Former,
Minoxidil is effective in promoting cosmetically acceptable regrowth in a majority of people who use it. And this is not 'maintenance', but actual regrowth.
Shedding is a very common phenomenon amongst people who start minoxidil. Shedding can seem like it lasts forever, but I for one have had sheds galore but still my hairline really started to firm up after 2-3 months of use. Lots of people complain of shedding off and on for the first three months of use. I shedded too, but the shedding never really negatively impacted my hairline to an effect that the gains I have had from minoxidil were not worthwhile given the anxiety that the intial shed caused me.
minoxidil is one of those things you really have to stick with for a while, the drug documentation, medical studies, etc. all say that you have to have some patience and not make any judgements before month 6 at least, a year at most.
At worst, it will have no effect, and the sheds will regrow hair similar to the hair you would have grown anyway. At best, the sheds will happen, and you will notice thicker hairs in areas where hair was once weak or non-existent before.