Do not shampoo your hair for 4 hours after applying minoxidil. Immediately after using this medicine, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them. Do not use a hairdryer to dry the scalp after you apply minoxidil solution. Blowing with a hairdryer on the scalp may make the treatment less effective.
Changes in lifestyle when taking oral Minoxidil
It is helpful to cut down on alcohol as alcohol can also reduce blood pressure. It is also helpful to cut down on caffeine as caffeine can cause the heart to race and cause palpitations.
Minoxidil may cause fluid retention and increase your risk of heart failure. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of heart failure. Chest Pain. Minoxidil may cause a fast heartbeat, which can lead to chest pain.
As the skin's characteristics and responses can alter with age, older adults over 65 may experience different results or an increased risk of side effects. Despite its topical application, a small amount of Minoxidil can be absorbed by the body, potentially affecting blood pressure and overall cardiovascular function.
Minoxidil has other effects that could be bothersome for some patients. These include increased hair growth, weight gain, fast heartbeat, and chest pain. Before you take this medicine, be sure that you have discussed the use of it with your doctor.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration issued a black-box warning for pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, and electrocardiogram (EKG) changes for oral minoxidil therapy. The potential for these adverse events explains its indication for only severe, treatment-resistant hypertension.
Minoxidil is a potent directly acting vasodilator previously used in treatment-resistant hypertension. It possesses several serious side effects including fluid retention, worsening of heart failure, reflex tachycardia, angina, myocardial infarction, pericardial effusion, and hypotension.
Blood Pressure Medications That Do Not Cause Hair Loss
These include: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs): Drugs like losartan, valsartan, and candesartan belong to this class. ARBs are commonly used as an alternative to ACE inhibitors, and hair loss is not a common side effect.
It may cause weight gain due to water retention in the body.
After 16 weeks of administration, minoxidil has been found to promote hair growth in approximately 35% of individuals in clinical trials [3,4]. While 30-40% of patients in physician-guided studies reported success, this percentage is dramatically lower in subjects who self-administer minoxidil.
The reported adverse events of long-term minoxidil application in men are erectile dysfunction, dizziness, depression, decreased libido, chorioretinopathy, contact dermatitis, headache, hypoesthesia, and anxiety [66].
Ketoconazole has antifungal and anti-androgen properties and can also reverse baldness. Some treatments for male pattern baldness include a combination of minoxidil and ketoconazole. Ketoconazole shampoo is among the best shampoos to use with minoxidil.
Minoxidil can also negatively interact with alcohol and lower your blood pressure. Additionally, it may not be safe to use minoxidil, even at a low dose, if you have: Congestive heart failure. Ischemic heart disease.
Minoxidil should not be used in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to the drug or its constituents, including propylene glycol. The utilization of minoxidil is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Rosemary oil is preferred by people who prefer a natural approach and have modest hair thinning, but minoxidil is preferred by users looking for a more potent, clinically confirmed therapy for advanced hair loss. Many consumers find success with one product over another, and some even combine them to maximize benefits.
42.1% of the physicians noticed greying of hair on their patients after using minoxidil. 17.5% of the physicians think minoxidil caused hair greying, and 10.5% noticed other hair discoloration with minoxidil use. 7% of the other hair color discoloration noticed they were light brown, and 3.5% was orange.
You have significant side effects. It's expensive to continue using Minoxidil every day. You're concerned that Minoxidil is interacting with other medications you're taking. You've achieved the results you want and no longer want to use Minoxidil.
Problems may arise if you over-use on your minoxidil, particularly if you do not wash your hair very often. This can cause a build-up of residue on the scalp which may lead to irritation and dryness.
This medication is not used for sudden/patchy hair loss, unexplained hair loss (for example, if you have no family history of hair loss), or hair loss after giving birth.Do not use this product if you are 18 years old or younger.
Over time, hair fibers become thinner and drop out, and unfortunately, they never regenerate. Natural pigment (color) changes occur in hair as you age as well. Pigment cells stop producing as much, and eventually, your once thick, chestnut hair becomes thin, fine and gray.
Research suggests that minoxidil may be associated with difficulty sleeping in some cases [16]. However, this is not a common side effect of taking minoxidil.
A lot of possible users over the age of 65 may have some form of disease or heart problems that may make them unsuitable for minoxidil, and unless they see a hair loss specialist or doctor to discuss their suitability for the medication, mitigating health issues may not be picked up on.