Buying products to promote hair growth can be an expensive endeavor, but shoppers can save money on products that have the blessing of the Food and Drug Administration for their ability to stop hair loss and promote growth. Many products on the market might sound promising and be relatively cheap, but chances are they'll give you nothing for something.
Finasteride
Finasteride is one of two products approved by the FDA to treat hair loss. For hair loss, finasteride is dispensed as Propecia. As of August 2010, the cost of a year's supply of Propecia at Drugstore.com is $719.93, or $60 per month. Finasteride also comes in 5 mg tablets under the name Proscar. Proscar is prescribed to treat enlarged prostates and the cost for 90 tablets at Drugstore.com is $299.29. Some physicians will prescribe Proscar for patients with hair loss and advise them to split the Proscar into four or five parts and take one part daily, which will give the patient 1 to 1.25 mg of finasteride. Prescribing a drug for something other than its intended use is known as an off-label prescription and is completely legal. Dividing 90 Proscar tablets into four parts will give the patient the same amount of finasteride as 360 Propecia tablets, but at a cost of just $25 per month.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil was the first drug to be approved for hair loss by the FDA under the name of Rogaine. The American Hair Loss Association states that minoxidil is not as effective as finasteride, but still recommends it as a product for those not happy with the response to finasteride. The patent for minoxidil has expired and now several companies sell minoxidil. The key to getting the most for your money is to buy generic and buy in bulk. As of August 2010, the cost for a one-month supply of 5 percent Rogaine at Drugstore.com is $29.99 while a three-month supply of a generic brand is $34.99.
Ketoconazole Shampoo
Ketoconazole-based shampoos are popular treatments for hair loss, even without the approval of the FDA. Independent clinical studies have recognized ketoconazole as a viable hair-loss option, with a 1998 study performed by the University of Liège, Belgium, equating the use of ketoconazole to the use of 2 percent minoxidil.
Two popular brands of ketoconazole shampoos are Revita and Nizoral. As of August 2010, a 6 oz. bottle of Revita is $28.99, while a 7 oz. bottle of Nizoral sells for $15.49 at drugstore.com.
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