Where can I get oral minoxidil? A guide to accessing prescription hair loss treatment

October 7, 2025 •

3 min read

While topical minoxidil is available over-the-counter, oral minoxidil is a prescription-only medication. Because it was originally developed to treat high blood pressure, accessing oral minoxidil for hair loss requires a consultation with a licensed healthcare provider, who will assess your medical history to determine if it is a safe and appropriate option for you.

Quick Summary

Obtaining oral minoxidil requires a prescription after a consultation with a healthcare provider, such as a dermatologist, to ensure suitability. Patients can choose between securing a prescription via telehealth platforms or traditional in-person doctor visits and can fill their medication at local or specialized online pharmacies.

Key Points

Prescription is mandatory: Oral minoxidil is a prescription-only medication, not available over-the-counter, and its use for hair loss is considered off-label.
Telehealth provides an accessible option: Services like Miiskin, Ro, and Hers allow for convenient virtual consultations with licensed medical providers who can assess your suitability for treatment and send a prescription to a pharmacy.
In-person consultations are also viable: Visiting a dermatologist or primary care physician directly ensures a thorough evaluation of your health, particularly your cardiovascular history, before prescribing.
Online and local pharmacies can fill prescriptions: Once you have a prescription, you can fill it at a local pharmacy or an online pharmacy like Amazon Pharmacy or Cost Plus Drugs, which often offer competitive prices.
Compounding pharmacies are an option for specific dosages: For low-dose oral minoxidil, a compounding pharmacy can create a customized, lower-strength formulation to minimize systemic side effects.
Oral vs. topical differs in application and side effects: Oral minoxidil has systemic effects and can cause side effects like fluid retention and unwanted hair growth, while topical minoxidil primarily causes local side effects such as scalp irritation.
Medical supervision is critical: Due to potential side effects, including cardiovascular risks, oral minoxidil should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

Getting a prescription for oral minoxidil

Unlike its topical counterpart, which is widely available over the counter under brand names like Rogaine®, low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) requires a prescription. While doctors can prescribe it off-label for hair loss, this decision is based on a thorough review of your health history to ensure it is safe. There are two main avenues for obtaining the necessary prescription: telehealth services and traditional in-person medical visits.

Accessing oral minoxidil through telehealth

Telehealth has streamlined the process for many people seeking oral minoxidil prescriptions. Reputable online platforms connect patients with licensed healthcare providers, often dermatologists, for virtual consultations. The process is typically straightforward and convenient, involving several steps:

Online Assessment: Patients fill out a detailed, HIPAA-compliant medical questionnaire, sometimes including photo submissions, outlining their health history and hair loss concerns.
Virtual Consultation: A licensed medical provider reviews the patient's information. Based on this assessment, they determine if oral minoxidil is an appropriate treatment.
Prescription Sent: If the provider approves the treatment, they send an electronic prescription to a local or online pharmacy of the patient's choosing.
Discreet Delivery: Many telehealth companies also offer a direct-to-door delivery service from their affiliated online pharmacy, with discreet packaging.

Popular telehealth platforms offering this service include Hims, Hers, Ro, and RedBox Rx. These services can be especially useful for those with busy schedules or for whom in-person visits are impractical. Some platforms specialize in specific populations, such as Hers for women's hair loss.

Traditional in-person consultation

For those who prefer a face-to-face interaction or have a complex medical history, an in-person visit with a dermatologist or primary care doctor is another option. This approach allows for a direct physical examination and detailed discussion of your hair loss and overall health.

During the appointment, your doctor will:

Review your medical history, focusing on cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and kidney function.
Examine your scalp and discuss your hair loss pattern.
Evaluate potential risks and side effects, as oral minoxidil can have systemic effects.
If deemed appropriate, provide a written or electronic prescription for oral minoxidil.

Considerations for filling your prescription

Once you have a prescription, you can choose where to have it filled. Options range from online pharmacies to traditional brick-and-mortar stores and compounding pharmacies.

Online and mail-order pharmacies

Many telehealth services partner with their own online pharmacies for convenient delivery. However, patients can often opt to use other online pharmacies that accept electronic prescriptions. Prominent online options include Amazon Pharmacy, HealthWarehouse, and Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs, which often offer competitive pricing for generic medications. Using a service like HealthWarehouse also allows for easy comparison shopping of pricing.

Compounding pharmacies

For low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM), a compounding pharmacy can be a valuable resource. Compounding pharmacists can formulate specific dosages as prescribed by your doctor. This is particularly important for minimizing the systemic side effects associated with higher doses.

Local pharmacies

Major pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens can also fill oral minoxidil prescriptions. After your healthcare provider sends the prescription electronically, you can pick it up locally, though pricing can vary.

Oral minoxidil vs. topical minoxidil: A comparison


Feature	Oral Minoxidil	Topical Minoxidil
FDA Status for Hair Loss	Off-label use (FDA-approved for hypertension)	FDA-approved (e.g., Rogaine)
Availability	Prescription only	Over-the-counter
Convenience	Once-daily pill; easy to incorporate into routine	Twice-daily application can interfere with hair styling
Application	Systemic absorption (affects the entire body)	Localized application to the scalp
Side Effects	Potential systemic effects: fluid retention, lightheadedness, unwanted facial/body hair, and heart rate changes. Dose-dependent.	Local side effects: scalp irritation, itchiness, dryness.
Suitability	Ideal for patients with topical intolerance, poor adherence, or widespread hair loss.	Recommended for first-line treatment due to established safety profile and localized action.

Conclusion

Obtaining oral minoxidil is a multi-step process that begins with a professional medical evaluation to ensure it is a safe and suitable treatment for your individual case. Whether you choose the convenience of a telehealth consultation or a traditional in-person visit, your healthcare provider will assess your medical history before writing a prescription. Once prescribed, the medication can be conveniently filled at local or online pharmacies. For specialized, low-dose formulations, compounding pharmacies are also an excellent option. Regardless of the pathway, it is crucial to follow your provider's guidance and monitor for potential side effects, keeping in mind that the treatment is not FDA-approved for hair loss. This ensures you receive the treatment safely while achieving the best possible results for hair regrowth.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, they are different formulations. Topical minoxidil is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter treatment applied directly to the scalp. Oral minoxidil is an oral tablet requiring a prescription and is used off-label for hair loss.

No, you cannot. Oral minoxidil is a prescription medication and requires authorization from a licensed healthcare provider after a medical evaluation. Selling it without a prescription is illegal.

A licensed healthcare provider, such as a dermatologist or a primary care physician, can prescribe oral minoxidil. Many telehealth platforms also employ doctors who can provide a prescription after a virtual consultation.

Common side effects include unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body (hypertrichosis), fluid retention (causing swelling in the ankles or face), and lightheadedness. These are often dose-dependent and typically managed by adjusting the dosage.

You complete an online medical questionnaire and, often, submit photos. A medical provider reviews your information and, if appropriate, sends an electronic prescription to your chosen pharmacy. Some services also offer direct mail delivery.

In most cases, insurance does not cover the cost of oral minoxidil when prescribed for hair loss, as it is considered an off-label treatment. Costs are typically paid out-of-pocket, but some online pharmacies offer low-cost generics.

Using both formulations together is generally not recommended unless under specific medical supervision. Combining them does not necessarily improve results and can increase the risk of systemic side effects.