According to the American Hair Loss Association, there are currently no medical treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for female pattern hair loss; however, there are prescription drugs available for off-label (unapproved) use that may help to improve hair loss symptoms. These prescription drugs are available in topical (solution, foam, shampoos) or oral form and can aid hair retention and regrowth and improve hair texture.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil 2 percent topical solution is a drug that may be used to treat hair loss in women. A 5 percent solution is also available and, although some clinical trials have shown that the 5 percent treatment is significantly more effective than the 2 percent topical agent in retaining and regrowing hair, the makers of minoxidil still presently recommend the 2 percent drug for use in women. According to the American Hair Loss Association, clinical research has shown that approximately 19 percent of predominantly Caucasian women aged 18 to 45 with mild to moderate hair loss have reported moderate hair growth after eight months of using the drug.
Estrogen Replacement and Androgen Receptor Drugs
Some types of hair loss are caused by the overproduction of an androgen called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. Some prescription drugs known as androgen receptor drugs (antiandrogens) may help to stop hair loss by preventing the creation or action of DHT. Spironolactone--a potassium-sparing diuretic commonly known as a water pill--is an androgen receptor drug that may be effective in stopping hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia--a condition commonly known as male pattern baldness in men and that causes diffuse thinning of the hair in women. According to the Cleveland Clinic, estrogen replacement drugs may also effectively treat androgenetic alopecia, including the oral contraceptives ethynodiol diacetate and ethinyl estradiol. Daily conjugated estrogen or estrogen and progesterone combinations like medroxyprogesterone may also improve hair-loss symptoms.
An antifungal drug called ketoconazole has antiandrogenic properties and can be used to help treat hair loss. A shampoo available by prescription containing 2 percent ketoconazole can be used to treat scalp conditions and help improve symptoms of androgenetic alopecia.
Other Prescription Drugs
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the synthetic topical drug anthralin and topical contact sensitizers such as diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP), dinitrochlorobenzene and squaric acid dibutylester can be used to treat alopecia areata---a condition that causes round spots of patchy hair loss on the head. Topical corticosteroids or those in tablet form such as dexamethasone may also be used to treat alopecia areata.
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