Get an oral minoxidil prescription
- Oral minoxidil is often prescribed off-label for hair loss.
- Board-certified dermatologists
- Consultation price $59. Med refills $39 only.
Table of Content:
What is oral minoxidil? | What is minoxidil used for? | Minoxidil brand names | How to get minoxidil? | Get a prescription for oral minoxidil | How does minoxidil work? | Benefits | Warnings and precautions | Side effects | How to use minoxidil? | Minoxidil and other medications | Minoxidil prescription faq
What is oral minoxidil?
Oral minoxidil was originally a medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of high blood pressure. However, when studies revealed that it caused hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) in 60 to 80% of patients taking the medication, the pharmaceutical manufacturer began clinical trials for hair loss1.
The use of oral minoxidil for hair loss is becoming extremely popular among patients and providers since it is possible to obtain the desired hair growth results with a low dose (0.25-2.5 mg/day) while keeping adverse side effects at bay.
Types of hair loss treated with oral minoxidil
A low dose of oral minoxidil is used as an off-label treatment2 for different types of hair loss in men and women such as
Androgenetic alopecia
Alopecia areata
Female pattern hair loss
Chronic telogen effluvium
Brand names of oral minoxidil
- Loniten
- Minodyl
- Minoxidil HTN
How to get oral minoxidil?
Do you need a prescription to buy oral minoxidil?
Yes, oral minoxidil is available only with a prescription, so you must consult with a healthcare provider, preferably a dermatologist. Minoxidil is not sold over the counter.
How to get an oral minoxidil prescription online?
To request a prescription for oral minoxidil, you can start an online consultation with a dermatologist via Miiskin. If oral minoxidil is medically appropriate for you, they will prescribe it for you. You can then either purchase it online or in-person at a pharmacy of your choice.
Where to buy oral minoxidil?
After having getting your prescription through Miiskin you can then buy oral minoxidil at a local or online pharmacy.
Get a prescription for oral minoxidil
- Select “Start consultation” to sign up.
- Fill out the consultation form.
- An independent dermatologist will prescribe minoxidil to you, if medically appropriate.
- Purchase minoxidil from the pharmacy of your choice.
Process to getting a prescription for minoxidil
Through a photo-based virtual consultation, you can connect with a dermatologist by using the Miiskin platform. After evaluating your case, if the dermatologist confirms that oral minoxidil is the right choice for you, the dermatologist will send a prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.
Oral Minoxidil Explained
How does oral minoxidil work?
Hair follicle growth is a cyclic process that goes through three phases: growth (anagen), transition (catagen), and rest (telogen). During each cycle, there are periods of rapid hair growth followed by periods of no growth, which are caused by signals that lead to cell death3.
Minoxidil works by decreasing the rest phase, or telogen phase, of the hair growth cycle, while also prolonging the growth phase, or anagen phase. As a result, hair stays in a growing phase for a longer period, leading to increased length, thickness, and scalp coverage4.
Moreover, Minoxidil has the additional effect of expanding blood vessels in the scalp, enhancing blood supply to hair follicles. This could also boost the availability of essential nutrients, promoting hair regrowth5.
Studies have shown promising results exploring the use of low-dose oral minoxidil for the treatment of alopecia6 7 8.
Benefits of Oral Minoxidil
Suitable for people who didn’t respond to other treatments
Highly effective
Can be used by men and women
Stimulates hair growth
Slows down hair loss
It can be combined with topical minoxidil
Warnings and Side Effects
Warning and precautions when using oral minoxidil
Oral minoxidil cannot be used by people with heart disease and may be prescribed with a diuretic to reduce water retention or a beta blocker (a medication that reduces the workload of the heart) to prevent reflex tachycardia. There is also a risk of developing pericardial effusion that may progress to cardiac tamponade and angina pectoris exacerbation with oral minoxidil9.
During the course of this medication, it is advisable to keep track of your pulse rate and blood pressure. Seek advice from your online dermatologist if you notice any changes. Additionally, it is suggested that you regularly weigh yourself while taking the medication and notify your healthcare provider if you gain more than 5 pounds or notice any swelling in your feet or legs10.
Do not take oral minoxidil with other medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems, since they may tend to increase your blood pressure.
Side effects of oral minoxidil
- Lower blood pressure
- Water retention
- Headaches and dizziness
- Palpitations and chest pain
- Swelling around the eyes, feet or lower legs
- Hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth)
- Insomnia11
Furthermore, remember that if the minoxidil has expired or been open for a long time, you should not take it. Explore in-depth information about minoxidil and its expiration date in this article “Does minoxidil have an expiration date?“
Understanding Oral Minoxidil Usage
How to use minoxidil?
Minoxidil is most commonly prescribed in 2.5 mg tablets for hair loss.
A common starting dose for hair loss may vary between (0.25 mg – 2.5 mg) per day. You can get a tablet cutter from your pharmacy and cut a 2.5 mg tablet into quarters or halves to get to the desired dose; however, the optimal dose for hair loss is not entirely clear and you and your online dermatologist may be required to test different doses to find the one that suits your needs. For men, a slightly higher dose may sometimes be required.
Medications that can be combined with oral minoxidil
Topical minoxidil and oral minoxidil can be used together to increase efficacy.
Oral finasteride has a very different mechanism of action as it blocks the effect of androgens on hair follicles in androgenic alopecia, therefore they can be used in combination.
Oral dutasteride works quite similarly to finasteride but it is more effective, therefore it can be combined with oral minoxidil.
Medications that cannot be combined with oral minoxidil
Nitroglycerin: Minoxidil can increase the vasodilatory effects of nitroglycerin, which can lead to a significant drop in blood pressure.
Calcium channel blockers: these medications are used to reduce blood pressure and since minoxidil lowers blood pressure it is not advisable to combine these drugs.
ACE inhibitors: these medications are used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, therefore it is not advisable to use them in combination with oral minoxidil.
Provider & Prescription Information
Miiskin connects patients with independent dermatologists who provide care through their own private practices. Miiskin does not employ dermatologists and does not sell or distribute medications. Any prescriptions issued by the dermatologists can be filled at third-party pharmacies of the patient’s choice.
References:
1https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32516434/
2https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32516434/
3https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/
4https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/3/691#:~:text=It%20has%20been%20reported%20that,cells%20%5B13%2C15%5D
5https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6691938/
6https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962221004187
7https://www.aad.org/dw/dw-insights-and-inquiries/archive/2022/low-dose-oral-minoxidil-alopecia
8https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7649170/
9https://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/?drugLabelId=Minoxidil-minoxidil-774
10https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/minoxidil-oral-route/precautions/drg-20068757
11https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962221004187
Want an oral minoxidil prescription for your hair loss?
