Keep the hair
you still have.

In-depth guide

A plain-language guide to hair loss treatment online

Hair loss has many causes, and the most common pattern in both men and women is gradual thinning over time. Treatments for it generally work best while hair follicles are still active. Results take months, they are not guaranteed, and stopping treatment usually leads to losing the benefit.

This guide explains how our online process works, which kinds of prescription options a licensed provider may consider, what they cost, and what to know about safety. It is general education, not medical advice. Clinical care is provided by licensed providers through our partner, Agile Telehealth. Prolong Health does not practice medicine, and a provider decides whether any treatment is right for you.

How the program works, step by step

1. Choose a plan and an option. Plans run 4, 12, or 24 weeks, and longer prepaid plans cost less per month. Pick the option you want to ask about. A provider chooses what is appropriate, and it may be different from your first choice.
2. Complete a short online intake. You answer questions about your hair loss, health history, and current medicines. Include any heart, blood pressure, kidney, or liver conditions, and whether you are pregnant or could become pregnant.
3. A licensed provider reviews your intake. The review is usually asynchronous, so you do not need to be online at the same time as the provider. A live video visit happens only when your state requires it or when the provider needs one.
4. Medication is ordered if appropriate. If the provider decides treatment is appropriate, it is ordered for you. A prescription is never guaranteed. A provider may also advise an in-person exam first.
5. Your medication ships to you. Approved medication is shipped to your door.
6. Refills are reviewed every 12 weeks. A provider does another asynchronous review before each refill. This is the time to report side effects, new medicines, or any change in your health.

What's included

• Review of your online intake by a licensed provider.
• A live video visit if your state requires one or the provider needs one.
• If prescribed, your medication, shipped to you.
• A provider review every 12 weeks before a refill.
• No insurance billing. Care is cash-pay.

Pricing summary

Prolong Health is cash-pay. FSA and HSA cards, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted. Prices below are listed per 4 weeks, then per month on the 12-week plan (billed every 12 weeks), then per month on the 24-week plan (billed every 24 weeks).

Next-generation combination formulas are $120, $110, or $105. These are liposomal topical or oral combinations, such as minoxidil plus finasteride with additions like fluocinolone, tretinoin, or biotin. Some female versions do not contain finasteride.

Finasteride plus minoxidil options are $85, $82, or $79. They can be topical, oral, or a topical and oral combination. A topical option that contains dutasteride is also available.

Topical or oral minoxidil alone is $75, $72, or $69. This includes some oral female minoxidil products with biotin or other nutrients.

Oral minoxidil 2.5 mg, oral dutasteride 0.5 mg (male), and oral spironolactone 50 or 100 mg (female) are $65, $62, or $59.

A biotin supplement is $35. These are compounded products, and a provider decides which, if any, is appropriate for you.

Eligibility, safety and side effects

All hair loss medicines can cause side effects. The points below are general information from public drug labels, and your provider will review what applies to you. Many of the options offered here are compounded. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. They are also not the same as brand-name products.

Common side effects

• Finasteride is for men. Possible effects include reduced interest in sex, erectile dysfunction, and changes in ejaculation. Some men notice breast tenderness.
• Finasteride can change PSA blood test results. Tell any doctor who orders a PSA test that you take it.
• Topical minoxidil can cause scalp irritation and unwanted facial hair.
• Oral minoxidil can cause fluid retention or swelling, a fast heartbeat, low blood pressure, dizziness, and increased hair growth in other places on the body.
• Spironolactone can cause dizziness. It requires monitoring of potassium and kidney function.

Serious risks and warnings

• Oral minoxidil is a blood pressure medicine. Using it for hair loss is off-label, meaning it is not an officially labeled use. People with heart conditions need a provider's evaluation first. Get urgent care for chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or fast or irregular heartbeat.
• There are rare reports of mood changes and depression in people taking finasteride. Contact a provider if you notice changes in your mood or thoughts.
• Women who are or may become pregnant should not take finasteride or spironolactone, and should not handle crushed or broken finasteride tablets.
• Sudden, patchy, or scarring hair loss should be evaluated in person, since it can have causes that these medicines do not treat.

Stopping treatment usually leads to losing the benefit over time, and results are not guaranteed. If you are unsure whether a symptom is serious, contact a medical professional or call 911.

Sources and further reading

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Compounding and the FDA, Questions and Answers
• MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): Finasteride
• MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): Minoxidil
• MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): Hair Loss

Frequently asked questions