Loniten (Minoxidil)

Loniten tablets, a variant of the renowned Minoxidil medication, are designed for oral ingestion to aid in hair growth. While most know Loniten as a topical solution, its tablet form is also available for those seeking hair regrowth.

The Unexpected Journey: From Treating Hypertension to Enhancing Hair Growth

Initially developed to manage high blood pressure, Loniten gained prominence in the hair growth sector upon the discovery of its unforeseen benefit: promoting hair growth. This serendipitous finding marked a significant turn in its usage.

The Mechanism of Loniten

Understanding Loniten’s Effectiveness: Loniten operates by dilating blood vessels, enhancing the flow of oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles. This process encourages a prolonged growth phase for hair, leading to stronger and healthier strands.

The Importance of Blood Circulation for Hair Health: Consider hair follicles as akin to plants that require water and nutrients. Loniten serves as an enhanced irrigation system for the scalp, ensuring continuous blood supply necessary for hair growth.

The Timeline for Visible Changes: Patience is essential when using Loniten. Visible improvements typically appear within three to six months of consistent usage. Regular application is imperative for achieving desired hair growth.

The Contrast Between Topical and Oral Loniten: While topical Loniten directly impacts the scalp, oral Loniten provides a systemic approach. The oral form may present more uniform and comprehensive results, particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing extensive or even hair thinning.

The recommended dosage is half a tablet for two weeks then one 2.5mg mg tablet daily if tolerated well. Loniten may be taken with or without food. Three to six months of once daily treatment are required before evidence of stabilisation of hair loss can be expected. Continuous use is recommended to sustain benefit. If treatment is stopped, the beneficial effects begin to reverse by six months and return to baseline by 9 to 12 months.

Minoxidil tablets work to combat hair loss through a systemic approach, meaning it impacts your whole system. Unlike topical Minoxidil solutions that are applied directly to the scalp, Minoxidil tablets are taken orally and get into your bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the active ingredient works to widen blood vessels, specifically in the scalp area.

By dilating these blood vessels, Minoxidil improves blood flow to the hair follicles. Better blood circulation provides your hair follicles with more nutrients and oxygen, creating a more conducive environment for hair growth. This action counteracts the shrinking of hair follicles, which is a common reason for hair thinning and loss.

Moreover, Minoxidil is believed to extend the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. The anagen phase is the active growth period for hair follicles. By extending this phase, Minoxidil helps to not only promote new hair growth but also may help the existing hair to become thicker and more robust.

So, in a nutshell, Minoxidil tablets work by improving blood circulation to hair follicles and potentially extending the active growth phase of your hair. Always remember to consult a healthcare provider before starting any medication, including Minoxidil tablets, to ensure it’s appropriate for your specific condition and to discuss any potential side effects or interactions with other medications you may be taking.

Against Other Oral Medications

Other oral treatments like Finasteride exist, but Minoxidil tablets offer the advantage of being non-hormonal, which can be a significant benefit for some users.

Against Topical Solutions

Topical forms might be more suitable for localized hair loss, while tablets can be more effective for diffuse or more widespread issues.

Loniten tablets is a prescription only medicine and can only be prescribed by a clinician. Unfortunately, all hair loss treatments are not available to prescribe from the NHS and therefore GPs will charge for a private consultation and a prescription. You will also pay for the medication from a pharmacy. However The Family Chemist clinician can prescribe Minoxidil tablets free of charge and only charge for the medicines and have it delivered to you in 24 hours.

YES! Using both products can increase your chances of halting hair loss and triggering regrowth, as they work differently but safely together.

Minoxidil tablets are not licensed in the UK for the treatment of hair loss. In the UK, Minoxidil is primarily available as a topical solution or foam for treating hair loss, and it is licensed for this use. The tablet form of Minoxidil is generally reserved for treating hypertension (high blood pressure). However Minoxidil tablets are used widely across the world for hair loss and there is plenty of evidence supporting its use. Minoxidil is used off license like many other medicines in the UK. See our post discussing off label use of a medicine. 

Minoxidil Patient Information Leaflet

Hair loss – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Alopecia UK Support Group

British Association of Dermatologists (bad.org.uk)

British Hair and Nail Soceity Leaflet

It’s not recommended, as Minoxidil is primarily designed for scalp hair loss.

Yes, Minoxidil is not available over the counter. You can buy Minoxidil Tablets from The Family Chemist by filling in the consultation.

It depends on your specific needs and the nature of your hair loss. Tablets might offer more uniform results, especially for diffuse hair loss.

No, this practice significantly increases risk of side effects.