Can minoxidil cause hair loss?

Ah, the famous 'dread shed'! Yes, minoxidil can actually make your hair fall out more in the first few weeks, which is super ironic. It is just pushing out the weak hair to grow stronger ones, so don't throw the bottle in the bin just yet.

Oh my god, I started minoxidil last week and my hair is falling out even more now! I am so stressed and literally crying looking at my comb. Did this initial shedding happen to anyone else here, and does it actually stop?

Listen boss, don't panic. Minoxidil causes temporary shedding in the first month because it restarts your hair cycle. It is completely normal and means the medicine is working, so keep using it patiently for at least 3-4 months.

Yes, it can cause temporary shedding for the first 2 to 4 weeks. Don't worry, it is a normal part of the process and new hair will grow back.

Everything takes time to heal, so do not lose hope. The initial hair fall is just a phase of cleansing before new growth begins. Stay patient, take deep breaths, and let the treatment work quietly.

Actually yaar, I freaked out and stopped using it after two weeks because of the hair fall. Later my doc told me that the shedding is totally normal and I shouldn't have stopped. If you've started, just stick with it, it gets better.