Products/Prescription medication
Minoxidil topical solution
Topical minoxidil applied directly to the scalp twice daily. The 2.5% solution is the typical starting strength for women, 5% for men.
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.
Applied twice daily. One 60 ml bottle is approximately one month. Shelf life 1 to 3 years from manufacture; store at room temperature, no refrigeration needed. 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
Minoxidil applied topically remains the first-line topical treatment for both male and female pattern hair loss, with the strongest evidence base of any topical agent. Higher strengths give greater follicular response in some patients but at the cost of more frequent local irritation. The 5% preparation additionally contains azelaic acid 2%, which has 5-alpha-reductase inhibitory activity of its own and is included to support the minoxidil effect. Patients who plateau on 5% may be stepped up to the higher-strength combination formulation, which is reviewed quarterly. Apply to a dry scalp twice daily where possible, allow 4 hours before washing, and expect a transient increase in shedding in the first 4 to 8 weeks (the "minoxidil shed") before regrowth.
How it works
Topical minoxidil is converted in the scalp to its active form (minoxidil sulphate), which opens potassium channels in dermal papilla cells, prolongs the anagen phase of the hair follicle, and increases follicular size. Effect is local to the area where the solution is applied.
Who this product is for
- You have androgenetic alopecia and want to start with a topical option
- You prefer not to take oral medication
- You have responded to 5% but want to step up under clinical supervision (via the higher-strength combination)
- You are using minoxidil pre and post hair transplant to protect grafts and native hair
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 topical solution. Your clinician will discuss any concerns at clinical review and you can stop treatment at any time.
MHRA Drug Safety Updates and contraindications
- Compounded unlicensed special. Off-licence status disclosed at prescribing.
- Initial increased shedding (the minoxidil shed) typically begins 2 to 6 weeks after starting and settles within a couple of weeks as new hairs replace shed ones (Regaine 5% SmPC).
- Local side effects: scalp irritation, dryness, contact reactions (often related to the propylene glycol vehicle).
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 topical solution 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 miss an application of minoxidil solution?
Carry on as normal and do not use extra to catch up. Our solutions are compounded unlicensed specials, so the closest official guidance is the leaflet for the licensed UK product, Regaine for Men Extra Strength 5% scalp solution. It says that if you miss one or two applications you should carry on as if you had not missed them, and not use twice as much or twice as often. Using more than directed makes it more likely that minoxidil reaches the bloodstream, which is what causes the side effects the leaflet warns about, such as a fast heartbeat, dizziness and swollen hands or feet. For longer gaps, see what happens when you stop topical minoxidil.
What happens if I stop using topical minoxidil?
Expect some shedding in the first 4 to 8 weeks, which is the reverse of the shed many people notice when they start. Over the next 3 to 6 months, hair gained on treatment is lost as the follicles return to their untreated cycle and your hair loss continues along its underlying pattern. The Regaine leaflet gives a similar timescale: regrown hair may disappear 3 to 4 months after stopping. Our guide on how to stop topical minoxidil safely covers the options, including what to try first if irritation is the reason.
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 topical solution 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.