Minoxidil

Minoxidil
6-(1-piperidinyl)pyrimidine-2,4-diamine 3-oxide
CAS number 38304-91-5	ATC code C02DC01 and D11AX01
Chemical formula	CH₁₅N₅O
Molecular weight	209.251
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Elimination half-life	?
Excretion	?
Pregnancy category	?
Legal status	?
Routes of administration	?

Minoxidil is a vasodilator and originally was exclusively used as an oral drug to treat high blood pressure. It was, however, discovered to have the interesting side effect of hair growth and reversing baldness, and in the 1980s, UpJohn Corporation produced a topical solution that contained 2% minoxidil to be used to treat baldness and hair loss, under the brand name Rogaine. It is unknown how the drug stimulates hair growth.

Side-effects

As a drug to combat hair-loss, the most common side effect is itchy scalp.

There have been cases of allergic reactions to minoxidil or the non-active ingredient propylene glycol which is found in some forms of the topical version, such as Rogaine. Large amounts of minoxidil can cause hypotension, and it has been found that using petroleum jelly or tretinoin on the scalp with minoxidil can cause too much of the drug absorption by the scalp, as can using the drug on sunburned scalps.

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, although not as common, include:

acne on the area where it is being used as a topical solution
headaches and/or lightheadedness
impotence
very low blood pressure
irregular or fast heart beat
flushing of the skin
blurred vision
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or face
decrease in sexual desire
chest pain
rapid weight gain
swelling of the lower legs, hands, feet, or face

All the side effects in the above list except for acne may be a indicator that too much of the drug is being used.

It has also been found that the drug can be passed from a mother to a child via breast milk.

Minoxidil

Side-effects

References