Minoxidil Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Minoxidil is a well-known medication that many people have come across. It’s widely recognized for treating hair loss, but it’s also helpful for managing high blood pressure in certain situations.

Whether you’re exploring options to regrow thinning hair or addressing a tough case of hypertension (high blood pressure), understanding how to take minoxidil can help you maximize its benefits.

Here, we’ll break down typical minoxidil dosages, how to use the medication, and what to expect along the way.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• A full guide: Minoxidil (Rogaine) isn’t your only option on your journey to thicker, fuller hair. Many more treatments, medications, and supplements are also available.

• Try to be patient: Topical minoxidil doesn’t lead to thicker hair right away. Read on to see how long minoxidil takes to work.

• Stuck with peach fuzz? Physicians discuss the ins and outs of using topical minoxidil for beard growth rather than scalp hair loss.

• Minoxidil tablets: Oral minoxidil is FDA approved to manage high blood pressure, not hair loss. But can this formulation treat hair loss anyway?

What’s the typical minoxidil dosage for hair loss?

Minoxidil (Rogaine) is commonly used as a topical treatment for hair loss. It’s widely available over the counter (OTC) for both men and women. It comes in a few formulations: a 2% liquid solution, a 5% liquid solution, and a 5% foam. The medication works by improving blood flow to hair follicles.

Recommended minoxidil dosages for hair loss slightly differ by sex:

• Men: The recommended dose for men is 1 mL of the 5% minoxidil solution or half a capful of the 5% minoxidil foam. Both versions should be applied twice daily. The 2% minoxidil solution is a possible alternative to the 5% solution when hair loss is only affecting the hairline or crown.

• Women: The recommended dose for women is 1 mL of the 2% solution twice daily or half a capful of 5% foam once daily.

The solution isn’t more effective than the foam, or vice versa. But there are some considerations for both. The solution comes packaged with a spray bottle or dropper, depending on the specific product you purchase. These applicators are useful for applying medication to specific areas of the head. Foams are released from a nozzle, and they’re easier to apply to larger areas. 

Foams also tend to dry faster, and they don’t have as much of a scent. What’s more, minoxidil foam doesn’t contain propylene glycol, an inactive ingredient in minoxidil solution. Foam may be preferred if you have an allergy to propylene glycol.

How to apply minoxidil

Follow these steps to apply minoxidil:

1. Make sure your scalp is clean and dry before applying minoxidil.

2. Use the liquid dropper, spray bottle, or foam applicator (depending on your chosen product) to apply your recommended dose.

3. With the solution, you should apply the medication directly to the scalp in areas with thinning hair. Massage into the skin after that. For the foam, you can spray the medication onto your fingers and then massage it into your scalp.

4. Wash your hands with soap and water.

5. Allow the medication to dry completely before styling your hair or going to bed.

Things to keep in mind with topical minoxidil

Here are a few tips for using topical minoxidil:

• It may take 2 to 4 months of consistent use to see results from minoxidil. But if you’re not seeing any progress after 4 months, talk to a healthcare professional. They may recommend an alternative hair loss remedy.

• Some people opt to combine minoxidil with finasteride (Propecia) or dutasteride (Avodart). These prescription medications are oral tablets that tackle hair loss in a different way than minoxidil.

• Minoxidil side effects such as scalp irritation or unwanted hair growth may occur — especially if the medication spreads beyond the intended area. These side effects are typically short lived.

• Your hair may actually shed a little bit during the first couple weeks of applying minoxidil. This is temporary.

• If you stop using minoxidil, it stops working. Hair loss will likely resume.

What’s the typical minoxidil dosage for high blood pressure?

Minoxidil comes as an oral tablet for hard-to-treat cases of high blood pressure. It’s available in 2.5 mg and 10 mg doses.

You may receive a prescription for oral minoxidil when other blood pressure medications haven’t worked well on their own — typically, a diuretic and at least two other blood pressure medications. Oral minoxidil relaxes blood vessels to further lower blood pressure.

For adults and adolescents age 12 and older, these are the typical minoxidil dosages for high blood pressure:

• Starting dosage: 5 mg once daily — your prescriber may adjust this every few days based on your response

• Maintenance dosage: 10 mg to 40 mg daily, divided into 1 to 3 smaller doses

• Maximum dosage: 100 mg daily

For children younger than 12, recommended dosages are based on body weight:

• Starting dosage: 0.2 mg/kg per day, divided into 1 to 3 doses — your child’s prescriber may adjust their dose every few days based on their response

• Typical maintenance dosage: 0.25 to 1.0 mg/kg per day, divided into 1 to 3 doses

• Maximum dosage: 50 mg per day

For example, a 10-year-old child weighing 30 kg (66 lbs) may start with a 6 mg daily dose. Their prescriber may slowly increase the dose from there until their blood pressure readings reach their target range.

Good to know: Some people take oral minoxidil for hair loss — not high blood pressure. This is considered an off-label use. Oral minoxidil is usually prescribed at a low dose for hair loss. A common dosage is 0.5 mg to 5 mg once daily.

Are there any minoxidil dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

In most cases, no. This is especially true for topical versions of minoxidil.

For oral minoxidil, your prescriber may be cautious with your dose if you have kidney failure or are receiving dialysis. They may give you a smaller-than-normal dose at first and increase your dose more slowly over time. This is done to reduce the risk of potential side effects, including kidney or heart problems.

Your prescriber may also recommend a slow-and-cautious approach with oral minoxidil if you have liver problems. The medication could build up in the body and lead to extra side effects, but there isn’t much data regarding this. Any dose reductions are made on a case-by-case basis.

What happens if you miss a dose of minoxidil?

If you miss a dose of topical minoxidil, don’t worry — just apply your next dose as scheduled. Don’t double up on doses to make up for a missed one, either. This can increase the risk of side effects and it won’t make the medication work any better or faster.

For oral minoxidil, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule after that. Taking two doses at the same time could lower your blood pressure too much and lead to dizziness or fainting.

Missing several minoxidil doses in a row can make it harder to manage your blood pressure. If this happens, contact your prescriber. They may recommend monitoring your blood pressure more frequently at home or adjusting your treatment plan as needed.

What should you do if you take or apply too much minoxidil?

In general, applying or taking too much minoxidil increases the risk of side effects.

For topical minoxidil, applying more than the recommended dose may lead to scalp irritation or unwanted hair growth in areas where the medication spreads. If you accidentally apply too much, you can gently wash the excess off with water.

For oral minoxidil, taking too much could cause more serious problems, including low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, or fluid buildup. If you think you took too much, call your prescriber to see if any next steps are necessary. You can also contact Poison Control online or at 1-800-222-1222.

However, if you notice any worrisome symptoms — especially noticeable symptoms of low blood pressure — it’s better to call 911 or go to the nearest ER without delay.

How to save on minoxidil

There are ways to save on minoxidil, which is widely available as a generic medication. GoodRx can help you save on the average retail price of both the topical and oral versions.

When filled as a prescription, a bottle of generic minoxidil 5% topical solution costs as low as $11.57 at certain pharmacies with a free GoodRx coupon. A can of the 5% topical foam may cost as little as $9.68. By comparison, a 1-month supply of oral minoxidil 2.5 mg tablets may cost as little as $10.47.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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