Oral Minoxidil 2.5mg Tablets

Buy oral minoxidil UK  

You can buy minoxidil tablets as long as the treatment has been approved and prescribed by one of our clinicians.   

Minoxidil tablets were originally developed and used to treat high blood pressure. However, oral minoxidil can now be prescribed to treat hair loss, but only off-label. 

This means that while minoxidil is not officially licensed for that use, the prescriber has judged it to be in your best interest to use the treatment on the basis of available evidence.  

You’ll normally only be prescribed oral minoxidil if you haven’t seen the desired effects using a minoxidil spray, or can't use topical minoxidil for another reason, such as sensitive skin. 

How does oral minoxidil work? 

Minoxidil tablets are an oral hair loss treatment that works from the inside out to help restore your hair's natural growth. 

It’s not fully understood how minoxidil treats hair loss. However, it’s thought one of the possible reasons it works is that, as a vasodilator, it gently widens the blood vessels in your scalp, allowing more nutrients and oxygen to reach your hair follicles. 

This means it boosts blood flow to where it's needed most, waking up dormant follicles and encouraging them to start producing thicker, healthier hair again. 

Topical vs oral minoxidil 

When it comes to treating hair loss, oral and topical minoxidil both work the same way. And a 2023 study showed little difference in how effective oral and topical minoxidil are at treating hair loss. 

However, due to the different ways they are taken, they can have slightly different side effects. There’s also a greater risk of whole-body side effects when taking oral minoxidil. This is because it’s a tablet absorbed in your bloodstream, rather than a spray targeting a specific area of your scalp.  

Does oral minoxidil regrow hair?   

Multiple studies have shown that minoxidil is effective at not only stopping hair loss, but encouraging hair regrowth. However, it’s mainly used for treating male pattern baldness, rather than stress-based hair loss (telogen effluvium) or patchy hair loss (alopecia areata).

But how long does minoxidil take to work? Like finasteride, minoxidil isn’t a quick fix. Most people start noticing improvements within 3-6 months, with the best results typically showing after 9 months of daily use.  

How to take minoxidil tablets 

When taking oral minoxidil, you should take one tablet a day, at the same time every day. 

The tablets should be swallowed whole, with water. And if you miss a dose, don’t take a double dose – wait until your next scheduled time.  

Is oral minoxidil safe? 

Used as prescribed, oral minoxidil is generally well-tolerated by most people, especially at the lower 2.5mg dose. However, there is a greater risk of side effects than with topical minoxidil.  

Oral minoxidil side effects  

Common minoxidil side effects include:  

• increased heart rate  

• inflammation of the lining surrounding the heart  

• abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG)  

• increased hair growth  

• hair colour changes  

Minoxidil can cause dizziness, especially when first started or after a dose increase. So don’t drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you . 

For further information, please refer to the patient information leaflet.  

When to avoid oral minoxidil  

Chemist4U only prescribes oral minoxidil to men over the age of 18.  

You should not take minoxidil tablets if:   

• you are allergic to minoxidil or any of the other listed ingredients   

• you have high blood pressure caused by hormones from a tumour (phaeochromocytoma), usually near the kidneys  

You should consult your doctor before taking minoxidil tablets if: 

• you taking any other medication 

• you have heart failure 

• you have ever had a heart attack 

• you have an intolerance to certain sugars, as minoxidil tablets contain lactose