, from slowing of hair loss, to cessation of hair loss, to reversal of hair loss and hair re-growth. There’s no way to tell how it will affect you without taking it for awhile.
How Finasteride Works
Finasteride is what is known as a type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. That means that it lowers levels of a substance called 5-alpha reductase. That’s important for those with male pattern hair loss, because 5-alpha reductase converts regular testosterone to a form called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, and higher DHT levels are associated with higher rates of hair loss. The result is typically the slowing or reversal of hair loss, though the amount of difference finasteride makes varies from one individual to the next. In other words, if your brother-in-law didn’t find finasteride to be helpful, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.
It Takes Time to See Results with Finasteride
When you read user reviews of finasteride, some men report they notice less hair falling out within a few weeks. If there is going to be hair regrowth, it will take some time for that to become apparent. In fact, many men note that they actually lose a bit more hair when they start taking finasteride as dormant hair follicles go back into their “growth” phase. That means that it’s possible to lose a little hair at first, only to see increased re-growth later. If you take finasteride for six months and have not noticed any difference in your hair loss, there is a good chance that the drug simply won’t work for you. If you do see results with finasteride, you have to continue taking it indefinitely to continue to see hair re-growth.
Merck Occasionally Offers Savings Programs
Though free trials aren’t appropriate for a drug that takes as long to work as finasteride, Merck, the manufacturer of Propecia, occasionally makes special offers through its website or offers coupons for discounts that can be redeemed at your local pharmacy. However, as of mid-March 2013, no such offers are available from Merck. You might want to bookmark their site, however, to check back later to see if they begin any new special offers or discounts.
How to Minimize Financial Risk if You Want to Try Finasteride
If you want to try finasteride while holding costs down, your best bet is to compare prices. Be sure to look at only reputable online facilitators based in the United States in your price comparisons. Occasionally, pharmacy chains have special offers, but online sources are more likely to offer savings programs due to their lower overhead. Just be sure you steer clear of non-US online providers (which would be illegal, as well as risky to your finances and health) and offers through any website advertising prices that are well out of line with other sources. Unusually low prices typically indicate counterfeit products, and with finasteride, your body depends on consistent dosing for results.
If you are interested in trying finasteride while keeping a lid on costs, consider online facilitator eDrugstore.com. Based in the United States, eDrugstore.com works with US-licensed pharmacists and physicians and dispenses only genuine Propecia made by Merck. With volume buying power and low overhead, eDrugstore.com is able to offer very competitive prices on finasteride and other medications. Plus, it delivers products quickly, often shipping the same day you order, uses trusted couriers like FedEx, and makes customer privacy and discretion top priorities.
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