There are a few medications available that can work effectively as a female hair loss treatment. Most of these medications are prescribed to treat other medical conditions but cause hair growth as a side effect. In order to increase your chances of reversing your hair loss, begin treatment as soon as you notice that your hair is thinning. Most female hair loss treatments are not FDA approved for that specific purpose. However, they are approved as treatments for other conditions.
Minoxidil can help stimulate hair growth in women whose hair loss is caused by diffuse androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern baldness, which thinning over the entire scalp in women. Minoxidil was initially prescribed as a tablet to reduce high blood pressure. Patients who were taking this medicine started noticing that they were growing more hair. The manufacturers of Minoxidil suggest that women use the 2 percent topical treatment. The 5 percent solution may offer better results, but the FDA has not approved that dosage for women.
Spironolactone is a female hair loss treatment that started out as a treatment for edema, high blood pressure, and a hormonal disorder, known as hyperaldosteronism. This medication reduces the amount of hormones called androgens that the ovaries and adrenal glands can produce. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen that destroys hair follicles, causing baldness. The brand name for spironolactone is Aldactone.
Cimetidine is also considered to be among the effective hair loss treatments for women. This histamine blocker is primarily prescribed to treat ulcers. This drug also inhibits DHT, preventing it from damaging hair follicles. The brand name for cimetidine is acetate.
Ketoconazole is a treatment for fungal infections. This medication can also reverse hair loss because it reduces the amount of androgens in a woman’s ovaries. A shampoo consisting of 2 percent ketoconazole is available as prescription shampoo. It’s called Nizoral. Another form of Nizoral, containing 1 percent ketoconazole, is sold over the counter.
A drug known as finasteride inhibits the production of DHT, a hormone which damages follicles, making it one of the effective hair loss treatments for women. It started out as a prostate treatment for men. It then evolved into a hair loss treatment for men under the brand name Propecia. It is now FDA approved for this purpose. It stops hair loss and stimulates new hair growth.
Consult your doctor before trying any of these hair loss treatments. They may not be safe for women who are nursing, pregnant, or who plan on becoming pregnant.