Minoxidil (Systemic)

Brand Names : Loniten

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For minoxidil, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to minoxidil. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Minoxidil has not been studied in pregnant women. However, there have been reports of babies born with extra thick or dark hair on their bodies after the mothers took minoxidil during pregnancy. Discuss this possible effect with your doctor.

Studies in rats found a decreased rate of conception, and studies in rabbits at 5 times the human dose have shown a decrease in successful pregnancies. Minoxidil did not cause birth defects in rats or rabbits.

Breast-feeding - Although minoxidil passes into breast milk, it has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - Although there is no specific information comparing use of minoxidil in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults - Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of minoxidil. In addition, minoxidil may reduce tolerance to cold temperatures in elderly patients.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When taking minoxidil it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Guanethidine (e.g., Ismelin) or
• Nitrates (medicine for angina) - Severe lowered blood pressure may occur

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of minoxidil. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Angina (chest pain) - Minoxidil may make this condition worse

• Heart attack or stroke (recent) - Lowering blood pressure may make problems resulting from heart attack or stroke worse

• Heart or blood vessel disease - Minoxidil can cause fluid buildup, which can cause problems

• Kidney disease - Effects may be increased because of slower removal of minoxidil from the body

• Pheochromocytoma - Minoxidil may cause the tumor to be more active