Minoxidil dosing schedules below follow FDA prescribing information. Your prescriber sets your specific dose — these are reference ranges, not personal medical advice.
Available forms(3)
Topical solution 2% and 5%
Topical foam 5%
Oral tablet 2.5 mg and 10 mg (Loniten; low-dose use is off-label)
Female pattern hair loss (topical, FDA-approved OTC)
5% foam: apply once daily to the scalp
2% solution: apply twice daily to the scalp
Assess response at 3-6 months; continue indefinitely to maintain benefit
Female pattern hair loss (low-dose oral, off-label, specialist-directed)
Published series commonly use 0.625-2.5 mg once daily
Titrated by a clinician with blood-pressure and fluid monitoring
Note: 10 mg+ oral is the antihypertensive dose, not the hair-loss dose
Missed dose
Topical: apply as soon as you remember, or skip and resume the schedule — do not double up. Oral: take as soon as remembered unless near the next dose; never double.