How does Oral Minoxidil work? Sons’ Guide to results, side effects, and more

There are two ways to take Minoxidil – orally or in topical form. Here, we run through some frequently asked questions about how oral Minoxidil works, helping you decide whether this form of the popular hair loss treatment is a good option for you.

As a medication, Minoxidil is a vasodilator, which increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the areas of your scalp affected by male pattern hair loss. By providing your hair with the nutrients needed to grow, it stimulates the regrowth of your follicles and can lead to improved results in terms of hair growth.

Minoxidil is primarily used and licensed in hair loss in topical form. However, some people find it easier to be consistent with their treatment by using oral tablets instead. Equally, if topical Minoxidil causes you scalp irritation, oral Minoxdil can avoid inflaming the skin while still allowing you to continue treatment.

How does oral Minoxidil work?

Oral Minoxidil has been shown to effectively treat male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) when 2.5mgs are taken each day orally.

When taken orally, Minoxidil enters the bloodstream directly, rather than being absorbed through the skin. Minoxidil will stay in your system anywhere between 2.8 and 4 hours and you can find out more information about Oral Minoxidil by reading the patient information leaflet that accompanies the medication.

How long does oral Minoxidil take to work?

It can take 4-6 months of continual and routine use before you start seeing the results of oral Minoxidil. While Minoxidil gets to work on your hair immediately, it takes longer for the results to show. This is due to the natural growth cycle of your hair and is the reason why clinically proven hair loss treatments take several months to start showing positive results, especially as hair only grows at 1cm per month. Therefore, it’s really important to be consistent and patient with your use of oral Minoxidil.

Does oral Minoxidil cause shedding?

Yes, oral Minoxidil can cause temporary hair shedding at the start of treatment. This is due to the direct impact that Minoxidil has on the natural hair growth cycle, and it’s actually a sign that the medication is working. Oral Minoxidil affects the telogen (resting) and exogen (shedding) phases of the cycle, which can often lead to the initial shedding of hair in the first couple of months of treatment. The good news is that once your current hair follicles have shedded, you’re likely to see new hair follicles grow in their place.

Can you use Oral and Topical Minoxidil together?

Research has found that oral and topical Minoxidil can be equally effective when it comes to treating male pattern hair loss, meaning you can opt for one or the other, however we do not recommend taking both together. Men have long had success when combining topical Minoxidil and oral Finasteride, as the two medications are known to work in tandem for the best possible results and so we would recommend taking oral Minoxidil together with oral Finasteride for optimal results. You shouldn’t use oral and topical minoxidil together, so if you’re unsure about which one to opt for, you can schedule an online consultation with one of our physicians for guidance and more information.

Final thoughts

The bottom line is that oral Minoxidil can be an effective form of hair loss treatment for men who prefer not to, or can’t use topical Minoxidil. If you’re keen to experience the benefits of Minoxidil, be sure to check out our range of hair loss treatments and products, and get started today in order to combat male pattern hair loss.