Other side effects may include rash, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, tachycardia, headache, sudden and unexplained weight gain, or swelling of the hands and feet. Rare side effects are erectile dysfunction, depression, anxiety, decreased libido, and skin disorders. Temporary hair loss is a common side effect of minoxidil treatment, a process referred to as "shedding. "Alcohol and propylene glycol present in some topical preparations may dry the scalp, resulting in dandruff and contact dermatitis. Cases of allergic reactions to minoxidil or the non-active ingredient propylene glycol, which is found in some topical minoxidil formulations, have been reported. Side effects of oral minoxidil may include swelling of the face and extremities, rapid heartbeat, or lightheadedness. Cardiac lesions, such as focal necrosis of the papillary muscle and subendocardial areas of the left ventricle, have been observed in laboratory animals treated with minoxidil. Pseudoacromegaly is an extremely rare side effect reported with large doses of oral minoxidil.In 2013 or 2014 a seven-year-old girl was admitted to a childrens hospital in Toulouse in France after accidentally ingesting a teaspoon of Alopexy (a brand name for minoxidil in France). The child vomited constantly after ingestion and showed hypotension and tachycardia for 40 hours. The authors of the report on the incident stressed that the product should be kept out of reach of children, and urged manufacturers to consider more secure child-resistant packaging.Minoxidil may cause hirsutism, although it is exceedingly rare and reversible by discontinuation of the drug.
Minoxidil, sold under the brand name Rogaine among others, is a medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure and pattern hair loss. It is an antihypertensive vasodilator. It is available as a generic medication by prescription in oral tablet form and over the counter as a topical liquid or foam. Medical uses
Minoxidil, when used for hypertension, is generally reserved for use in severe hypertension patients who can not respond to at least two agents and a diuretic. Minoxidil is also generally administered with a loop diuretic to prevent the sodium and potassium retention. It may also cause a reflex tachycardia and thus is prescribed with a beta blocker. Minoxidil, applied topically, is widely used for the treatment of hair loss. It is effective in helping promote hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia regardless of sex. Minoxidil must be used indefinitely for continued support of existing hair follicles and the maintenance of any experienced hair regrowth.Low-dose oral minoxidil is used off-label against hair loss.Its effect in people with alopecia areata is unclear. However, the association of oral minoxidil with Janus Kinase inhibitors (JAK inhibitors), termed oral adjuvant minoxidil, seems to increase hair regrowth in patients refractory to JAK inhibitor monotherapy. Side effects
Topically applied minoxidil is generally well tolerated, but common side effects include itching of the eye, itching, redness or irritation at the treated area, and unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body. Exacerbation of hair loss/alopecia has been reported.