Oral minoxidil is a medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure and pattern hair loss. It is available as a tablet and contains minoxidil, an antihypertensive peripheral vasodilator. Here are some details about oral minoxidil:
Ingredients or materials
- Active ingredient: minoxidil
- Inactive ingredients: anhydrous lactose, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium starch glycolate.
Positive effects
- Oral minoxidil works for treating hair loss, particularly for people with male- or female-pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia.
- It improves thickness and overall hair volume.
- Patients prefer an oral treatment to topical therapy and compliance is usually very good.
Negative effects
- Oral minoxidil may cause serious heart problems or worsen chest pain (angina) .
- The most common adverse reactions are generalized hypertrichosis, tachycardia, and pedal edema.
- Skin intolerance to drug and/or vehicle may occur.
It is important to note that oral minoxidil is an off-label use for the medication, meaning that it’s not explicitly approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss, though healthcare providers can use their medical judgment to prescribe it if they think it’s the right treatment.
