Minoxidil (Loniten) Shortage in Canada: Tablets vs Topical
Quick answer
Both Loniten strengths (oral minoxidil tablets, Pfizer Canada) have been reported short in 2026: the 2.5mg tablet (DIN 00514497) since August 21, and the 10mg tablet (DIN 00514500) since October 5, after an earlier 10mg shortage had resolved in August. It's the tablet form — prescribed for high blood pressure and, increasingly, off-label in low doses for hair loss — so a Loniten shortage doesn't mean topical minoxidil (Rogaine and its generics) is unavailable. Check the live status above, and if your pharmacy is out, ask about options with your prescriber rather than splitting a higher-strength tablet on your own.
What Loniten is
Loniten is the Canadian brand of oral minoxidil tablets, made by Pfizer Canada ULC in two strengths: 2.5mg (DIN 00514497) and 10mg (DIN 00514500). Its approved use is severe high blood pressure, but low-dose oral minoxidil is also widely prescribed off-label for hair loss — which is why a lot of people searching for a “minoxidil shortage” are actually asking about these tablets.
Tablets and topical minoxidil are different products
Topical minoxidil — Rogaine liquid and foam, and generic 2% and 5% solutions and foams — is a separate product with its own DINs and its own supply chain. A Loniten tablet shortage doesn't affect them, and most topical products have no shortage on file. That said, individual topical products can have their own reports, so check every minoxidil product's status rather than assuming.
Topical and oral minoxidil also aren't interchangeable — switching from tablets to a topical product (or the other way around) is a treatment decision for your prescriber, not a stock substitution.
Don't split a higher-strength tablet on your own
If your pharmacy only has the 10mg tablet — both strengths have been short at different points, so check the live status above — don't cut it into pieces to make a lower dose without talking to your pharmacist first. Oral minoxidil lowers blood pressure, and low-dose use for hair loss often involves doses well below 2.5mg, where an inaccurate split matters. See when using a different strength is safe.
What your pharmacist and prescriber can do
Loniten is the only oral minoxidil brand sold in Canada, so there's no generic tablet to switch to. Your pharmacist may be able to find 2.5mg stock at another location, or ask whether a compounded low-dose preparation is an option. If none of that works, your prescriber can decide whether to adjust your dose using a different strength or pause and restart once supply returns.
Get notified when it's back
Open the Loniten 2.5mg page and use “Notify me” to get an email as soon as Health Canada's report shows the shortage resolved.
Related Guides
Can I Use a Different Strength During a Medication Shortage in Canada?
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Can a Pharmacist Substitute a Medication During a Shortage?
When pharmacists in Canada can substitute a different brand or strength during a shortage, and when your prescriber needs to be involved.
Pharmacy Can't Fill Your Prescription in Canada? Do This Next
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Latest Canadian Shortage Updates
Sources
Guide text last reviewed October 11, 2026; the shortage status shown above is pulled from Health Canada's data and refreshed hourly. MedShort.ca is an independent tracking tool and does not provide medical advice.