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Studies have found that low-dose minoxidil tablets are safe and effective for hair regrowth in adults with male- or female-pattern baldness. Using low-dose oral minoxidil for hair loss comes from the side effects of the high-dose version of the drug, used to treat high blood pressure. In clinical trials for Loniten (oral minoxidil for blood pressure), about 80% of patients experienced hypertrichosis—longer, thicker body hair with more color. During the trial, the hair growth typically developed three to six weeks after beginning treatment. It's the only treatment FDA-approved for female pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia.

Can Rogaine make hair loss worse?
Some people tolerate the foam products better than the solution, as the solution contains more of a compound called propylene glycol (which can irritate the skin). The main cause in both males and females is a hereditary condition called androgenic alopecia. Another mild side effect of topical minoxidil is hypertrichosis, which appears as fine hairs growing on areas like the face and hands. Rogaine starts working from the first application, but people may experience different timelines for results. Hair growth is a relatively slow process, and noticeable improvement may take two to four months of regular use. You can expect to see Rogaine’s maximum or peak results after 12 to 18 months of regular use.
How Long Does Minoxidil Shedding Last?
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The hair and scalp should be dry before you use this medication. You do not need to shampoo your hair before each application. This increases blood flow, which in turn delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the hair. If you’re not seeing results after four months, reach out to a healthcare professional to discuss other options.
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When Does Rogaine Shedding Stop?
One group of products that have actually been scientifically tested, however, are known as topical minoxidil products. Nonetheless, minoxidil is an effective and risk-free treatment for hair loss. Although, like other drugs, you have to consider the possible side effects. In the initial 2–3 weeks of treatment, it isn’t unusual to notice a slight increase in hair loss.
Studies indicate that taking finasteride (finasteride coupons) while also using minoxidil is safe. Originally designed to treat enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH), finasteride (more about finasteride) is an oral prescription medication that can boost hair growth. Brand names of finasteride include Proscar (finasteride 5 mg) and Propecia (finasteride 1 mg).
In other products containing the ingredient you will see minoxidil listed front and center on the product packaging. Minoxidil also comes in oral form but this is on a prescription-only basis and isn't suitable for everyone, which we'll touch on more later. Patients have a wide variety of treatment options for pattern hair loss besides minoxidil, according to the AAD. Treatment options differ for men and women, in part because some interventions can cause facial hair and others aren’t recommended for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. These scalp treatments usually contain 2 or 5 percent minoxidil as the active ingredient.
Why Does Rogaine (Minoxidil) Cause Hair Shedding?
That’s precisely why we developed the world’s first and only Minoxidil Response Test to help you learn if Minoxidil is a viable solution for your hair loss before you start treatment. Because oral minoxidil helps with hair growth, it may lead to hair growth everywhere. You may also experience any fine body hair becoming darker and thicker.
Are there any other minoxidil side effects to know about?
For those it does benefit, Rogaine will likely not help recover all the hair you lose. However, any growth that you may see as a direct result of using Rogaine will only last as long as you keep using the product. If you discontinue its use, that hair growth returns to previous levels, since the effects are not permanent without regular Rogaine use. If the product does work, you probably won’t grow back all the hair you lose, and it can even take up to 4 months to see the results.
certain medications
A person should keep a list of all prescription drugs, nonprescription medications, and supplements they are using and take this with them when they see a doctor or go to the hospital. It is important for a medical professional to know which medications a person is taking to ensure that there are no adverse drug interactions. Minoxidil is a vasodilator, which means that it lowers blood pressure. Using minoxidil with other vasodilators, such as blood pressure medication or erectile dysfunction drugs, can be dangerous. A person should not use minoxidil with another vasodilator unless a doctor recommends it. As with all treatments, results aren’t completely guaranteed so that can be an obvious downside.
Make sure to apply Rogaine once or twice daily, according to the specific instructions on the product label. The more applications you skip, the less likely it is to work. Why Rogaine works better for some and not at all for others is unclear. Rogaine appears to work best in those 40 years of age and younger or when started early in the hair thinning process. A person should use minoxidil twice a day, usually with a 12-hour interval between applications. However, a person should follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that they are using the treatment correctly.
Here’s what the research evidence says, what you can realistically expect and what you need to know if you’re considering this treatment. By Patricia Weiser, PharmDPatricia Weiser, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist and freelance medical writer. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same.