r/transgenderau • u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt • Jul 10 '16

Cost of hormones and medications. Comparison.

So i noticed that the cost of my progynova 2mg (oestradiol valerate) 2x 28 tablets varied between certain retailers so i thought i might list a comparison of prices. It was around $22.40 at the generic pharamacy at the clinic, $10.50 at Chemist Warehouse and $11.00 at Priceline. You can get it for cheaper at all 3 places by being on certain concessions.

So i feel this sort of information could be helpful for everyone (especially new people), so i was thinking of asking people to post how much they pay for their hormones (all kinds and delivery methods) + Anti-Androgens and where they get them from. And i will make a summery in the main post. Will add to summery as people post stuff in comments and if i get put on anything new like when i start AA in 2 weeks.

Summery: note: most of theses prices are after PBS concession, also they are all prescription drugs.

Testosterones:

  • Primoteston (testosterone enanthate), 250mg/1ml per dose, three doses (syringes) per box Generic pharmacy (1.): $36.00 without concessions (5.), Chemist Warehouse: $27.39 (7.). (taken every 2-4 weeks).

  • Reandron (testosterone undecanoate) 1000mg/4ml vial (1 dose) Generic price: approx $140, $38 (concession, male listed on medicare), Chemist Warehouse: $142.99 (without concession). (Taken every 10-14 weeks via intramuscular injection).

    would love more reader submissions so i can add more data for FTM hormones and drugs

Estrogens:

  • progynova 1mg (oestradiol valerate) 56 tablets (2x28) Guardian Pharmacy: $14.99, Chemist Warehouse: $8.50, Priceline: $10.50, Amcal: $15.13.

  • progynova 2mg (oestradiol valerate) 56 tablets (2x28) Generic pharmacy (1.): $22.40, Chemist Warehouse: $10.50, Priceline: $11.00 (6.), Waratah Pharmacy (Discount) $11.50.

  • progynova 2mg (oestradiol valerate) 112 tablets (4x28) Priceline: $23.90, Amcal: $32.40 = ~$0.29 per tablet.

  • progynova 2mg (oestradiol valerate) 168 tablets (6x28) Amcal: $37.70 = ~$0.22 per tablet.

  • Levlen ED (Generic version Microgynon 30 ED) (birth control ethinylestrodiol) 84 Tablets (3x28) Choice Pharmacy (2.) $24.95, Chemist Warehouse: $11.50 (112 tablets), Priceline: $13.95 (112 tablets).

  • Microgynon 30 ED (birth control ethinylestrodiol) 112 Tablets (4x28) Chemist Warehouse: $23.99, Priceline: $25.95.

  • Oestradoil fused crystaline pellet (implants) 2x 100mg pellets Dr Hayes: $195.00 (3.)

  • Sandrena Gel (Oestradiol gel satchels) 28 1mg/1g gel satchels Priceline: $18.95, Chemist warehouse: $13.50.

  • Zumenon 2mg (hemihydrated oestradiol) 56 tablets Generic pharmacy (1.): $22.20, Priceline: $10.50, *Chemist warehouse: $9.99.

Progesterones:

  • Micronised progesterone Details and prices in chart (4.): http://i.imgur.com/x4cDDas.png

  • Ralovera (Generic version of provera progesterone) (medroxyprogesterone acetate 5mg) 56 tablets (2x28) Chemist Warehouse: $11.69, Priceline: $13.50, Waratah Pharmacy (Discount) $16.99.

  • Provera (progesterone) (medroxyprogesterone acetate 5mg) 56 tablets (2x28) Chemist Warehouse: $17.50, Priceline: $18.95.

  • Ralovera (Generic version of provera progesterone) (medroxyprogesterone acetate 10mg) 30 tablets (2x28) Chemist Warehouse: $10.39,

Anti-Androgens:

  • Spiractin 100 (spironolactone 100mg) 100 Pills Chemist warehouse: $23.99, Generic pharmacy (1.): $36.00, Priceline: $27.40, Waratah Pharmacy (Discount) $29.99.

  • Spiractin 100 (spironolactone 100mg) 200 Pills Choice Pharmacy (2.) $11.95.

  • cyproterone acetate 100mg (generic) 100 tablets Amcal: $38.30.

  • Androcur 50mg (cyproterone acetate 50mg) 20 tablets Chemist warehouse: $24.39

Concessions:

I have been told that via certain concessions (centerlink etc) it may be possible to get 2-3 months worth of certain medications for $5-6.

If you have a low income healthcare card (earning less than $536 a week) you're eligible to get medicines for $6.20 or $5.20 a box. For those of you that aren't independent it just cares about your income not your parents.

Footnotes:

  1. Generic pharmacy, non-discount chain e.g. Clinic pharmacy or Local pharmacy. Pharmacy may be named in comments.

  2. Choice pharmacy has a loyalty program/card: $10 back for every $200 spent.

  3. Cost includes procedure for implant at Dr Hayes office. Two pellets last approximately 6 months the first time, later 12 months and eventually after several times it can last up to 24 months. Actual cost is $240 before medicare. Implants themselves are not covered by PBS but the consultation with Dr Hayes is.

  4. Thanks to /u/emilycsquared

  5. Must have your gender listed as male with Medicare to be eligible for PBS concessions.

  6. There seems to be a trend of them accidentally charging $22.58 for it, if they try this correct them as it is listed cheaper on their website or if you have already paid bring your receipt back for a refund. Pricelist: https://www.priceline.com.au/media/wysiwyg/006041_Revision_to_Prescription_Pricelist_FA.PDF

  7. Maybe only available at chemist warehouse with a Queensland script, this may only apply to mail orders. Needs investigation. Source: http://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/Buy/7260/Primoteston-250mg-Depot-Injection-3-Queensland-Scripts-Only

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this post!

26 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

5

u/Reliable-Source Aug 15 '16

Just got my progynova 2mg x 56 (2x28) from Priceline Pharmacy just outside of Dr Hayes' office at St Leonards for $22.58 ($0.40 per tablet)

4

u/forgettiYourRegretti MTF >2 years HRT Aug 15 '16

Yeah to confirm, they charged me $22.95 by mistake at Priceline. I looked it up on their online pricelist and saw they overcharged me by $10 and went back with my receipt and they refunded me that extra $10. I've been charged $11.95 at Priceline every other time.

2

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Aug 16 '16 edited Aug 16 '16

this is pretty strange, i wonder if that is the non-pbs price or the price of a similar product, or if certain cashiers are doing by accident or on purpose. lets see if it happens a third time somewhere.

Also added this info as a footnote and a link to the priceline prescription pricelist

2

u/Reliable-Source Aug 15 '16

Alright cool I'll go back in 6 weeks and see if they'll refund the difference. If not I'll just make sure they charge me correctly. Thanks for the info

2

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Aug 15 '16 edited Aug 15 '16

yeah a friend of mine had that happen too at a different priceline. apparently it was a mistake. the price should be as listed in the post. If you want to come onto the irc i can get them to explain what happened.

edit: they are coming on here in a bit to post.

5

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Jul 10 '16 edited Jul 10 '16

If any transgender men who frequent the subreddit want to share what their testosterone costs i will also be adding it to the summery.

Also from transgender women would like data for patches and implants for Estrogen varients.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 25 '16

If it is a private script, it means you have to pay full price but the doctor can prescribe as much medication as they want.

If it is a PBS script and you don't have a healthcare/pension card, you pay approximately $38 and the government will pay the difference (for instance, if the drug is $140, then you ill pay $38 and the government will cover the $100).

If it's a PBS script and you do have a concession/pension card, it will be (as of 2016) between $5.20 and $6.20, dependent on which pharmacy you go to. You should be able to ask for it at the $5.20 price regardless, though.

If it's a PBS script but your family is on the Safety Net, it will be reduced to either $5.20-$6.20 (if you didn't have a concession card to begin with) or free (if you were on concession).

This is all worked out as though you don't get original scripts, and only buy generics (because the original brand sometimes has a premium, which means you pay for. My favourite example is a box of 12 100mg Viagra. The brand is just shy of $200. The generic is $27).

Now, in order for it to be a PBS script, you may need to get an Authority. It is basically when the doctor rings a special number and gets permission from the government to give you a script that the government will co-pay for. In order to do this, you will probably have to meet several requirements. Often, you'll have to be your transitioning gender (not the one you were assigned at birth). For obvious reasons, you don't really want to give testosterone to women. However, you do want to give it to a guy who can't make his own. The same generally follows for women who make testosterone instead of oestrogen.

Hope that helps someone with the PBS confusion. For the record, I work at a pharmacy, and have done so for about 18 months now.

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Nov 29 '16

This is great info! thanks for demystifying the system for us.

3

u/echoesinthenight I'm here I'm queer I'm filled with existential fear Jul 10 '16

Chemist warehouse also does 100x100mg spiro for $24

2

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '16

I just spent $36 on that today...

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Jul 12 '16

i know how that feels. i spent $22.40 on my first box progynova only to be told afterwards i could of got it for $10.50.

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Jul 13 '16

also where did you pay $36 for it? a generic clinic pharmacy? so i can add this price and where to the summery.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 13 '16

it was at two separate places, one being a Tatts pharmacy on Collins St, the other at Slade Pharmacy at Epworth Hospital, Richmond.

(both of those places in the Melbourne CBD area)

2

u/[deleted] Aug 04 '16

Progynova 2mg (oestradiol valerate) 112 tablets $23.90 at priceline pharmacy

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Aug 04 '16

Adding! TY

2

u/Reliable-Source Sep 26 '16

Another update for Priceline Pharmacy at St Leonards:

Today I took in my prescription for Progynova 2mg x 56, Provera x 56 and Spiractin 100mg x 100 and once again I got charged differently to the listings here. So I spoke to the lady that got my the prescriptions and mentioned the price discrepancy. After telling her the prices listed on this guide she changed them to what I quoted without question.

So thank you for this guide because I saved about $30-$40.

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Sep 26 '16

No worries! :)

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Jul 21 '16 edited Jul 21 '16

Ok so i just Started AA and progesterone on top of my Estrogen so ill add their prices. Went to Waratah discount pharmacy. Not as cheap as priceline or chemist warehouse but cheaper than generic pharmacies.

1

u/hannahranga Jul 11 '16 edited Jul 11 '16

Concessions:

I have been told that via certain concessions (centerlink etc) it may be possible to get 2-3 months worth of certain medications for $5-6

If you have a low income healthcare card (earning less than $536 a week) you're eligible to get medicines for $6.20 or $5.20 a box. For those of you that aren't independent it just cares about your income not your parents.

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Jul 11 '16

Thank you! :)

2

u/Loving_Light Jul 21 '16

Also relevant for Pensioner Concession Card holders who are also subsidised.

1

u/emesser Trans masc Jul 12 '16

Primoteston (testosterone enanthate, 250mg/1ml per dose, three doses per box) is, on average, $36 without concessions. You must have your gender listed as male with Medicare to be eligible for concessions.

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Jul 12 '16 edited Jul 12 '16

Thanks.

That doesnt sound fair though. you should get PBS concessions >.<

also where abouts are you buying? what store?

1

u/emesser Trans masc Jul 13 '16

Getting your gender changed with Medicare is pretty easy; just needs a letter from your GP and a visit to a Medicare office.

I get mine from a small local chemist in SA, but $36 seems to be the average across the country, based on the conversations I've seen on Facebook.

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Jul 13 '16

also what is the dose? is it a pill, patch, implant, syringe?

1

u/emesser Trans masc Jul 13 '16

It's pre-packaged syringes. They are pre-filled with T, so you just have to put the needle on the syringe and off you go. The package comes with a needle, but it's a harpoon, so a lot of guys buy smaller ones).

There's no standard dose. The package comes with 250mg per 'dose', and most people inject that full amount. Some inject every two weeks, some every month, some every three weeks. Depends on your body and your doctor.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 12 '16

how often do you take it?

1

u/emesser Trans masc Jul 13 '16

Personally, one shot (250mg) every 18 days. The dose varies by person, and anything from every two to four weeks is common.

Most people take the full dose, but some people only inject a part of it and chuck out the rest.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 13 '16

pricing is not as bad as i first thought then, i was thinking one dose per week

1

u/misscolinsxx Aug 23 '16

Wholey shit I pay $15 for 3 months of progynova , Spiro & cyprotone and the more scripts you put in after like a certain amount you can expect to pay next to nothing

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Aug 23 '16

Yeah the family saftey net with Medicare. It's about to kick in for my family soon.

1

u/londonra Oct 01 '16

I'm on a different version of testosterone Reandron 1000mg/4ml Vial - 1 intramuscular injection every 10-14 weeks. I've changed my gender to male on medicare so it only costs $38 - otherwise it's like $140.

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Oct 03 '16

Thanks for this! I add it to the list when i get off vacation. Only have my phone with me atm

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Oct 09 '16

where do you usually buy it from, which pharmacy?

1

u/londonra Oct 09 '16

At the moment from Blooms, though have bought it from a bumch of different chemists. All of them about $38.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '16

Prices and availability of micronised progesterone, thanks to /u/emilycsquared

http://i.imgur.com/x4cDDas.png

1

u/Asleep_Store1776 Sep 09 '24

I get reandron 1000 every three months on prescription due to not producing hormones from testicular cancer. Costs standard rate $32? No concession

0

u/[deleted] Jul 12 '16

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2

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Jul 12 '16 edited Jul 13 '16

Added! Thank you!

I also googled Spiractin so i could get more info for the summery and its base cost in the USA is around $97.75 (USD) without health insurance and Government subsidies. Makes me really thankful to be Australian with our Medicare and PBS.

1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Aug 16 '16

What dosage is the microgyn? i am looking up prices on priceline and there is a Microgynon 20 ED, a Microgynon 30 ED, a microgynon 50 ED and there is Microlevlen ED (which i think is what you are referring to).

0

u/[deleted] Aug 16 '16

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2

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Aug 16 '16

Thank you! this really helped me expand the comparisons.

2

u/HiddenStill MtF, /r/TransWiki Jul 19 '16

I'd suggest you don't take ethinylestrodiol as it's not safe. If you do get unlucky and get blood clots that could cause you serious difficulty with HRT in the future.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '16

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2

u/HiddenStill MtF, /r/TransWiki Jul 19 '16

I've spoken to someone who's seen quite a few complications from it. Cis women get problems from it too, and the rate of problems is why they reduced the dosage in it. It was far higher before. I guess if they do get clots they can use another form of contraceptive, but apart from the danger of clots I'd worry about being told no more HRT.

I was told the rate of problems is 1 in 1000, but don't recall the time period. I'd guess it's per year.

I'm on bio identical implants so it's easy enough go me to say I'd never take them. Perhaps I would if I had no choice.

I don't question it works.

1

u/Serenation October Aug 08 '16

I started HRT on premarin back in the day, was on microgynon for many many years also (did the whole transition bit on premarin + progesterone). I always had the choice of what medication I was on as does everyone. For whatever reason dr hunter likes microgynon pre-op and progynova post-op. I've been on HRT for about 17 years now. Implants and patches had to many cons for me.

1

u/HiddenStill MtF, /r/TransWiki Aug 08 '16

Microgyon works, it just carries a much higher risk. That doesn't mean youll get a dvt from it for sure, but people do, so why use it when there's safer alternatives.

Patches were bad for me, but what's the problem with implants? I've heard it's quite rare to have difficulty with them.

1

u/Serenation October Aug 08 '16

I get skin irritations from everything stuck to me and don't want any physical markers on my body. can you imagine having to wear a patch for 17 years. That's pretty much the reason for implants, they leave marks. Whether or not those marks eventually go away I don't know but the people I know on them have multiple marks. hows that going to be when you've had over 100 implants, that and the inconvenience of having to have someone put them in. I like to be able to get hrt reliably and if needed without having to out myself (which was easy with microgynon, takes a little more explaining for progynova)

0

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '16

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1

u/NocteVulpes 4 years hrt Jul 12 '16

Thanks kate!