Oral Minoxidil Hair Loss Treatment

Oral minoxidil is usually prescribed in lower doses when treating hair loss. Through Hers, the starting dose is 1.25mg with an option to increase to 2.5mg, but your provider will determine what is right for you.

Similar to topical minoxidil, the oral minoxidil formulation takes a few months to produce noticeable results to your crown and hairline. Results are usually seen within 6 months but can be seen as early as 3 months.

It’s not recommended to use both topical and oral minoxidil at the same time. Using both will not improve results, but could increase the risk of side effects.

There have not been clinical trials comparing the two, but there appear to be benefits to using oral in some situations. For example, unlike topical minoxidil, it’s possible to adjust the dosage of oral minoxidil in order to get an effective dose.

In addition, some people are treatment resistant to topical minoxidil because of low levels of a specific enzyme in their hair follicles. Low-dose oral minoxidil may be more effective in this case, as the medication is absorbed systemically and activated by the liver.

Minoxidil is a topical medication that dilates blood vessels to increase blood flow to the treatment area, which stimulates hair growth.

Finasteride blocks the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can damage hair follicles and cause hair loss. It's often recommended as the first treatment for hair loss.

While minoxidil has been the gold standard for treating women's hair loss, finasteride also shows promise in the treatment of female pattern hair loss, particularly in postmenopausal women.

Minoxidil is a prescription medication, so visiting in-person dermatology specialists was the most common way to get it. With Hers, women can receive a clinical evaluation online in all 50 states, and can get minoxidil pills for hair loss from the comfort of home when deemed medically appropriate.

Yes. Oral minoxidil can cause early hair shedding as beneficial hair cycling is triggered. This is an expected side effect that will improve with continued minoxidil use.

A common side effect of low-dose oral minoxidil treatment is increased hair growth on the face or body (hypertrichosis). Other potential side effects include lightheadedness, palpitations, leg swelling, headaches, swelling around the eyes, and insomnia. Oral minoxidil can cause early shedding as beneficial hair cycling is triggered. This is an expected side effect that will improve with continued minoxidil use. When used at higher doses to treat hypertension, there is a risk of severe heart-related side effects. This was largely unseen in clinical studies using low doses to treat hair loss.

Spironolactone works by blocking androgen hormones which can lead to hair loss in women. Oral minoxidil is a non-hormonal option that increases blood flow to hair follicles allowing them to stay in the growth phase longer.

No, but you should stop taking it if you become pregnant.

No, you should also not use oral minoxidil when pregnant or breastfeeding or while planning to become pregnant. Learn more about oral minoxidil and breastfeeding here.

While some evidence suggests it is possible, other applications are not well studied or widely accepted yet. We do not offer oral minoxidil treatment for other hair disorders (eg, telogen effluvium or alopecia areata).