Minoxidil, drug that treats hair loss, may be in short supply

men’s health

by Adriana Diaz

Experts have warned that the popular hair loss treatment minoxidil may run out of stock.

Minoxidil is the main active ingredient in Rogaine, which is applied to the scalp. Minoxidil has been found to be more effective when taken orally, but this dosage form is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for hair loss.

The pill is growing in popularity, and now researchers at George Washington University are suggesting there is a shortage of oral minoxidil. Their discovery is Published last week in the Journal of Drugs in Derology.

The researchers called 277 pharmacies in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia and asked for a 30-day supply of 2.5 milligrams of minoxidil.

They found that only 40% of pharmacies were able to fill prescriptions, reporting a “significant healthcare gap.” Regional shortages “could spill over to the national level,” the researchers wrote.

Patients must take the drug daily to keep their symptoms progressing, and lack of it can be harmful.

“You can go back and start losing hair again,” says Dr. Adam Friedman, a professor and professor of dermatology at George Washington University. told NBC News.

According to the study, it is unclear how long patients will have to wait to receive the drug.

“A significant number of patients will not be able to obtain minoxidil because of these shortages,” Friedman said. “That’s a serious problem.”

Michael Ganio, senior director of pharmacy practice and quality at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, noted that pharmacies don’t always have a 30-day supply in stock because the drug is unfamiliar. He said he was not surprised by the study results. Treat medical emergencies.

“Why would you want to keep it on the shelf for more than a week, maybe 10 days?” Ganio wondered to NBC News.

Androgenic alopecia, a common hair loss condition, affects an estimated 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States. According to Medline Plus.

If minoxidil is urgently needed, patients may need to contact several pharmacies to fill a prescription.

“While hair loss is not life-threatening, the impact on quality of life should not be underestimated,” Friedman says. “When people lose their hair, it really disrupts their lives.”

of F.D.A. does not list on its website that minoxidil is in short supply.

This isn’t the first time that an unofficial shortage has plagued people suffering from hair loss.

Last summer, New York City experienced a Rogaine shortage, with countless bald men and women facing empty shelves at drugstore chains like Duane Reade and Walgreens.

Shortly after the supposed shortage, the oral version of minoxidil became popular, but perhaps it grew too quickly?