TLDR Stopping minoxidil caused significant hair loss, but regrowth occurred after resuming use.
The article reports a case of a woman who experienced substantial hair loss after discontinuing oral minoxidil, a vasodilator used for severe hypertension that also stimulates hair growth in about 80% of patients. The woman had been taking minoxidil since 1980 and had developed excessive hair growth on the face. After discontinuing minoxidil due to gastrointestinal upset, she started losing her hair over the next two months, enough to be socially unacceptable and requiring her to wear a wig. Minoxidil was reintroduced about three months after withdrawal, and hair growth was apparent to the patient within a few days and appreciable growth had occurred by one month.
Cited in this study
2 / 2 results
57 citations
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July 1987 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Stopping minoxidil treatment resumes balding; continuous use needed for results.
9 citations
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January 1987 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” A man lost a lot of scalp hair quickly after stopping minoxidil, but it grew back with mild male pattern baldness.
September 2022 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” 
25 citations
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October 2018 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Combined microneedling and minoxidil improves hair growth more than minoxidil alone.
May 2015 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” 5% minoxidil foam helps women with thinning hair.
8 citations
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November 2014 in “PubMed”
May 2012 in “International Journal of Dermatology and Venereology” 
November 2009 in “Cambridge University Press eBooks” Minoxidil and finasteride combined can effectively treat hair loss.
21 citations
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February 2007 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” Spironolactone and minoxidil together effectively treat female pattern hair loss.
1 citations
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September 2002 in “PubMed” Minoxidil helps stimulate hair growth and reduce hair loss in women with androgenic alopecia.
127 citations
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July 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Minoxidil shortens baldness from chemotherapy by 50.2 days without significant side effects.
