Changes in Minoxidil Prescribing After Media Attention About Oral Use for Hair Loss

A cross-sectional study found that after a New York Times article described the use of low-dose oral minoxidil for hair loss treatment, there was a significant increase in the prescription of this drug. The study analyzed data from 6541 patients who received first-time oral minoxidil prescriptions from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. The weekly rate of first-time minoxidil prescriptions per 10,000 outpatient encounters was significantly higher 8 weeks after the article's publication, with a 2.4-fold increase for males and a 1.7-fold increase for females. However, this increase was not sustained and decreased over time. The study suggests that media coverage, even without new research or limited evidence, can influence prescribing behaviors. The study's limitations include lack of generalizability to populations not studied and potential misclassification of patients.