minoxidil Oral tablets cannot be sold over the counter, you need physician recommendation because they cause negative libido effect , meaning your sexual desire drops by 25% as they start producing hair growth hormones.

topical minoxidil ( spray you put in ur scalp) has no documented side effects other than some etching in a very few population and its FDA approved to sell in usa/cananda over the counter . if you have a male pattern hair loss and if its starting/middle phase its always wise to start with spray . oral pill minoxidil results uncontrolled hair growth everywhere including scalp .