Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil for Hair Regrowth

    There is an interesting article in today's New York Times describing an accidental discovery by an Australian MD.  He found that Minoxidil (trade name Rogaine) when taken orally at very low dose levels (~0.25 mg) has the effect of restoring lost hair.  Minoxidil for topical use in the form of Rogaine and similar products is sold over-the-counter to apply externally to regions of hair loss.  It is also used in pill form to control high blood pressure, but in that form it is prescription only and is taken orally in doses of around 10 mg.  Dr. Rodney Sinclair, a professor of dermatology at the University of Melbourne in Australia, has found that Minoxidil is much more effective for hair regrowth if taken orally in doses 1/40 the size of the blood-pressure dose.

    The problem is that Minoxidil is a cheap drug.  Big Pharma is unlikely to set up human hair-regrowth trials to obtain FDA approval for the new application, because the anticipated profits wouldn't support the test costs.  So Minoxidil pills may never be sold in the drugstore for hair regrowth.

    There is, however, an opportunity for us self-experimenters to try it.   I just ordered 60 x 5 mg tablets of Minoxidil from AllDayChemist in India.  I plan to grind up a few tablets and dilute them with sucrose to produce some 250 microgram capsule of Minoxidil, then take one of these daily and observe the effects, if any, on my receding hairline.  I'll report the result here in a few months.

9replies Oldest first
  • Oldest first
  • Newest first
  • Active threads
  • Popular
    • Dan Nave
    • Dan_Nave
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    Keep us updated.

    Like
  • Its shocking that 250mcg orally can do anything, much less work even better than 10mg. Please let us know.

    Dr Mark mentioned he switched from topical rapamycin to topical AKG and it works much better.

    Like
      • Michael
      • Michael.1
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Fred Cloud He switched to topical AKG replacing his Rapa cream?

      Like 1
    • Michael Yeah, it was on that thread from a year ago.

      "Now using alpha keto glutarate at 30mg/cc on hair which seems to result in a more robust thickening and more numerous colored hair than I saw with the rapamycin."

      https://forum.age-reversal.net/t/63j272?r=83ht7b4

      Like 2
      • Michael
      • Michael.1
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Fred Cloud Interesting.

      Like
    • Michael
    • Michael.1
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    TRT has certainly thinned my hair so I'd be very interested in your results.

    Like
  • Compounding pharmacies such as Murray Avenue and Regenere can give you about any concentration topical hair solution of Minoxidil you want.  I've tried them all to no effect as far as hair regrowth.  Others on hair forums such as hairlosstalk are doing oral tablets.  Some claim success.  That I have not tried.  I also experimented with TRT and experienced significant hairloss on top of my head.  It grew back after discontinuing. 

    Like 1
  • Interestingly keep up to date!

    Like
Like3 Follow
  • 3 Likes
  • 1 yr agoLast active
  • 9Replies
  • 312Views
  • 7 Following