How to respond in the pharmacy
How to respond in the pharmacy
Customers asking about hair loss treatments often come in having already done considerable research online, but that research may be a mixture of good information and persuasive marketing, so a non-judgemental, informative approach works best.
Useful phrases include:
- “Some of these are prescription medicines being used in a different way to how they were originally licensed, which is worth understanding before you start”
- “There are some important safety checks that should happen before starting on oral minoxidil or finasteride”
- “Can I ask how you’ve been obtaining this? It’s worth making sure the prescriber knows your full medical history.”
If someone is already taking oral minoxidil or finasteride obtained online, the priority is not to alarm them, but to ensure that the pharmacist has an opportunity to review the situation, and that the customer knows what side effects to watch for and when to seek medical advice.
Pharmacy scenario
Pharmacy team member Priya is approached by customer Debbie, who has been taking oral minoxidil she ordered from an online clinic.
Debbie: Hi. I’m picking up a prescription, but I also wanted to ask about this. I’ve been taking oral minoxidil that I got from an online clinic for about six weeks.
My hair does seem a bit better but I’ve noticed some dark hair coming through on my upper lip, which I’m not happy about. Is that normal?
Priya: Yes, unfortunately that is a known side effect of oral minoxidil. It’s called hypertrichosis, which basically means unwanted hair growth in other areas. It’s more common in women than men, and can affect the face, arms, and legs.
It’s the most frequently reported side effect at the doses used for hair loss.
Debbie: Does it get worse? I don’t really want to have to deal with that permanently.
Priya: It can be manageable for a lot of people with regular hair removal, and in some cases, it improves if the minoxidil dose is reduced.
It’s definitely worth raising with whoever prescribed it to you because they may want to adjust your dose or discuss whether the benefits outweigh that particular side effect for you.
Can I ask, did you have a consultation with a doctor before you started? And did they ask about your medical history?
Debbie: It was just an online form. I answered some questions and they sent me the prescription.
Priya: Okay. Oral minoxidil is a prescription medicine that was originally used to treat high blood pressure, so it does have cardiovascular effects and there are some conditions where it’s not suitable – things like heart problems, low blood pressure, or kidney issues.
It’s worth making sure the prescribing clinic has your full picture. Our pharmacist is just in the dispensary – would it be worth having a quick chat with them while you’re here, just to make sure everything looks right?
Debbie: Actually, yes. I didn’t realise it was originally for blood pressure. That would be reassuring.
Priya: Of course. And if you do decide to continue, the main things to watch out for are swelling around the ankles, face or eyes, any palpitations or a racing heartbeat, or feeling dizzy.
If any of those happen, contact your prescriber or GP straight away. Let me grab the pharmacist for you.