Medications prescribed for hair regrowth do not cause a permanent change in the conditions causing hair loss. In almost every case, the pharmaceutical treatment must be continued in order to keep the new hair. If treatment is discontinued, the new hair will be shed, and hair loss will resume. Those using pharmaceutical treatments for hair loss must think about treating their hair loss every day.
Many people show no response or only a minimal response to particular medications.
Medications applied to the scalp that are not absorbed easily into the blood stream, but that do affect the hair follicles generally have fewer serious side effects than those that require medicating the entire body. Pharmaceutical treatments for chronic hair loss are generally inexpensive when measured on a daily basis, however when these costs are added up over a lifetime, pharmaceutical treatments can be considered costly. Some treatments involve lotions applied to the scalp which may feel or look unpleasant. Others require injections, and some pharmaceutical treatments require pills or liquids to be taken by mouth.