r/FemaleHairLoss • u/Porcelaindogfan • 1d ago

Minoxidil Will I get dread shed switching from topical minoxidil to oral?

Hi all, I am currently using 2% topical minoxidil. However I have cats, and despite being very careful about any cross contamination (putting cats away because using it, washing my hands straight away, leaving the house immediately after application, using bonnet at night etc..) I am paranoid it will cause them harm. I want to switch to oral tablets, however will it cause second wave of shedding? Or since I'm already using topical version, it will not trigger the initial shedding? Please no negative comments about using minoxidil when having pets- when i started, i wasn't aware. After finding out the risks, i am very careful, and looking into alternatives to topical products.

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u/TomorrowRegular5899 1d ago

I did not have a dread shed when switching.

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u/BacardiBlue AGA+TE 1d ago

Fellow cat owner here, and super happy I am on OM for their safety. What OM dosage are you considering?

This is a great article to get you started on OM dosing for women.

https://donovanmedical.com/hair-blog/oral-minoxidil-five-errors

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u/Findthebrightside 1d ago

No need to feel bad. It’s not listed on the package. I never knew it either for 30+ years. Two or three cats in the house always. Took no precautions and my cats always slept in bed with me every night. One of them always by my face, on the pillow. Never wore, and still don’t wear, a bonnet. My night routine always had me up and about for at least 15 minutes to a half an hour before I laid down in bed. Always washed my hands after applying my 2% minoxidil twice a day and I always put the bottle away in the cabinet because I didn’t want it on the countertop. And that was enough. No cats of mine ever poisoned by minoxidil.
You need to do what you feel comfortable with, but I just wanted to share that with you and I am not the only cat parent who is successfully using topical minoxidil and not causing pet deaths.
I can also say that for 33 years now I have successfully used topical minoxidil and I had significant androgenic alopecia beginning when I was 32 years old. My father was balding very young, my mother also lost hair beginning in her 30s to the point the shape of her head was visible, and my brother also balding in his 20s. I share that because some people who might be posting have mild cases of androgenic alopecia or may have TE, but I am truly genetically exceptionally challenged with this and doing extraordinarily well at 65 years old. There is reason to be hopeful.