Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Our healthcare providers are licensed in their respective provinces and use the same criteria as traditional clinics to qualify or disqualify patients for prescriptions.

Our clinic is also certified by LegitScript, which is a company that certifies online clinics like us in Canada and the US. This can be verified on LegitScript’s website.

Telemedicine is a recognized and rising form of providing healthcare in Canada. We follow the bylaws and policies of the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), CNPS, and each provincial medical college regarding the practice of telemedicine in Canada.

First, you will complete an online questionnaire so we can gather info about your symptoms and medical history. Our medical team will evaluate your responses within 1 business day and determine if a treatment is right for you. Depending on your case, our medical team may follow up with more questions before approving a treatment.

As soon as your prescription is approved, it will be immediately sent to our partner pharmacy for delivery.

Refills are automatic and shipped to your home every 3 months.

We work with licensed Canadian pharmacies to offer free medication delivery anywhere in Canada. Once your prescription is approved, a pharmacist will call you to confirm payment and delivery info. Medication is delivered discreetly to your home within 1-3 business days.

Keep in mind that payment for medication is separate and payable once your medication is shipped.

The cost of an online visit to evaluate your case and issue a 1-year prescription is $39 CAD.

Medication cost depends on the drug chosen. Hair loss medication starts from $13.33/month and ED medications start from $10.87/dose. The exact price will be shown on the checkout page of our website.

For refills, your credit card will be charged 2 weeks before the end of each period so that your medication is delivered in a timely manner and you never have to worry about missing a dose.

Our service is available in all provinces and territories of Canada except Yukon.

It’s similar but is more convenient for you and we ship the medication straight to your home.

Our practitioners reside in Canada and are licensed in their respective provinces. They practice telemedicine during their spare time. Our medical team is passionate about making it easier for patients to access quality medical care.

In addition to physicians, our team also includes nurse practitioners whom are independently licensed medical professionals with prescribing authority.

Due to privacy regulations, we only notify your family doctor if you explicitly request us to. You will have an option to do so after your prescription is approved. With your permission, we will fax your doctor a summary of your consult and prescription. You should always disclose all medications you are taking when seeing a clinician.

Please note that in some provinces such as BC, any medication dispensed by a pharmacy is sent to a centralized network that authorized health professionals can access to see what medications were dispensed to an individual.

Men across Canada have used our service to conveniently and discretely get erectile dysfunction and hair loss prescriptions.

At the moment we are unable to prescribe medications in the US.

Yes, we can prescribe to visitors in Canada. Additional identity verification may be required.

No. Just like a traditional clinic, our practitioners write prescriptions upon their discretion based on the medical assessment. However, unlike a traditional clinic, we will refund 100% of your fee in the case that you are ineligible for a prescription.

No. Medication pricing is separate from the consult cost and is charged once your medication is shipped.

Medication cost depends on the drug chosen. Hair loss medication starts from $13.33/month and ED medications start from $10.87/dose. The exact price will be shown on the checkout page of our website.

Refills are automatically shipped to your home every 3 months.

If you want to change your refill schedule or need a one-time manual refill, please contact us.

We process all requests within 1 business day of completing the online assessment. Medication will then be delivered to your home within 1-3 business days.

Finasteride is a prescription hair loss drug that comes as a pill. The medical term for what finasteride treats is androgenetic alopecia. It’s the most effective prescription treatment you can buy to treat male pattern hair loss.

For more info see: Everything you need to know about Finasteride

A pharmaceutical company called Merck and Co, Inc makes a version of finasteride 1mg called Propecia. Propecia is the brand name. It’s expensive to buy Propecia from a pharmacy.

The good news is there’s a generic version of finasteride that’s authorized by Health Canada to treat male hair loss. The generic version of the 1mg pill is much more affordable. We prescribe this generic version.

In short, yes, but as with all medicines, it doesn’t work for everyone. Finasteride can regrow hair in 65% of patients and stops further hair loss in most other patients. If you stop taking it, it stops working.

Finasteride is generally safe but it can cause side effects. See finasteride’s safety information for more information on side effects.

Take a single finasteride 1mg tablet by mouth every day. You can take finasteride with or without food. You need to take finasteride for several months to see results. It can take up to 12 months to see the full effect. You should take the pill every day, because as soon as you stop taking it, you may continue to lose hair or even lose the hair you gained while on treatment.

Yes, we give you the option of being prescribed either finasteride 5mg or 1mg. If you are comfortable using a pill cutter to split your finasteride 5mg in quarters, this ends up being much cheaper than buying finasteride 1mg. Read more on this here.

Yes we give you the option of being prescribed either finasteride or dutasteride. Read more on dutasteride here.

Yes we prescribe topical finasteride/minoxidil in liposomal gel. Read more on this here.

Medication cost depends on the drug chosen. Hair loss medication starts from $13.33/month. The exact price will be shown on the checkout page of our website.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get or maintain an erection hard enough for satisfactory sex. The causes of ED can be psychological or physical and result in less blood flow to the penis - making it harder to get an erection that stays firm through ejaculation.

Erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) are Health Canada authorized medications to treat the symptoms of ED. They work by increasing blood flow to the penis, making it easy for you to get a harder and longer-lasting erection. Depending on your medication preference, the pill can be taken right before sex, or you can also take it daily if you want to enjoy spontaneous sex without needing to plan ahead.

There are a number of psychological, physical, and lifestyle factors, as well as medical conditions, that can contribute to erectile dysfunction. Stress, anxiety, and depression can contribute to ED, as can high blood pressure, nerve damage, stroke, and heart disease. Smoking, alcohol, obesity, and inactivity can also contribute. Certain medications can also cause ED.

Our medical professionals at Essential Clinic can help you identify the cause of your erectile dysfunction and provide treatment options.

ED is very common—some research estimates it affects about one in two men over 40. While it’s associated with older men, younger guys can also experience ED. About 25% of men under 40 experience ED.

Yes. The most common treatments for ED are PDE5 inhibitors that can be taken as needed before sexual activity or daily. Clinical trials have found these medications to be very effective—they help reduce instances of ED in about 80% of cases.

It’s normal to occasionally be unable to maintain an erection long enough to have sex. This can happen when men are tired, stressed, or in other circumstances.

Men should start to consider seeking treatment if they’re regularly unable to maintain an erection. Consider seeking treatment if you have difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection about half the time or more often.

Each drug has its own advantages and disadvantages—the best treatment option for ED varies from person to person. Our healthcare professionals can help you find the right ED medication for your needs.

No. In Canada, Viagra and Cialis, as well as their generic counterparts sildenafil and tadalafil, are only available with a prescription from a doctor. Websites that sell medications for erectile dysfunctions without a prescription are breaking the law. They also may be selling counterfeit medications.

Essential Clinic offers a fast, comfortable, and convenient way to get assessed for treatment online. Our medical staff will evaluate your case and provide a prescription for ED medications if it is indicated for your symptoms. If prescribed, you can purchase your treatment and have it delivered directly to your home.

Both sildenafil and tadalafil are considered safe and well-tolerated by most people. In general, any side effects are mild and temporary. Common side effects include back pain, headaches, flushed skin, and a runny nose. More rarely, these medications can result in more serious side effects like priapism. Priapism is a painful, long-lasting erection that can result in permanent damage to penis tissue if left untreated.

Our healthcare professionals can provide more information about the side effects of ED medications and provide ongoing care for any side effects that you experience.

Men who have a history of cardiovascular conditions, including heart attacks and strokes, should be cautious about using ED medications. In particular, men who take nitrates or nitroglycerine medication should not take sildenafil or tadalafil—doing so could cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure.

If you suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, or other cardiovascular conditions, make sure you mention this to your doctor so they can find a safe and appropriate treatment option for you.

You can buy generic Viagra and Cialis from Essential Clinic and have the medication delivered directly to your door. Essential Clinic offers an online visit where you can be evaluated for ED treatments from the comfort of your home.

Medication cost depends on the drug chosen. Erectile dysfunction medication starts from $10.87/dose. The exact price will be shown on the checkout page of our website.

Our checkout page accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Visa and MC can be debit or credit cards.

No. Asynchronous telemedicine and telemedicine for cosmetic services are generally not reimbursable by provincial plans.

Yes, this fee is reimbursable by most benefit plans that include a flexible health spending account. Check with your insurance provider for your exact policy. We’re happy to provide receipts compatible with your insurance provider’s reimbursement requirements.

Yes, please contact us.

In the case that you are declined a prescription, you will be fully refunded for the consult fee and medication cost. We do not accept refunds on prescription medications once they have been shipped.

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