Minoxidil
Risk Factor: CM
Class: CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS
/ Vasodilators
Contents of this page:
Fetal Risk Summary
Breast Feeding Summary
References
Questions and Answers
Fetal Risk Summary
Minoxidil is a potent antihypertensive peripheral vasodilator. Information on its use in human pregnancy is very limited, with only four occurrences of fetal exposure located in the medical literature (1,2 and 3).
In one case, minoxidil was used throughout gestation, and no effect of this exposure was seen in the healthy newborn (1). A second case involved a mother with a history of renal artery stenosis and malignant hypertension who was treated throughout gestation with minoxidil, captopril, and propranolol (2). Three of her four previous pregnancies had ended in midgestation stillbirths. The most recent stillbirth, her fourth pregnancy, involved a 500-g male infant with low-set ears but no gross anomalies. The mother had been treated with the above regimen plus furosemide. In her second pregnancy, she had been treated only with hydrochlorothiazide, and she had delivered a normal term infant. No information was available on the first and third pregnancies, both of which ended in stillbirths. In her current pregnancy, daily doses of the three drugs were 10 mg, 50 mg, and 160 mg, respectively. The infant, delivered by cesarean section at 38 weeks' gestation, had multiple abnormalities, including an omphalocele (repaired on the 2nd day), pronounced hypertrichosis of the back and extremities, depressed nasal bridge, low-set ears, micrognathia, bilateral fifth finger clinodactyly, undescended testes, a circumferential midphallic constriction, a large ventriculoseptal defect, and a brain defect consisting of slightly prominent sulci, especially the basal cisterns and interhemispheric fissure. Growth retardation was not evident, but the weight (3170 g, 60th percentile), length (46 cm, 15th percentile), and head circumference (32.5 cm, 25th percentile) were disproportionate. Neurologic, skeletal, and kidney examinations were normal. Marked hypotension (3050 mm Hg systolic) was present, which resolved after 24 hours. Heart rate, blood glucose, and renal function were normal. The infant's hospital course was marked by failure to thrive, congestive heart failure, prolonged physiologic jaundice, and eight episodes of hyperthermia (>38.5C without apparent cause) between 2 and 6 weeks of age. The hypertrichosis, which was much less prominent at 2 months of age, is a known side effect of minoxidil therapy in both children and adults, and the condition in this infant was thought to be caused by that drug (2). The cause of the other defects could not be determined, but a chromosomal abnormality was excluded based on a normal male karyotype (46,XY) determined after a midgestation amniocentesis.
Two additional cases of in utero exposure to minoxidil were reported to the FDA and published in 1987 (3). The first infant was the product of a 32-week gestation in a 22-year-old woman with severe uncontrolled renal hypertension who was treated during pregnancy with minoxidil, methyldopa, hydralazine, furosemide, and phenobarbital. The 1770-g infant died of congenital heart disease the day after delivery. Defects noted at autopsy were transposition of the great vessels and pulmonic bicuspid valvular stenosis. Hypertrichosis was not observed. No conclusions can be drawn on the cause of the cardiac defects. The second infant, delivered near term and weighing 3220 g, was exposed throughout gestation to minoxidil (5 mg/day) plus metoprolol (100 mg/day) and prazosin (20 mg/day). The mother had severe hypertension secondary to chronic nephritis. Hypertrichosis was evident in both the mother and the newborn, but no other abnormalities were noted in the infant. The excessive hair growth, which was longest in the sacral area, gradually disappeared during the following 23 months. Normal development was noted at 2 years of age.
Breast Feeding Summary
Minoxidil is excreted into breast milk (1). Levels in the milk ranged from 41.7 ng/mL (1 hour) to 0.3 ng/mL (12 hours), with milk:plasma ratios during this interval varying from 0.67 to 1.0. No adverse effects were observed in the infant. The American Academy of Pediatrics considers minoxidil to be compatible with breast feeding (4).
References
- Valdivieso A, Valdes G, Spiro TE, Westerman RL. Minoxidil in breast milk. Ann Intern Med 1985;102:135.
- Kaler SG, Patrinos ME, Lambert GH, Myers TF, Karlman R, Anderson CL. Hypertrichosis and congenital anomalies associated with maternal use of minoxidil. Pediatrics 1987;79:4346.
- Rosa FW, Idanpaan-Heikkila J, Asanti R. Fetal minoxidil exposure. Pediatrics 1987;80:120.
-
Committee on Drugs, American Academy of Pediatrics. The transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics 1994;93:13750.
Questions and Answers
Minoxidil .....?, How good is minoxidil for hair loss problem.
How does it help in regrowth and is there any side effects.
Minoxidial is ok, but it will work only as long as you will use it. Stop it, and the hair will start falling out again.. I do not know about any side effects for minoxidil, as it is a topical tratment, but there is plenty for propecia..
There are several forms of hair loss. If it is male pattern baldness (Androgenetic alopecia) then the hair loss cannot be fully cured in most cases, but just frozen for some time with the treatments availiable on market today.
1) Hair transplant (FUE technology) creates really natural hairline, no scars, the best way to go if you have enough donor hair and money of course.
2. Propecia (Finasteride) and Minoxidil are the only ones approved by FDA and proven to work in most men so far.
Generic Propecia (finasteride) is also ok. I use it with same results, and unfortunately same side efefcts(a bit dry feeling in the scalp) as brand propecia. Have tried lots of herbal crap before it and laser combs, so far the only thing that prevents my hairloss, not much regrowth, but has stopped my hairloss completely.
I buy from this pharmacy for the last 2 years - http://www.1rx.biz/generic_propecia.html . It is under $1 per pill for 1mg propecia.
also see
http://www.propecia.com
http://www.rogaine.com
But before you consider to start propecia you must really study about the side effects. It can mess your hormones real bad if you are not lucky, so you must choose, hair or these side effects. Quite a big perecent have these side effects, more than Merck - the company that holds
Propecia trademark is saying. see the link for side effects stories www.propeciahelp.com
What are the opinions on the anti balding drug minoxidil?, I'm about to enter my 30's but my head has started balding quite rapidly.. I've heard about minoxidil but am worried that it will come with some "fun" side effects. Is it safe to play with my health or just suffer in silence?
Stop being a twat, shave your head! It will look cool, we dont live in the 70's where baldness was embarrassing, it's cool to be follickly challenged. Forget the drugs, you were meant to lose your hair, look at the actors that went bald naturally and compare them to the toupee'd ones, looks much more natural
Does minoxidil and finasteride help in re growth of hairs?, Does minoxidil and finasteride help in re growth of hairs?
I m losing my hair too much. Pls help.
Which one of them is good for male and how much does it cost?
There are severeal forms of baldenss. If it is male pattern baldness (Androgenetic alopecia) then the hairloss cannot be fully cured in most
cases, but just frozen for some time with the treatments availiable on market today.
1) Hair transplant (FUE technology) creates really natural hairline, no scars, the best way to go if you have enough donor hair and money of
course.
2. Propecia (Finasteride) and Minoxidil are the only ones approved by FDA and proven to work in most men so far.
Generic Propecia (finasteride) is also ok. I use it with same results, and unfortunately same sides(a bit dry feeling in the scalp) as brand
propecia. Have tried lots of herbal crap before it and laser combs, so far the only thing that prevents my hairloss, not much regrowth, but
has stopped my hairloss completely.
I buy from this pharmacy for the last 2 years - http://www.savemoneyrx.net/generic_prope... . It is under $1 per pill as I buy the 90
pills. (89$ for 90)
Can i use Minoxidil to redeem my eyebrow back?, i only have Minoxidil no other lotion, and now i have my right eyebrow looking bad because i fiddled with it using scissors, can i use Minoxidil with it ?, and about the Minoxidil itself for hair, when can i wash my hair after putting Minoxidil? how many hours should Minoxidil be on hair?
i wouldnt put it on your eyebrows it could effect your eyes....but itll work though but you eyes might get damaged
Does minoxidil really work for hair loss?, I know it might depend on why a person's hair is falling out in the first place. I'm not losing but know people who are, and, I might start losing hair later!
American Academy of Dermatology, one of the most influential dermatology associations in the world, has stated in its campaign in August 2003, that the 2 most efficient solutions for people suffering from hair loss were: minoxidil topical solution, finasteride (better known as Propecia) oral drug and hair transplant.
This in itself could be implied that minoxidil does work because it had undergone many tests to prove its effectiveness before being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Minoxidil and finasteride can be ingredients for many drugs, but only Rogaine and Propecia are approved for hair loss problems by FDA (first one in 1988 and the other 10 years later).
Both of these hair loss treatments were discovered by chance: initially minoxidil was used for high blood pressure problems and finasteride was used for increased prostate.
Minoxidil grows hair but does not stop hair loss
Rogaine, having minoxidil as active ingredient (in 80% ethanol solution, water and Propylene Glycol) is applied topically twice a day and helps the hair growth with visible effects on the crowns of men's heads and on the forehead areas for women (but it does not cure the hair loss).
Propecia, having 1 mg of finasteride, is taken orally and decreases the level of androgens, the hormone that causes the hair loss.
While we don't no exactly how minoxidil works, for finasteride is quite clear: restrains the action of 5 alpha enzyme and that shrinks the transformation of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone ). The positive effect is that having less DHT, the miniaturization of the hair follicles will also be decreased. But having a diminished level of testosterone can lead to side effects like: depression, a loss of muscle mass, a decreased sex drive, an erectile dysfunction.
where can i buy propecia and minoxidil in the uk?, Hi im from london, uk. where can i buy (preferably not online) Propecia and Minoxidil? Thank You. Also how much for each for a month's use?
Minoxidil is over the counter in the USA. Propecia is by prescription and was about $50 to $100 per month. I have tried both and I got a reaction (scabs) to the Minoxidil. And after doing the math on the Propecia, I opted to have transplants (about 1000) and have been very satisfied with the results. Some times I think about going back for another few hundred follicular units which you can get for about $2000.
Any side effects for Using minoxidil on the scalp?, I've just bought this spary that contains minoxidil (2%) called "Hair back" and I read the pamphlet, it said not to use it if I suffer from blood pressure or heart disorders. It's a spray, I believe any side effects would only be to the skin? I don't really understand it how it can affect the heart or the blood pressure, I'm not swallowing it??! Can someone explain?
As a drug to combat hair loss, the most common side effect is itchy scalp
If a person uses minoxidil to stop hair loss for a length of time and then stops taking the drug, hair loss will occur again. Other side-effects include:
* acne on the area where it is being used as a topical solution
* headaches and/or lightheadedness
* very low blood pressure
* irregular or fast heart beat
* blurred vision or other vision problems
* decreased sexual desire
* partial, or complete, impotence
* numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or face
* rapid weight gain
* chest pain
Large amounts of minoxidil can cause hypotension
why would rogaine minoxidil make me lose hair?, I am a female over the age of 50 and I have recently started using minoxidil (Rogaine for Women) on my scalp for my thinning hair. However, over the course of the past few weeks I have noticed significantly MORE hair loss (in noticeable clumps sometimes). Does Rogaine make you lose hair before you grow new ones? Is there any reason/solution for this other than stopping using the Rogaine (which I already have)?
This could be a reaction to the medication itself but I would recommend checking with your doctor as well to see what they say.
Might the application of "Minoxidil" on one's face be a good method to grow a decently full beard?, I'm a 17-year-old boy who is sick of having a girly-looking face. By the way, "Menoxidil" is found on Rogaine products and is believed to boost the growth of facial hair. Please let me know anything concerning this worry of mine. Advice/response on your part will be appreciated.
Some guys have had success with it, but usually at 17 it is not a smart thing to do, since the normal maturing process is going on right now.
Talk to the dudes on the beardboard.
