Let me say something on the issue of the gut destroying oral liquid minoxidil. A person can verify whether a dose is working or not by examining non-scalp hair. Oral minoxidil works immediately everywhere. Why do people say you need six to 12 months then? It's because that is talking about inducing hair growth from balding scalp. It works immediately on eyelashes and beard and leg hair and all of the rest of androgen-induced hair below the neck, which is both sexes. I recommend buying a metric dropper which lamentably will only have four dosages and not go as low as I would prefer. If one takes the lowest ml line marked at .25 ml, this converts to 12.5 mg daily, if I have the math right. My eyelashes have grown extensively and even my removed beard is scratchier even though you can't see it and it won't grow to any length. Hair results will be less obvious depending upon the balding pattern, but a general thickening might be seen immediately. I believe that 2.5 mg to 10 mg or 12.5 mg for males, since it is much easier to calibrate, is plenty.
I am not certain whether I should go by the male recommendations or the female ones since I am combating baldness with a hormonal approach but as estrogen levels rise, dosage might be dropped radically. Minoxidil seems to work better for females to begin with, even 2 percent.
Now the half-life of oral minoxidil is low but it might/probably works together with topical minoxidil by creating the special enzymes in the scalp that make oral minoxidil so much more effective than topical minoxidil. I also derma-roll and use topical minoxidil right after and, no, it doesn't sting or hurt me to apply it so soon. YMMV.