Rapid hair loss after using generic Minoxidil?

[Tortoise]

Can we be absolutely sure that hair will grow back in a few months? No, not absolutely sure. All that you can get is educated guesses based on averages and other people's experiences. Severe stress can extend the "resting" phase of the hair cycle. So for your hair, your physical health, and your mental well being, manage/reduce your stressors and if you can't get rid of stressors, then balance it out with nutritious food, exercise, good and regular sleep, relaxation, and fun. Here is some info on the life cycle of hair: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_fo...llicle_cycling

As for allergic reaction, I don't know, but unlikely. Again, just a best guess. If you didn't get any other symptoms of allergic reaction, then it's probably a safe bet that any loss you had is natural "shedding". Do some google searches on shedding and minoxidil and you'll find out that it is very common and is thought by many as a good sign, because it is pushing the hair through the cycles to begin a new anagen phase. ...I think. I'm no expert.

At what point should you go to a doctor? That's entirely up to you. If you think there is something wrong, or your feeling ill, or you feel you need a doctor, then go see one. If you think that you're just reacting to anxiety over hair loss and perceiving the situation as much worse than it is (it is really easy for us all to do this from time to time), then do something about settling the mind and grounding yourself, maybe do some meditation each day, or if it's really severe, talk to a therapist or something. With a lot of hair restoration, there is a period where it can get worse before it gets better. While it is in the "worse" period, it sucks, but you'll get through it. It might help not to catastrophise worst case scenarios that haven't even happened. Best of luck.