Products/Prescription medication
Minoxidil 2.5 mg oral tablets
Low-dose oral minoxidil is an off-label option for androgenetic alopecia in patients who cannot tolerate topical minoxidil or who prefer once-daily oral dosing. Prescribed only after a GMC-registered doctor has reviewed the patient's cardiovascular and renal history.
Priced after clinical assessmentprescription-only medicine, price confirmed at consultationPricing
This is a prescription-only medicine, so we cannot publish a price against it. UK law restricts advertising prescription-only medicines to the public, and that applies to every provider, not just to us.
How you get your price
- Complete the online assessment. It is free and there is no consultation fee.
- A GMC-registered doctor reviews it and confirms whether this treatment is appropriate for you.
- You receive the full price in writing, including every supply length. Delivery is included.
- You are charged only if you decide to go ahead. Nobody is charged for being turned down.
One 2.5 mg tablet daily. Buying a longer supply lowers the monthly cost, and delivery is included whatever the quantity. Both are set out in your quote. We prescribe and deliver to UK addresses only.
About this product
Oral minoxidil was originally licensed as an antihypertensive (Loniten) and is used off-label at low doses (typically 0.625 to 5 mg daily) for pattern hair loss. A growing body of evidence supports its use, with response rates broadly comparable to topical minoxidil and an acceptable safety profile when prescribed appropriately. Common side effects include facial and body hypertrichosis, mild ankle oedema, and occasional postural symptoms. We start at 1.25 to 2.5 mg daily and adjust based on response and tolerance at follow-up review. Oral minoxidil is not suitable in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and women of childbearing potential should be using reliable contraception during treatment.
How it works
Minoxidil is a vasodilator that prolongs the anagen (growth) phase of the hair follicle and increases follicular size. Oral dosing reaches all follicles systemically rather than depending on topical penetration.
Who this product is for
- You have established androgenetic alopecia
- You cannot tolerate or have not responded to topical minoxidil
- You prefer once-daily oral dosing
- You have no contraindications on cardiovascular or renal grounds at clinical review
Important information
This is a prescription-only medication. WMG Meds is an online assessment service operating under Westminster Medical Group (CQC-registered, Harley Street). Prescriptions are issued by a GMC-registered doctor after asynchronous review of your questionnaire and declared medical history. Suitability, dose and strength are decided by your clinician on a case-by-case basis. We are not a pharmacy and do not dispense in-clinic: your prescription is fulfilled and delivered by our partner pharmacy.
Prescribed under: Dr Sebastian Deme (Medical Director, GMC 7130749) or Dr Grahame Shaw (GMC 7460905), both on the GMC Register and clinically responsible for prescribing decisions on this product. Meet the team.
If you experience side effects or have any clinical concerns, contact us via the enquiry form or call 020 3239 3378. For urgent symptoms please contact your GP, NHS 111, or 999.
Safety information and regulatory updates
Please read the following before starting Minoxidil 2.5 mg oral tablets. Your clinician will discuss any concerns at clinical review and you can stop treatment at any time.
MHRA Drug Safety Updates and contraindications
- Off-licence use for hair loss must be disclosed at prescribing (GMC Good Practice in Prescribing and Managing Medicines).
- Common side effects: facial and body hypertrichosis, mild ankle oedema, occasional postural symptoms.
- Rare cardiac effects including pericardial effusion have been described at higher antihypertensive doses.
- Not suitable in pregnancy or breastfeeding; women of childbearing potential should use reliable contraception during treatment.
Patient Information Leaflet
The official UK Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) on the eMC, the MHRA-affiliated electronic Medicines Compendium.
Yellow Card scheme
Report any suspected side effects of Minoxidil 2.5 mg oral tablets to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme. Reporting helps the MHRA monitor medicines safety in the UK.
Safety and stopping
Worth reading before you start, not only when you want to stop:
Common questions
What if I forget to take a minoxidil tablet?
Do not take two tablets to make up for it. The UK patient leaflet for Loniten, the 2.5 mg tablet we dispense, says that if you forget a tablet you should miss out the forgotten dose completely, take the next dose at the normal time, and never take a double dose. The cardiovascular side effects of oral minoxidil are dose-related, which is why doubling up is the thing to avoid. If you have missed several days in a row, see what happens when you stop oral minoxidil and let your prescriber know.
Can I get oral minoxidil in the UK?
Yes, but only on prescription. In the UK, oral minoxidil (Loniten) is licensed for severe high blood pressure that has not responded to other treatment. For hair loss it is prescribed off-label at low doses, which your prescriber must explain to you before you start. We prescribe it only after a GMC-registered doctor has reviewed your cardiovascular and kidney history, and it is not suitable in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
What happens if I stop taking oral minoxidil?
The drug itself clears within days (its half-life is about 4 hours), but the hair it helped you keep or grow does not disappear overnight. Scalp hair gained on treatment is typically lost over the following 3 to 6 months, and any extra facial or body hair settles over weeks to months. Speak to your prescriber before stopping. Our guide on how to stop oral minoxidil safely covers the detail.
Do you deliver outside the UK?
No. WMG Meds currently prescribes and delivers to UK addresses only. The online assessment asks which country you live in, and the service is for UK residents. If you are not sure whether we can deliver to your address, ask us before you start.
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Who is behind this prescription
Your prescription for minoxidil 2.5 mg oral tablets is not issued by an algorithm.
It is reviewed and signed by a GMC-registered doctor working under Westminster Medical Group, the CQC-registered clinical provider at 134 Harley Street, London W1G 7JY. That is a working clinic with a phone number, not a registered office. You are welcome to ring it.
- Dr Grahame Shaw Hair Transplant Doctor GMC 7460905 · verifiable on the GMC register
- Dr Sebastian Deme Medical Director and Lead Hair Transplant Surgeon GMC 7130749 · verifiable on the GMC register
Company No. 11237471. WMG Meds does not hold a pharmacy premises licence and does not dispense in clinic; medication is dispensed by our UK pharmacy partner and posted.