No noticeable hair loss after stopping Minoxidil for more than 4 months. Does it mean it never worked for me?

Question

I’ve been on minoxidil for years, and was always skeptical if it even worked for me, or stopped working at one point. After stopping it for more than 4 months, I didn’t see any noticeable difference. Does it mean it never worked for me? I’ve been on finasteride for 3 years.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

No, not necessarily. It sounds like you are still on finasteride, which is probably helping decrease hair shed after stopping Minoxidil. I suggest seeing a hair loss expert now to evaluate and go over your condition and provide you information about your best treatment options. There are great non-invasive options like prp/progesterone and/or hair transplantation. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Ilhan Serdaroglu, MD · Answer

You can realize the difference on your hair after you stop using both medication for at least 6 months . you tell that still using finasteride . so it is very important drug for stop hair loss and yu may not see any change even stop minox.

Jeanette Straga, DO · Answer

I always say, "you didn't lose your hair over night and you wont get it back over night". Having said that, I tell patients to use minoxidil for 6 months before deciding if it is or is not working. Alternatively, I tell pts to wait for 6 months after stopping minoxidil to see if there is excessive loss ie catch-up hair loss. What clouds the picture is the concomitant use of finasteride.....which, don't get me wrong, is a great thing.  Bottom line, wait 2 more months and see where you are but, in the mean time, continue the finasteride. You will have your answer as to whether minoxidil was working or was it just the finasteride that was holding you.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

4 months is a little short. If you see no real change after 9-12 months of stopping, it probably did not do much.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

If you had no impact from stopping mixoxidil, it means that the drug has had no effect on your hair because usually minoxidil developed hair growth causes hair loss of those hairs when you stop the dru

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

You need to be under supervision of hsir loss specialist while you are using medical hair treatment.that being said some people lose hair and some don’t. There is a chance that hair loss can happen, that is why you need to slowly stop using it. Also using propecia helps.

No noticeable hair loss after stopping Minoxidil for more than 4 months. Does it mean it never worked for me?

Answers (6)

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