What are the pros and cons of hair loss medication?

Hair loss medications can help slow down hair loss and prevent hair thinning. Certain medications stimulate hair growth and can even help you regrow hair in the areas where you are experiencing baldness. There are several medications available on the market, and each one has a different purpose for the treatment of hair loss.

These medications can be an effective way to treat hair loss without the need to undergo a hair transplant. However, they also have several drawbacks that you should consider. For example, your insurance may not cover the cost, the medications may result in side effects, and if you stop using it, you may start losing your hair once again.

There are various types of hair loss medications available, including:

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a hair loss medication also known by its brand names Rogaine, Theroxidil, and Loniten. It is available over the counter (OTC) and comes in two forms and strengths. Its foam or liquid versions have a 2% and 5% concentration, while the oral medication is available in a daily dosage of 2.5 or 5 milligrams (mg).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this medication for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. A 2022 meta-analysis confirmed how minoxidil with a 5% concentration can help improve hair regrowth in people with this condition.

Androgenic alopecia is not the only condition minoxidil can help with. People can also use this medication to treat female pattern hair loss and work as an off-label treatment for several hair loss conditions.

When you use minoxidil, it can take about 4 months before you can start to see an improvement in your hair. When you start using this medication, you should not stop. If you discontinue minoxidil, you will start losing your hair again in about 3–4 months from when you stopped utilizing the medication.

The use of minoxidil can also cause side effects, including:

• increased growth of body hair
• darkening of hair
• itching
• irritation on your scalp
• folliculitis
• hair loss
• headache
• nausea

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Spironolactone

Some medications doctors recommend for hair loss, such as spironolactone, are drugs meant for the treatment of other health conditions. Spironolactone is a diuretic medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), but it can also work as an off-label drug for hair loss treatment in people assigned female at birth.

Spironolactone comes in the form of oral tablets. It’s available in a generic version and as the brand-name medication Aldactone. Spironolactone can help with hair loss because it targets certain hormones linked to hair loss and growth.

Spironolactone is usually very effective in treating hair loss, especially when used in combination with minoxidil. However, it can cause several side effects, including:

• headache
• nausea and vomiting
• dehydration
• confusion
• lightheadedness
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• muscular tremors
• skin rashes

Spironolactone can also cause developmental issues for a fetus, particularly the feminization of male fetuses. If you are pregnant or you think there’s a chance you may be pregnant, you should not use spironolactone. You should also avoid getting pregnant while you use this medication.

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Finasteride

Finasteride, also known by its brand name Propecia, is an FDA-approved medication used for the treatment of enlarged prostate and androgenic alopecia. Finasteride typically comes in the form of an oral pill, but it is also available as a prescription-only topical medication. It is only suitable for people assigned male at birth.

This medication inhibits your body from making a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is the root cause of pattern baldness in males.

A 2018 study reported how finasteride can help stop up to 98.4% of cases of hair loss progression while stimulating hair regrowth. However, finasteride may cause side effects, such as:

• erectile dysfunction
• loss of libido
• increased breast size (gynecomastia)
• ejaculation problems
• fertility issues
• dizziness
• weakness
• skin rash
• shortness of breath

Finasteride does not cure hair loss — it only helps regrowth and prevents further hair shedding. If you stop using this product, you may start losing hair again.

Dutasteride

Dutasteride, also known by its brand name Avodart, is a prescription-only oral treatment for people with an enlarged prostate. However, it can also help with the treatment of androgenic alopecia in people assigned male at birth. People assigned female at birth should not use dutasteride, as this can cause several adverse effects, particularly during pregnancy.

A 2019 review found that dutasteride is more effective in treating hair loss than finasteride, and it causes comparable side effects. These may include:

• decreased libido
• depression
• erectile dysfunction
• breast tenderness
• diabetes
• testicular pain
• ejaculation disorders
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• fatigue
• headache
• back pain

When to contact a doctor

You should speak with a doctor if you experience sudden hair loss or your hair loss worsens. This could be the cause of several underlying health conditions. A prompt and early diagnosis may help you start the appropriate treatment as soon as possible and prevent further hair loss.

You should also consider speaking with a doctor if you experience any serious side effects after using hair loss medications or if the side effects you experience negatively affect your quality of life.

Summary

There are several medications that can help stop hair loss and promote hair regrowth. These medications are generally effective in treating hair loss, but they cannot cure it.

Hair loss medications may also result in various side effects. If you stop using them, you will typically start losing hair again.

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