Realised never updated the brehs on this…
TLDR: Took Oral min for 14 months in total.
FOR ME PERSONALLY it didn’t work for me like topical sadly - that’s not to say it won’t work for you! There are plenty who take oral min and bounce back.
Tried both 2.5mg and 5mg before throwing in the towel - No sides not even any noticeable excess body hair growth but also no regrowth on the scalp.
As of this week I returned to Topical Minoxidil and quit 5mg OM.
Oral Min timeline:
2.5mg for 6 months
5mg for 8 months.
Had overlapped it with topical 5% for like 2/3 weeks then tossed it. I thought I’m on the holy grail oral min I’m good
6 months in the results were missing…What I had on topical was gone…I was being patient and thought ah must be a shed which I was anticipating but yeah 6 months with no sign of regrowth? Hmmm.
Ended up sourcing it elsewhere for a shyt load cheaper and at a higher dosage due to lack of results…200 Pills for $30 shout out Thailand.
So at 6 months - I’m on 5mg after being patient and hesitating to up the dose but shyt I want results.
Fast forward to this week, I finally give up the fight…14 months in and 0 regrowth. I ain’t even get back what I lost when I switched.
What I will say the convenience was amazing popping a pill. Not worrying about waiting for hair to dry or getting an itchy scalp etc.
That’s the life man!
And I had 0 noticeable side effects from taking it, so if it worked for me shyt would’ve been perfect.
I’m now to using topical and hoping to be more consistent with dermastamping.
If my previous experience on topical is something to go by I should get some decent regrowth by spring/summer.
My unscientific theory’s as to why Oral Min didn’t work for me:
1) My hair follicles prefer minxodil being applied directly and the amount of minoxidil circulating my blood stream just wasn’t enough.
Compared to being on topical and putting it directly on my scalp and therefore were basically feeling underdosed.
As technically if using 1ml of 5% twice per day, you’re applying 50-100mg directly to where it’s needed…Although not all of that is absorbed and used but still quite a high concentration.
Low levels of SULT1A1 in liver compared to my hair follicles.
2) So in short minoxidil needs to be converted to minoxidil sulphate, which is done by enzyme SULT1A1.
This is why Topical Minoxidil doesn’t work for some people as they don’t have sufficient levels in their hair follicles, and thus it doesn’t get converted leading to poor to no results.
And why Oral is said to be more likely to work for more people as it gets metabolised and converted in the liver before entering the blood stream to where it’s needed…And doesn’t rely on it being present in the blood stream.
Maybe I just have low levels in the liver and it’s not being converted as well as it was in the scalp.
3) I just have very bad luck and that’s my life.
4) It was a lesson in - “If it’s not broken don’t fix it”…Topical worked for me but the laziness in me wanted an easier option. So I switched thinking the grass is greener on the other side and found it’s definitely not.
And should’ve just had my cake and ate it.
The 14 months I wasted on oral instead of sticking with topical, could’ve had me looking like a member of the young Jackson 5.
4) In my case maybe a higher dosage might have done the trick but you have to remember the higher the dosage…The more sides you are more likely to experience and you’re out of the “low dose” territory.
I could’ve tried 10mg next but that’s more risky and for all I know could’ve been a waste of time too for me.
My advice:
If you’re a a true non responder to topical minoxidil…Go for it try oral it might work for you and get you back in the hair game!
If topical actually works for you…Stick with it unless you absolutely cant be consistent with applying or you’re having allergic reactions to it…in which case I’d try the foam or another brand, and if still the case or unsuitable go give oral a go.
The key lesson I learnt here is the grass isn’t always greener on the other side
Just my 2c
I’ve seen some amazing results from oral like I have topical! Not a one size fits all and different things work for different people.
Maybe I’ll give oral minoxidil a go one day again and try see if down the road I could make it work for me…
However right now ima use what I know works for me, I went through this summer with a missing hairline I ain’t doing that again next summer.
We getting right in 2024
