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Medications for Alopecia

Other names: Alopecia Areata; Balding; Baldness; Hair Loss

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 16, 2024.

Treatments for alopecia aim to grow back missing hair and include topical products such as minoxidil, corticosteroids, anthralin, or topical immunotherapy, and systemic medications, such as oral corticosteroids, JAK inhibitors, and other immunosuppressants. 

Topical Treatments

These are applied to the scalp.

  • Minoxidil (Hair Regrowth Treatment, Rogaine) promotes gradual hair growth by increasing blood flow to follicles. Once discontinued, hair resumes its pattern of loss.
  • Corticosteroids: Topical creams or solutions such as betamethasone (Beta-Val), clobetasol (Clobex), fluocinolone, or fluocinonide (Vanos) suppress the immune system and may have temporary benefits for alopecia areata.
  • Anthralin cream: A topical anti-inflammatory medication for alopecia areata.
  • Topical immunotherapy: Involves applying substances like diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) or topical acid dibutylester (SADBE) to trigger an allergic reaction, stimulating hair growth.

Systemic Medications

These are taken orally.

  • Oral corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, administered two days per week as mini-pulse therapy has been used for alopecia areata, although results may be better in those with a later age of onset.  
  • JAK Inhibitors target specific enzymes involved in the immune system's attack and promising results for alopecia areata in clinical trials have been reported for baricitinib (Olumiant) which is available as a once-daily tablet and ritlecitinib (Litfulo) which is available as an once daily oral capsule. Eyelashes and eyebrows also grew back. 
  • Other immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine and methotrexate are used for severe alopecia areata, but require close monitoring.

 

 

Drugs used to treat Alopecia

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
spironolactone Off-label 6.8 67 reviews for spironolactone to treat Alopecia
Rx C N X
Generic name:
spironolactone systemic
Brand name:
Aldactone
Drug class:
potassium-sparing diuretics, aldosterone receptor antagonists
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
minoxidil 5.1 147 reviews for minoxidil to treat Alopecia
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
minoxidil topical
Brand names:
Rogaine, Rogaine Men's Extra Strength, Rogaine Women's, Hair Regrowth Treatment for Women, Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men, Rogaine Extra Strength
Drug class:
miscellaneous topical agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
sulfasalazine Off-label Rate Add review
Rx B N
Generic name:
sulfasalazine systemic
Brand names:
Azulfidine, Azulfidine EN-tabs
Drug class:
antirheumatics, 5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Olumiant 9.0 3 reviews for Olumiant to treat Alopecia
Rx N
Generic name:
baricitinib systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics, selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
baricitinib 9.0 3 reviews for baricitinib to treat Alopecia
Rx N
Generic name:
baricitinib systemic
Brand name:
Olumiant
Drug class:
antirheumatics, selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Aldactone Off-label 4.0 4 reviews for Aldactone to treat Alopecia
Rx C N X
Generic name:
spironolactone systemic
Drug class:
potassium-sparing diuretics, aldosterone receptor antagonists
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Rogaine 4.7 42 reviews for Rogaine to treat Alopecia
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
minoxidil topical
Drug class:
miscellaneous topical agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Kenalog-10 8.3 15 reviews for Kenalog-10 to treat Alopecia
Rx C N
Generic name:
triamcinolone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
triamcinolone 8.3 17 reviews for triamcinolone to treat Alopecia
Rx C N
Generic name:
triamcinolone systemic
Brand names:
Kenalog-10, Aristospan, Kenalog-40
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Aristospan Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
triamcinolone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Rogaine Men's Extra Strength 3.7 4 reviews for Rogaine Men's Extra Strength to treat Alopecia
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
minoxidil topical
Drug class:
miscellaneous topical agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Rogaine Women's 8.3 6 reviews for Rogaine Women's to treat Alopecia
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
minoxidil topical
Drug class:
miscellaneous topical agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Hair Regrowth Treatment for Women Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
minoxidil topical
Drug class:
miscellaneous topical agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Kenalog-40 Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
triamcinolone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men 1.0 1 review for Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men to treat Alopecia
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
minoxidil topical
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Azulfidine Off-label Rate Add review
Rx B N
Generic name:
sulfasalazine systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics, 5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Rogaine Extra Strength 3.0 1 review for Rogaine Extra Strength to treat Alopecia
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
minoxidil topical
Drug class:
miscellaneous topical agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Azulfidine EN-tabs Off-label Rate Add review
Rx B N
Generic name:
sulfasalazine systemic
Drug class:
antirheumatics, 5-aminosalicylates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
anthralin Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
anthralin topical
Drug class:
topical antipsoriatics
For consumers:
side effects
Litfulo Rate Add review
Rx N
Generic name:
ritlecitinib systemic
Drug class:
multikinase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
ritlecitinib Rate Add review
Rx N
Generic name:
ritlecitinib systemic
Brand name:
Litfulo
Drug class:
multikinase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Alopecia

Learn more about Alopecia

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Symptoms and treatments

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

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