My Honest Review of Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss in Perimenopause

What Is Oral Minoxidil and Why I Tried It

It seemed as though once I turned 40, my body began to change. One of the things I noticed most was my hair. While I never was one with really thick hair, I never thought much about it. But now, over 40, it was visibly thinning. My part was wider, I began getting a receding hairline, and it began thinning so much at the crown of my scalp that I sometimes saw a bald spot in photos.

Everything I Tried Before Oral Minoxidil

I began trying every product on the market to prevent hairloss, regrow hair, or try to create the look of thicker and fuller hair.

Supplements and Vitamins I Took for Hair Growth

From biotin and keratin to Viviscal and Keranique, Nutrafol and Vegamour, prenatal vitamins to collagen peptides, I consumed all sorts of pills and supplements to improve my hair and only ended up with cystic acne and greasy roots.

Shampoos and Scalp Treatments I Tested

I used shampoos, conditioners, thickening products and scalp treatments from Hair Biology, Vegamour, Virtue, GrandeHAIR, and others that are no longer sold… likely because I found all of these either did nothing or dried out my hair. The volume-boosting products worked, but it was just cosmetic as my scalp was still showing underneath.

Cover-Up Products That Hid My Thinning Hair

I became a fan of products designed to hide the scalp and create the appearance of thicker hair at the roots. Toppik was a favorite; the powder would add thickness to my roots and cover grays while also tinting my scalp. Madison Reed's The Great Cover Up, L'Oreal Magic Root Cover Up, and Boldify powder were always in my medicine cabinet, purse, and travel toiletries bag for quick coverups as my grays would make my scalp look even more visible.

I tried rosemary oil, scalp massagers, even clip-in extensions to try to make my hair look thicker and grow back. My hair stylist encouraged me to embrace my natural hair texture and go curly. Not only improving the condition of my hair, curly hair created the look of more volume and better hid my scalp. But I was still losing hair and feeling self-conscious.

Earlier this year, I updated a post of what I had tried to fight hairloss and in the comments many recommended oral minoxidil. As I shared in this Weekend Reads in January, I decided to take your advice and got a prescription for it through Alloy. And now it is July and I feel I have been on it long enough to provide a thorough review of my experience with oral minoxidil for hairloss in midlife.

Getting an Oral Minoxidil Prescription Through Alloy

I went with Alloy because I had used Alloy before for tretinoin and was pleased with the customer service, product quality, communication, and pricing. While I have received free skincare from Alloy in the past, my oral minoxidil prescription is not covered and is not part of any campaign or paid promotion: I am sharing this review as a regular paying customer.

How the Alloy Telehealth Process Works

With Alloy, like other online telehealth companies, you say what you want, fill out some personal information, see if your insurance will cover it, and your info is reviewed by a doctor. Depending on your answers, you may have a telehealth call, or you may just get a message in the site's portal sharing the doctor's recommendation. It also comes with a generic video of that same doctor introducing themselves and info on how to use Alloy.

My Starting Dose and What My Doctor Told Me

The email message I received after providing my info:

Hi Alison, I have reviewed your intake questions and I have completed your treatment plan.

Based on the details you shared, oral minoxidil with added vitamin D is a good option for supporting hair density and reducing ongoing thinning. This combination helps improve blood flow to the follicles and may reduce inflammation that can contribute to shedding. Your medication will be shipped directly to you.

Oral Minoxidil 1mg/Vitamin D 1000IU Compounded Capsule
Take 1 capsule by mouth once daily.

Contraindications for this medication include a history of uncontrolled high blood pressure, significant heart disease, kidney or liver disease, pheochromocytoma, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or any allergy to minoxidil or vitamin D.

Possible side effects can include lightheadedness, dizziness, swelling of the feet or legs, unwanted hair growth, weight gain, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Rarely, pericardial effusion can occur. Please reach out if you notice any of these symptoms.

You can message me anytime with medical questions or updates to your health. For shipping or billing questions, contact [email protected].

Regards,
Dr. Allison Hill

I received in the mail within a week a traditional prescription bottle containing 90 Oral Minoxidil 1mg/Vitamin D 1000IU compounded capsules. It came with plenty of paperwork explaining the medication, when to take it, potential side effects, and how to contact Alloy if I had questions or concerns. Also, knowing from using Alloy before, it came in an orange logoed zipper pouch that is a great size for travel and randomness.

My Oral Minoxidil Results, Month by Month

1mg of oral minoxidil is really low; my PCP shared she usually starts folks at 2.5mg. However, she said 1mg would make sense as the first three months you really don't see any benefit, you are just having it build up in the body… but you do something experience shedding of your existing hair. I didn't experience any shedding; it may be because the dose was so low.

The First Three Months on 1mg

I felt nothing. No weight gain, no hair growth in unusual places, no dizziness or lightheadedness… nothing. I took the pills every morning with my other morning medications so it was easy to remember. The capsule was small enough that it was no issue taking even dry.

Why I Asked to Increase My Dose

Three months went quickly, and when I received an email that my next shipment was being prepared, I reached out asking for Alloy to bump up the dosage. I wanted to be sure I would see results, and I had not had any negative effects from oral minoxidil. I don't have a record of what I sent in the portal, but this is the reply I received:

Hello Alison, I’ve reviewed your dosage change request and have updated your treatment plan.

Since you reported doing well on the 1 mg dose without side effects, increasing the strength can provide additional support for hair density and regrowth. Oral minoxidil works by improving blood flow to hair follicles and helping extend the growth phase of the hair cycle.

The following treatment has been prescribed and will be shipped directly to you from our partner pharmacy. These products are automatically billed and shipped, so no approval in your Treatment Plan is needed.

Oral Minoxidil 2mg/Vitamin D 1500IU Compounded Capsule
Directions: Take 1 capsule by mouth once daily.

Contraindications for Oral Minoxidil 2mg/Vitamin D 1500IU Compounded Capsule:
History of uncontrolled high blood pressure, significant heart disease (including congestive heart failure or pulmonary hypertension), kidney disease, chronic or severe liver disease, pheochromocytoma, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or allergy to minoxidil or vitamin D.

Possible side effects for Oral Minoxidil 2mg/Vitamin D 1500IU Compounded Capsule:
Lightheadedness or dizziness, swelling of the feet or legs from fluid retention, unwanted hair growth, facial swelling, weight gain, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Rarely, a condition called pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart) can occur. Please message me if you notice any concerning symptoms.

Hair growth changes usually become noticeable after about 3 to 6 months of consistent use. Some people notice mild early shedding as follicles shift into a new growth cycle, which can be expected.

If you have medical questions or notice any changes in your health, feel free to message me here. For questions about billing, shipping, or your account, please contact [email protected].

Best,
Dr. Allison Hill

Five Months In: The Results I Didn't Expect

I have now completed two months at the increased 2mg oral minoxidil from Alloy and have seen both side effects and hair growth.

Side Effects of Oral Minoxidil I Noticed

I want to break down the side effects, negative and positive, that I have experienced with oral minoxidil through Alloy.

Hair Growth Beyond My Scalp

I began laser hair removal last summer, a “nose to toes” program where it's from face below the nose literally to my toes. The only part I left untouched is my arms. I used to find my arms overly hairy as a teen and in midlife found not only the hair on my head thinned, but so did my arms and I finally had the level of armhair I desired back in the day so I kept it.

I saw after about a month, the hair on my arms didn't get thicker or darker, but the patch of hair seemed to get larger, spreading more to the back of my forearm by maybe 1/2″. Totally something only I would notice, and the new hair is just as fine as the original hair.

I didn't get my brows lasered and haven't had my brows waxed or professionally groomed in years. Personally, all I do is occasionally tweeze away an errant hair. I haven't felt I've had more hairs there than before.

That being said, I shared my experience using oral minoxidil on Instagram and one person DMed me saying they experienced their nosehair growing faster than before… and it made me realize I was also experiencing that. Nothing as extreme as waking up and having some long hair hanging out of a nostril or anything, but I keep a facial razor in my medicine cabinet and one on my dressing table in the cup with my makeup brushes and take care of things when I notice it's needed.

I also still occasionally get a dark hair under my nose or near the edge of my lips and I just swipe it away when I notice it. As a woman in perimenopause, my family is already on rogue hair alert, being kind enough to let me know if there's one I may have missed. But I haven't noticed much more than before.

I have seen no hair growth on my back, chest, upper arms, and since I stopped laser hair removal for the summer, no breakthrough hair happening that is thicker or darker than expected.

Hair Growth on My Scalp

As for my head… the hair is growing back and growing so fast I am going to have to schedule my salon visits more closely together. I have the roots I'd usually have after a few months and it has only been a few weeks since I last saw my stylist. I also have baby hairs all over my hairline and in the space where I previously had my receding hairline.

I never took a “before” photo in January when I started my Alloy prescription for oral minoxidil, but I found this photo from 2022 and tried to recreate it with the same pose and same lighting. It's clear how much more hair I have on my scalp in general, how much hair I am holding in my hand, and how my hairline is filling in. Even with it gray, you can still see the thickness, when before my gray roots would look transparent.

The Blood Pressure Side Effect Nobody Warned Me About

Two years ago, my PCP sent me to a cardiologist, concerned with my high blood pressure. It had been slightly elevated since 2017, but now was concerning, especially with my family history. I was told to begin more regular and longer spans of cardio activity, watch my sodium intake, work on stress reduction, check my blood pressure daily, and come back in six months. In six months, I had an echocardiogram, an EKG, found out I lost a few pounds and dropped my blood pressure from the “oh shit” territory to “don't change anything, but you're not going to explode tomorrow” territory.

Blood pressure of 114/74. At 51.
After five months on oral minoxidil.

After two months on oral minoxidil, I had the most normal blood pressure since turning 40. And yesterday, as a 5'3″ 200 pound 51-year-old, after five months on oral minoxidil, at my doctor's appointment I had a BP of 114/74. I know right?

See, minoxidil used to be prescribed for high blood pressure, and folks saw the side effect was hair growth. Now in 2026, minoxidil is prescribed for hair growth with the side effect of a lowered blood pressure.

Minoxidil belongs to the general class of medicines called antihypertensives. It works by relaxing blood vessels so that blood passes through them more easily. This helps to lower blood pressure.

I am still lifting weights and doing longer cardio workouts on my Hydrow rower. I am still watching my sodium intake, focusing on sleep and stress reduction, quality foods, and staying hydrated. But this side effect of oral minoxidil has been a positive one for my overall health and longevity.

Is Oral Minoxidil Right for You?

I am not an expert; minoxidil is a drug and should only be taken with medical approval and supervision. Even though I get my prescription through Alloy, my PCP is aware of it, knows my current dosage, and keeps it in my record to ensure it's considered with other medications and any health issues.

My experience may not be your experience. But I know a lot of you too have dealt with hairloss and thinning hair in perimenopause or just in midlife. It's hard to know what to believe in a time of influencers, and as an over-50 content creator, I have been offered paid opportunities and gifting from a LOT of brands that carry products for hair loss, hair thinning, hair breakage, etc.

I know Alloy does a lot of paid partnerships with content creators; I myself have been offered them for other products in its collection. But as an actual customer with an actual issue that is actually being helped by oral minoxidil that I by chance purchase through Alloy, I felt my review may be helpful.

If you too have tried oral minoxidil for hair loss, do share your experience, positive and negative, in the comments. It can really help another reader. Comments are as anonymous as you wish; you can enter anything for a name and even a fake email address. But all of us, especially women in midlife who are being sold all kinds of snake oil now that perimenopause is a hot topic, deserve some honesty and transparency so we can be informed consumers and take care of ourselves well.

FAQ: Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss