Where is Nizoral Lately?
Hi Dr,
I’m a patient of Dr. Pak who came to the office in March. For the past year or so, I have been using a combo of OTC Nizoral and T-gel to combat an itchy scalp. I alternate between the two each day.
However, I can no longer find Nizoral anywhere — it’s gone from Amazon, drugstore.com and any physical pharmacy I’ve gone to. Any idea what happened? I can’t find any substantiated reason for the disappearance online. Also, in the absence of Nizoral, do you have a suggested replacement I could put in my routine?
Many thanks.
I haven’t followed the sales or availability of Nizoral (ketoconazole) shampoo. I’ve had a few readers ask about it, but I’ve not been able to find any news. I have no suggestion on a replacement shampoo. Have you contacted the manufacturer?
So I’ll open it up to the readers — have you read anything about why Nizoral has disappeared from shelves?
I contacted McNeil Consumer Healthcare about Nizoral. They said that they are having trouble obtaining supplies. They had no date for Nizoral production. I am trying Regenepure DR as a short term substitute.
According to what I’ve been able to find on the internet, Nizoral moved warehouses or factories or something, and they are now awaiting new FDA approval so that they can start producing shampoo again. I haven’t seen anything regarding an expected time back.
You can still buy it online from Amazon or eBay, however you’ll pay a hefty price due to the lack of supply. I haven’t seen anything sell for less than $30…and that’s for a 4 oz bottle! A couple of months ago I bought a 7oz for about $25. Hopefully it comes back into production soon!
I noticed the samething at the two pharmacies I visited. I was wondering what the heck was happening! Thanks for the post.
I don’t buy the waiting on FDA approval. The 1% is a non prescription item. Either way the lack of a published explanation on the official Nizeral site is pathetic. I wish a different company would jump in and offer an alternative.
FYI it’s made in Italy.
Given the way the company is handling inquiries and the lack of information on their website, I am starting to believe that this is all a ploy to raise their prices after having recognized that their brand recognition for ketoconazole significantly overshadows the competition. Look at the available alternatives. I see none that have similar formulation. If there are worthwhile alternatives for “sane” prices, someone please post about it!
I just bought 2 bottles on the CVS website (7 fl oz) for $11.99 each. They just arrived today Oct 7, 2011. Maybe the stuff is finally rolling out of the factory. I still don’t see them in Safeway or other retail outlets yet. But check out CVS.
I’m so glad I’m finding others who are having the same problems finding Nizoral! About Sept 2011, I noticed that I couldn’t find it anywhere! I contacted the mfr and they wrote back saying there were “delays and would be back on the store shelves soon”. That was it. I continue waiting and still ….nothing on the shelves. I’ve been wondering if it’s an import issue (it’s made in Italy like Jason pointed out). What worries me is …………stores don’t have a spot for it. Almost like it’s not being made anymore…. :^(
You can obtain nizoral from your doctor with a prescription.(generic)
1. Ketoconazole might be ‘anti-balding’ from its estrogenic effects on the scalp.
2. According to at least one Walgreen pharmacist, there exists NO shortage
of the prescription strength ketoconazole shampoo (at least in his pharmacy).
3. Perhaps McNeil’s difficulty with supplies is due to ‘diversion’ to the prescription
version?