Introduction:
Oral minoxidil, originally developed for high blood pressure treatment, has emerged as a beneficial solution for hair loss. Its mechanism involves enhancing blood flow and oxygen to hair follicles, promoting stronger and thicker hair growth. The convenience of oral administration, suitability for both genders, affordability, and compatibility with other treatments make it an attractive option for individuals experiencing hair loss. While oral minoxidil may cause side effects, proper medical supervision can help manage these effectively. Moreover, the blog emphasizes that long-term usage of oral minoxidil, at low doses, appears safe and can lead to sustained hair growth improvements. Overall, oral minoxidil offers hope for individuals seeking to address hair loss concerns and improve their quality of life.
We’ll discuss these topics in this blog:
- What is Oral Minoxidil?
- How does Oral Minoxidil work?
- Benefits of oral minoxidil for hair loss
- Side effects of oral minoxidil for hair loss
- Is oral minoxidil suitable for long-term usage?
- Conclusion
- Faq’s
What is Oral Minoxidil?
Minoxidil was originally made to treat high blood pressure, but it turned out to help with hair growth too. Normally, it’s given in higher doses for blood pressure, but for hair growth, a lower dose works better. It used to be only available as a lotion you put on your scalp, called Rogaine. But now, there’s a new kind you can take by mouth, which is good for people who get rashes from the lotion. This oral minoxidil helps with hair loss for different reasons, like genes, stress, or other conditions. It makes your hair thicker and stronger.
How Does Oral Minoxidil Work?
Even though people have been using oral minoxidil for a while now, scientists still aren’t completely sure how it works to help hair grow back and get stronger. Recent studies in a dermatology journal have been looking into this. Scientists like Sharma and others found that minoxidil boosts blood flow and oxygen to hair follicles, which makes them stronger and helps them grow. It might also make hair follicles spend more time growing and less time resting. Some researchers think minoxidil could also help the immune system by stopping certain cells from causing hair loss.
Benefits of oral minoxidil for hair loss
Using oral minoxidil for hair growth has some good points:
- It works well. Studies show that taking oral minoxidil is as good as putting on the liquid version to make hair grow. So, if the liquid doesn’t work for you, this might be an option.
- Makes hair grow evenly When you swallow it, oral minoxidil gets all over your body, so your hair grows more evenly.
- It works for both men and women Both guys and girls can use oral minoxidil. Some other hair medicines are just for guys or girls.
- Easy to use Instead of putting a liquid on your head every day, you can just take a pill. It’s quicker and easier.
- Not too expensive Minoxidil pills cost between $25 to $40 for a month’s supply. That’s cheaper than other hair medicines.
- Can be used with other treatments You can take minoxidil pills along with other hair treatments to make them work even better.
Side effects of oral minoxidil for hair loss
Taking oral minoxidil can make hair grow all over your body. It might also make any small body hairs you have darker and thicker. But don’t worry, this hair growth usually stops within one to six months after you stop taking the medicine. Your appearance will go back to how it was before you started.
Some other things might happen when you take oral minoxidil. You might feel tenderness in your breasts, get headaches, or feel sick to your stomach. If you have any of these serious symptoms, get medical help right away
- Trouble breathing or feeling short of breath
- Feeling dizzy or fainting
- Your heartbeat is faster than usual
- Developing a rash
- Swelling in your ankles or feet
- Gaining weight suddenly for no reason
Along with these, some people might get a lot more hair growth all over their body (hypertrichosis). They could also feel dizzy, have low blood pressure when standing up, or have chest pains and heart palpitations. Other side effects could include headaches, retaining water, puffy eyes, or trouble sleeping.
Is oral minoxidil suitable for long-term usage?
The usual dose of oral minoxidil for hair loss starts low, at 0.25 mg, and can go up to 5 mg. These doses are much lower than what’s used to treat high blood pressure, which can be between 5 mg and 40 mg, or even up to 100 mg.
Taking these low doses of minoxidil for hair problems is safe for a long time. Once your doctor prescribes it, you can buy oral minoxidil easily in the UK. Your doctor will keep an eye on your dosage during regular check-ups and might change it if needed.
If you don’t have any bad side effects, you’ll get more prescriptions for the tablets. This way, you can keep treating your hair loss with minoxidil for a long time. It’ll help your hair get thicker and improve your quality of life.
If you still have questions about using minoxidil for hair growth, you can learn more about using it as a lotion on our website. Or, you can fill out our free online assessment form to get a personalized treatment plan from Dr. Bonaros, based on your specific hair condition.
Conclusion
Oral minoxidil presents a promising option for individuals experiencing hair loss, offering an alternative to topical applications like lotions. Its efficacy in promoting hair growth has been demonstrated in studies, with researchers attributing its mechanism to increased blood flow and oxygen to hair follicles. Furthermore, its systemic distribution ensures more even hair growth across the body. With benefits including ease of use, suitability for both men and women, affordability, and compatibility with other treatments, oral minoxidil emerges as a convenient and effective solution for hair loss.
However, like any medication, oral minoxidil does carry potential side effects, ranging from minor discomforts to more serious issues such as hypertrichosis or cardiovascular symptoms. Nonetheless, with proper medical supervision and monitoring, these side effects can often be managed effectively.
Regarding long-term usage, oral minoxidil, when prescribed at low doses, appears safe and suitable for extended treatment periods. Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider ensure appropriate dosage adjustments and ongoing management of any side effects.
Overall, oral minoxidil represents a valuable option in the arsenal against hair loss, offering hope for individuals seeking to enhance the thickness and quality of their hair, thereby potentially improving their overall quality of life.
Faq’s
Q1. When will I see the results from oral minoxidil?
A1. Minoxidil stimulates hair growth by extending the growth phase of hair follicles, but it is only recommended for some, as it often takes several months of consistent use to see results.
Q2. Does minoxidil work better orally?
A2. A history of the treatment and a physical examination were performed to ensure safety. After 6 months of treatment, topical and oral minoxidil groups significantly improved their hair diameter (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups.
Q3. What is the timeline for oral minoxidil?
A3. The timeframe for results can also vary. It may take several months, typically three to six, before visible improvements become apparent. To achieve and maintain optimal results with oral minoxidil, it is important to be patient and consistent.
Q4. Is 2.5 mg of oral minoxidil safe?
A4. There is, however, evidence that low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM), administered at a daily dose ranging from 0.25 up to 5 mg, has positive results when treated with both male AGA and FPHL [2-7].
Q5. Will oral minoxidil thicken hair?
A5. After a year, the full benefits of the medication will become visible, but if taken regularly, it can provide patients with thicker, fuller, stronger hair.
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