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Propecia and Japan 2007/10/3 22:23
HI ALL,

I WAS JUST WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT JAPAN STOCKS AND SELL THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROPECIA (FINASTERIDE)FOR HAIR LOSS. IS IT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN HERE IN AUSTRALIA? HERE I CAN BUY IT FOR AUD$80 FOR A 28DAY PACK.

I WAS JUST CONCERNED AS I AM SOON GOING TO BE LIVING IN JAPAN FOR A YEAR ON A WORKING HOLIDAY VISA AND I NEED MY MEDS SO I WON'T GO BALD :P I'VE ALREADY TRIED CALLING TE CONSULATE HERE IN SYDNEY AUSTRALIA BUT THEY TOLD ME I CAN ONLY BRING A MONTH'S WORTH OF STOCK :( (TIGHTASSES!!!) AND IF I WANTED TO BRING MORE I HAVE TO CALL A NUMBER THEY PROVIDED ME AND THEY WILL EMAIL OR FAX ME A FORM THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO BRING SUCH AMOUNTS OF PROPECIA FOR THE DURATION OF MY YEAR LONG TRIP. THEN I HAVE TO SEND IT BACK ALL THE WAY TO JAPAN AND THEY WILL SEND ME A CERTIFICATE THAT I CAN SHOW TO CUSTOMS. BLAH...REAL TROUBLESOME ISN'T IT?

THING IS I CAN'T CALL DURINGTHE DAY SINCE IM AT WORK AND BY THE TIME I GET HOME THEY'RE CLOSE :( SO I THOUGHT THE EASIEST WAY IS TO FIND OUT IF THEY SELL IT OVER IN JAPAN SO I CAN JUST BUY IT THERE AFTER SEEING A DOCTOR FOR PRESCRIPTION AND THIS IS ALL DEPENDING ON THE PRICE AS WELL...IF IT'S OVERPRICED IN JAPAN I'D RATHER GO THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF FILLING OUT THAT FORM!!!

PLEASE HELP...ANYBODY WITH GOOD AND SERIOUS INFO...

THANKS IN ADVANCE...
by rj  

... 2007/10/4 22:04
As far as I can look up from the internet, Propecia is permitted as medicine in Japan alright, through prescription from specialized doctor. Also there are importers who will import either US or UK versions on your behalf (this would take a bit of time, though). THe price I saw was 6,800 yen or so for a 28-tablet box, so it's not that bad (they might charge shipping on top of that though). I found one clinic in Tokyo that advertises on the web saying they sell 28-tablet for 7,500 yen.

About bringing your own medicine to Japan, I would say since the substance is permitted in Japan, you *could* probably bring as your personal use 1 or 2 months' worth with you... with a copy of doctor's prescription so that you can show it in case they ask you questions... ahem, I think if I were in your shoes, I might bring a bit more though.... :)

About the regulations, though this is an old thread, someone has posted the whole regulations here (scroll down to see the post):
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+18389
by AK rate this post as useful

hmm 2007/10/5 23:48
THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY AK. MUCH APPRECIATED.

OK SO I GOT THE JAPAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LABOUR AND WELFARE TO FAX ME THE FORM. MAN IT'S ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG PROCESS :( AND IT'S FORMS!!! YES PLURAL...SO MANY THINGS TO FILL OUT AND REAL TROUBLESOME AS I EXPECTED...

SO I HAVE 2 OPTIONS...SINCE I HAVE TO GO SEE MY HAIR SPECIALIST DOCTOR IN 3 WEEKS TIME I COULD EITHER JUST GET HIM TO HELP ME FILL THE FORMS OUT, SEND IT AND GET THE "YAKKAN SHOUMEI" AN IMPORT REPORT OF MEDICATION ALLOWING ME TO HAVE OVER A MONTH'S WORTH OF PROPECIA. BUY THE MEDS IN AUSTRALIA AND BRING THEM THERE.

OR

ASK MY AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR TO WRITE ME A LETTER STATING MY NEED OF PROPECIA, POINT ME TO A HAIR SPECIALIST DOCTOR IN JAPAN (IF HE KNOWS OF ONE) WHO SPEAKS ENGLISH AND BUY MY MEDS THERE AFTER HE FILLS OUT A NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR ME.

HMMM DILEMMAS!!! WHICH ONE SHOULD I GO FOR?? THE PRICE AK QUOTED SOUNDS ABOUT THE SAME AS HERE REALLY.

OH AND A FEW QUESTION...DOES ANYBODY KNOW OF A HAIR SPECIALIST DOCTOR IN TOKYO OR YOKOHAMA AREA WHO WILL PRESCRIBE ME PROPECIA? DO I GET PROPECIA AT A PHARMACY LIKE IN AUSTRALIA? I CAN'T JUST SEE A REGULAR GP YOU KNOW ...HERE I CAN TO GO STRAIGHT TO A HAIR SPECIALIST DOCTOR STRAIGHT AWAY WITHOUT GOING TO A GP FIRST...IS THAT HOW IT WORKS IN JAPAN TOO?

YOUR RELEVANT ANSWERS AND COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

THANKS AGAIN.
by rj rate this post as useful

... 2007/10/6 11:49
If you press the "Caps Lock" key, you will be able to use lower case letters. On Japanese keyboards, you need to press the shift and Caps Lock keys at the same time in order to disable the all-caps mode.
by Uji rate this post as useful

lol 2007/10/6 20:14
thanks Uji...noted and done...

p.s. yes, I have a japanese keyboard d'oh! :p
by rj rate this post as useful

Yes I admit it's now easier to read :) 2007/10/6 20:17
The first one that I found advertising on the web was in Hamamatsu-cho, Tokyo, so if you want the link:
http://www.hama1-cl.jp/propecia/
Another one in SHinjuku, Tokyo:
http://www.westcl.com/edf/propecia.html

Those clinics sell the Propecia that is sold in Japan by "Banyu" pharmaceutical, a Japanese company. You can go there, ask for the medication, Propecia is not covered by insurance, so basically you just buy the medication there at the price mentioned earlier. There are many skin clinics/hair specialists that prescribe this medicine, so with some help from a local acquaitance/colleague once you are here, you will be able to find one. No guarantee on English language, but if you show the ones you brought (let's say you bring one month's worth), then they will know what you need. (For finding a doctor, I could search from the Banyu Pharmaceutical's website if you know pretty much exactly which are of Tokyo or Yokohama you are going to be.)
by AK rate this post as useful

AK is the man!!! :) 2007/10/6 20:34
Thanks AK for your invaluable information. My girlfriend is japanese so I won't need to worry about the english part ;)

- You don't need to have a Doctor's prescription to buy Propecia at these clinics? Hmm, I wonder if the Propecia in Japan is the same as the Propecia in Australia and US...it's gotta be eh just the packaging makes me nervous about taking it since it looks foreign to me lol

Cheers :D
by rj rate this post as useful

... 2007/10/6 20:48
You go to one of these clinics, where there is a doctor, and the doctor there prescribe Propecia on the spot and sell you those there at the clinic [called "in-clinic (or in-hospital) prescription" I believe].

It looks like Banyu Pharma is the only one that produces and sells Propecia in Japan; if you let me know what the mg value of the active ingredient in the ones you've got, I could read the Banyu website to see if it's the same level at least. If you feel more comfortable with the ones you've been taking, well, then the other option would be the paperwork... but for peace of mind, that *might be* worth considering again.
by AK rate this post as useful

ok 2007/10/6 20:59
cool thanks AK.

Propecia (finasteride, MSD) each table contains 1MG finasteride - 28 tablets.

MSD - Merck Sharpe & Dohme (Australia) Pty Ltd - I think they are affiliated with Banyu Pharma but not sure since I can't read kanji properly.
by rj rate this post as useful

... 2007/10/7 13:06
rj,
The one made and sold by Banyu has the same 1mg, they also mention it was developed by Merck in USA so the substance is the same :)
by AK rate this post as useful

o_O 2007/10/7 16:02
ok so that answers it...i'll just forget about the forms and buy it in Tokyo :)

we'll see what my doc here has to say about this anyway....thanks AK.
by rj rate this post as useful

What about Osaka? 2009/2/8 18:14
I am in Osaka and also ran out of propecia. Do you know if there are any of these clinics in Osaka or Kyoto? It would be really helpful inoformation for me! Thanks!
by Gaijin (guest) rate this post as useful

propecia in kyoto 2009/3/4 13:59
For the guy in osaka looking for propecia...
today i went to japan baptist hospital in kyoto. ph075-781-5191
i asked a doctor about it, and 15 minutes later i had propecia 1mg. a pack of 30 costs 7200 yen.
hope this helps...

by matt (guest) rate this post as useful

hrms 2009/3/5 08:13
does this stuff work? what if im already bald but still have some hair left?
by dvang82 (guest) rate this post as useful

Propecia 2009/3/5 09:27
WOw, so expensive in Japan.. Here, for 30, it will cost me only about 4600 yen. But then it's because of the currency exchange being so low now. (Canada)
by Ichinensei (guest) rate this post as useful

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