I also noticed more gastrointestinal upset, which Dr. Malik says is not very common with spironolactone or minoxidil. He notes that if you do notice this symptom to take your medication with food to help reduce feelings of nausea. As someone with IBS, I’m not surprised that this was a side effect I noticed. I also saw hair growth on my upper lip, jaw, cheeks, and arms while taking oral minoxidil, which wasn’t a total surprise since, like I said, it creates overall hair growth as opposed to targeted hair growth that topical minoxidil can offer.
The spirolactone also messed with my period which Dr. Malik says can happen in 15 to 20% of women. “This occurs because spironolactone blocks androgrens, which can disrupt hormonal balance. The effect is dose-dependent,” he explains. While on vacation, I opted to stop taking both oral medications as they were significantly affecting both my physical appearance and my mental health. I continued to use the ketoconazole shampoo without any issues.
While I did see an increase in hair growth while I was taking these medications, the cons outweighed the pros for me. Instead, I spoke with my doctor about alternatives that might help stimulate hair growth without intense side effects. He recommended trying Nutrafol supplements, rosemary oil, and a low-level red light cap. I’ve yet to spring for the supplements or red light hat, but I made my own rosemary water (boil water, add a few sprigs of rosemary and turn off heat, stir well and let cool before pouring into a clean spray bottle) to use in the shower, purchased a scalp massager to help stimulate blood flow to my hair follicles, and invested in the $200 Mason Pearson hairbrush that my hairdresser said is worth every penny.
Dr. Malik adds that some natural alternatives that are supported scientifically to help hair growth include pumpkin seed oil and daily scalp massages. “While these approaches generally have fewer side effects than medications, they typically produce more modest results and work best for mild to moderate hair loss caught early,” he notes. “Combination therapy often produces better results in my experience compared to single treatments. Not all natural supplements have evidence for their use for hair growth, so consult with your dermatologist about the supplements and medications you’re taking.”
How Do Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatments Help With Hair Loss?
With that in mind—and with the side effects of the medications I’d tried being too much to bear—I then set up an appointment for my first platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, which uses your own processed blood to help hair regrowth. It would cost me $850 a session with a minimum of three sessions to start. Compared to supplements and medications, PRP may have a quicker and longer-lasting effect and can be used with or without medication or supplements to see results. My derm recommended that I take the medications in conjunction with PRP for better results, but given my sensitivity to the prescriptions, I opted out. Of course, everyone is different, so what may have worked (or not worked) for me, might work (or not work) for you.
