Minoxidil 5% effective once a day?

Not all men respond to minoxidil so its use does not guarantee an improvement. Once daily use of the 5 % can certainly help many men - but the use of minoxidil twice daily is a bit better. One does not achieve twice the results with twice the dose - but results can be a bit better and the proportion of users who state they are "satisfied" with result does increase in those who ise it twice daily.

The label on the men's Rogaine says apply twice and day and the women's says apply once a day.  It is a well known phenomenon that patients do not use any medication as often as it is described and yet it still works. Minoxidil probably works better when used twice daily but few patients are able to maintain this schedule. Once daily is enough. What you are describing is the early shedding that sometimes occurs when the minoxidil stimulates hairs that area already in telogen (shedding phase) to fall out as new hairs are being stimulated to grow stronger.  You need to use any therapy for at least 3 months before you give up on it.  Final results can take up to a year or more to see because of the cyclical nature of hair growth.

I would suggest that you see a doctor and find out what is going on with your hair loss. There must be something else going on

Minoxidil is supposed to be used twice a day. Using for at least one year is recommended because it can take that long to grow new hair sometimes. Using Finasteride along with minoxidil is optimal for regrowth.