Leading retail prices for Propecia and finasteride have remained remarkably stable at CVS Walgreens, and Walmart since July 2020. However, people can save time and money by ordering online through eDrugstore.com.
Average prices for Propecia and its generic equivalent, finasteride, at CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart have remained relatively stable throughout 2020. Average prices for Propecia dipped in April and May, then returned to their current levels in June. Leading retail prices for finasteride have remained the same across the board since April 2020.
Propecia and finasteride are arguably the most effective treatments to combat male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia. The American Hair Loss Association noted 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.
Prices at CVS
At CVS, the average price for Propecia in January 2020 was $4.33 per 1-milligram tablet, which is exactly where it was priced in October. The drug experienced a two-month drop to $3.96 in April and May, and then returned to $4.33 in June 2020. This is slightly lower than the national average of $4.35.
Similarly, CVS’s price for 1-milligram of finasteride began January 2020 at $2.94, then fell to $2.70 in April. It has remained at the $2.70 price point from April 2020 to October 2020. This is slightly higher than the national average of $1.83.
Walgreens Prices
Following the same pattern seen at CVS, Walgreens price for 1-milligram Propecia entered January 2020 at $4.35 and entered October at the same price point . The price of Propecia at Walgreens also experienced a dip in April and May to $3.98 but returned to $4.35 in June 2020.
Walgreens’ price for 1-milligram finasteride has remained stable at $2.58 from January 2020 to October 2020.
Walmart Prices Stable
Walmart’s prices for 1-milligram Propecia followed the exact same pricing pattern as CVS and Walgreens for the same time period. Walmart priced Propecia at $4.14 in January 2020 and entered October at the same price. Its price for Propecia also experienced a price dip in April and May, with an average listing of $3.79.
Finasteride prices at Walmart held steady at $1.13 in each month of the year, January to October 2020.
DHT is the Main Culprit
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. Our prices for both Propecia ($5.36) and finasteride ($0.59) are competitive, and we also offer a limited selection of other lifestyle medications. To learn more, pay a visit to our Hair Loss page.
Shelby is a public health professional with research and field experience in sexual and reproductive health. She holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
