Minoxidil Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions ... - WebMD

Minoxidil is used with other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, ... MENUDRUGSANDMEDICATIONSCENTERFindaDrugMyMedicinePillIdentifierInteractionCheckerFindaVitaminFindaPharmacyVITAMINS&SUPPLEMENTSCENTERFindaVitaminorSupplementVitaminLifestyleGuideAssessYourVitaminNeedsFIRSTAIDRESOURCESFirstAidHomeFirstAidKit&WoundCareFirstAidMobileDrugs&MedicationsMinoxidilUsesSideEffectsPrecautionsInteractionsOverdoseImagesReviews(30)Warnings:Minoxidilmaycauseseriousheartproblemsorworsenchestpain(angina).Thismedicationisonlyusedwhenothertreatmentshavenotworkedwellorcannotbetaken.Yourdoctorshoulddirectyoutoalsotakeothermedicationstoreducethesideeffectsofminoxidil.Thesemedicationsincludea"waterpill"(diuretic)topreventthebodyfromholdingontotoomuchwaterandsaltandaheartmedication(suchasabetablockerincludingpropranolol)topreventtheheartfromworkingtoohardorbeatingtoofast.Yourdoctorwillfollowyoucloselywhileyouaretakingthismedication.Keepallregularmedicalandlaboratoryappointments.Warnings:Minoxidilmaycauseseriousheartproblemsorworsenchestpain(angina).Thismedicationisonlyusedwhenothertreatmentshavenotworkedwellorcannotbetaken.Yourdoctorshoulddirectyoutoalsotakeothermedicationstoreducethesideeffectsofminoxidil.Thesemedicationsincludea"waterpill"(diuretic)topreventthebodyfromholdingontotoomuchwaterandsaltandaheartmedication(suchasabetablockerincludingpropranolol)topreventtheheartfromworkingtoohardorbeatingtoofast.Yourdoctorwillfollowyoucloselywhileyouaretakingthismedication.Keepallregularmedicalandlaboratoryappointments....ShowMoreUsesMinoxidilisusedwithothermedicationstotreathighbloodpressure(hypertension).Loweringhighbloodpressurehelpspreventstrokes,heartattacks,andkidneyproblems.Minoxidilworksbyrelaxingbloodvesselssobloodcanflowmoreeasily.HowtouseReadthePatientInformationLeafletifavailablefromyourpharmacistbeforeyoustarttakingthismedicationandeachtimeyougetarefill.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,askyourdoctororpharmacist.Takethismedicationbymouthwithorwithoutfoodasdirectedbyyourdoctor,usuallyonceortwiceaday.Thedosageisbasedonyourmedicalconditionandresponsetotreatment.Inchildren,thedosageisalsobasedonweight.Yourdoctormaydirectyoutostartthismedicationatalowdoseandgraduallyincreaseyourdose.Followyourdoctor'sinstructionscarefully.Takethismedicationandyourotherbloodpressuremedicationsregularlyinordertogetthemostbenefitfromthem.Tohelpyouremember,takethematthesametime(s)eachday.Keeptakingyourmedicationsevenifyoufeelwell.Mostpeoplewithhighbloodpressuredonotfeelsick.Donotstoptakingthismedicationwithoutconsultingyourdoctor.Someconditionsmaybecomeworsewhenthisdrugissuddenlystopped.Yourdosemayneedtobegraduallydecreased.Itmaytakeseveraldaystoacoupleofweeksbeforeyougetthefullbenefitofthisdrug.Tellyourdoctorifyourconditiondoesnotimproveorifitworsens(yourbloodpressurereadingsremainhighorincrease).SideEffectsDizzinessorlightheadednessmayoccurasyourbodyadjuststothemedication.Ifeitheroftheseeffectslastsorgetsworse,tellyourdoctororpharmacistpromptly.Minoxidilmaycauseincreasedgrowthordarkeningoffinebodyhairs.Ifthisbothersyou,consultyourdoctor.Whenyoustoptakingthemedication,thehairwillusuallyreturntonormalwithin1to6months.Rememberthatthismedicationhasbeenprescribedbecauseyourdoctorhasjudgedthatthebenefittoyouisgreaterthantheriskofsideeffects.Manypeopleusingthismedicationdonothaveserioussideeffects.Tellyourdoctorrightawayifyouhaveanyserioussideeffects,including:fastheartbeat,symptomsofheartfailure(suchasshortnessofbreath,swellingankles/feet,unusualtiredness,unusual/suddenweightgain),fainting.Getmedicalhelprightawayifyouhaveanyveryserioussideeffects,including:chest/jaw/leftarmpain.Averyseriousallergicreactiontothisdrugisrare.However,getmedicalhelprightawayifyounoticeanysymptomsofaseriousallergicreaction,including:rash,itching/swelling(especiallyoftheface/tongue/throat),severedizziness,troublebreathing.Thisisnotacompletelistofpossiblesideeffects.Ifyounoticeothereffectsnotlistedabove,contactyourdoctororpharmacist.IntheUS-Callyourdoctorformedicaladviceaboutsideeffects.YoumayreportsideeffectstoFDAat1-800-FDA-1088oratwww.fda.gov/medwatch.InCanada-Callyourdoctorformedicaladviceaboutsideeffects.YoumayreportsideeffectstoHealthCanadaat1-866-234-2345.PrecautionsBeforetakingminoxidil,tellyourdoctororpharmacistifyouareallergictoit;orifyouhaveanyotherallergies.Thisproductmaycontaininactiveingredients,whichcancauseallergicreactionsorotherproblems.Talktoyourpharmacistformoredetails.Beforeusingthismedication,tellyourdoctororpharmacistyourmedicalhistory,especiallyof:pheochromocytoma,heartproblems(suchasheartfailure,chestpain,recentheartattack),kidneydisease,acertainlungdisease(pulmonaryhypertension).Thisdrugmaymakeyoudizzy.Alcoholormarijuana(cannabis)canmakeyoumoredizzy.Donotdrive,usemachinery,ordoanythingthatneedsalertnessuntilyoucandoitsafely.Limitalcoholicbeverages.Talktoyourdoctorifyouareusingmarijuana(cannabis).Beforehavingsurgery,tellyourdoctorordentistaboutalltheproductsyouuse(includingprescriptiondrugs,nonprescriptiondrugs,andherbalproducts).Duringpregnancy,thismedicationshouldbeusedonlywhenclearlyneeded.Discusstherisksandbenefitswithyourdoctor.Thisdrugpassesintobreastmilk,butisunlikelytoharmanursinginfant.Consultyourdoctorbeforebreast-feeding.InteractionsDruginteractionsmaychangehowyourmedicationsworkorincreaseyourriskforserioussideeffects.Thisdocumentdoesnotcontainallpossibledruginteractions.Keepalistofalltheproductsyouuse(includingprescription/nonprescriptiondrugsandherbalproducts)andshareitwithyourdoctorandpharmacist.Donotstart,stop,orchangethedosageofanymedicineswithoutyourdoctor'sapproval.Someproductsthatmayinteractwiththisdruginclude:guanethidine.Someproductshaveingredientsthatcouldraiseyourbloodpressure.Tellyourpharmacistwhatproductsyouareusing,andaskhowtousethemsafely(especiallycough-and-coldproducts,dietaids,orNSAIDssuchasibuprofen/naproxen).DoesMinoxidilinteractwithotherdrugsyouaretaking?EnteryourmedicationintotheWebMDinteractioncheckerCheckInteractionOverdoseIfsomeonehasoverdosedandhasserioussymptomssuchaspassingoutortroublebreathing,call911.Otherwise,callapoisoncontrolcenterrightaway.USresidentscancalltheirlocalpoisoncontrolcenterat1-800-222-1222.Canadaresidentscancallaprovincialpoisoncontrolcenter.Symptomsofoverdosemayinclude:severedizziness.NotesDonotsharethismedicationwithothers.Lifestylechangesthatmayhelpthismedicationworkbetterincludestressreductionprograms,exercise,anddietarychanges.Talktoyourdoctororpharmacistaboutlifestylechangesthatmightbenefityou.Laband/ormedicaltests(suchasbloodmineralslevels,kidneyfunction,weight)shouldbedonewhileyouaretakingthismedication.Keepallmedicalandlabappointments.Consultyourdoctorformoredetails.Haveyourbloodpressureandpulse(heartrate)checkedregularlywhiletakingthismedication.Learnhowtomonitoryourownbloodpressureandpulseathome,andsharetheresultswithyourdoctor.MissedDoseIfyoumissadose,takeitassoonasyouremember.Ifitisnearthetimeofthenextdose,skipthemisseddose.Takeyournextdoseattheregulartime.Donotdoublethedosetocatchup.StorageStoreatroomtemperatureawayfromlightandmoisture.Donotstoreinthebathroom.Keepallmedicationsawayfromchildrenandpets.Donotflushmedicationsdownthetoiletorpourthemintoadrainunlessinstructedtodoso.Properlydiscardthisproductwhenitisexpiredornolongerneeded.Consultyourpharmacistorlocalwastedisposalcompany.ImagesNextYouMightAlsoLikeWhatAreThesePimple-LikeBumpsonMySkin?TimelineofLiverDonorRecoveryNavigatingLifeWithMigraine10WaysCOPDIsTreatedHowtoProtectYourHeartasYouAgeHaveBlockedHairFollicles?CausesandTreatmentsforMultipleMyelomaViewMoreRelatedLinksListMinoxidilsideeffectsbylikelihoodandseverityWhoshouldnottakeMinoxidil?DoesMinoxidilinteractwithothermedications?ShouldIavoidcertainfoodswhiletakingMinoxidil?WhatshouldIknowregardingpregnancy,nursingandadministeringMinoxidiltochildrenortheelderly?WhatconditionsdoesMinoxidiltreat?SearchDrugsRelatedDrugsCommonSearchesAdderallCelexaCiproCymbaltaFlexerilHydrocodonePrilosecProzacSeroquelSynthroidTramadolTrazodoneLexaproLisinoprilMobicNaproxenNeurontinPradaxaPrednisoneVicodinWarfarinWellbutrinXanaxZocorZoloftShowMoreShowLessSelectaconditiontoviewalistofmedicationoptionshighbloodpressureDrugSurveyAreyoucurrentlyusingMinoxidil?YesNoThissurveyisbeingconductedbytheWebMDmarketingsciencesdepartment.FreeRXCouponSaveupto80%onyourprescriptions.ViewFREEWebMDRxcouponAvailablecouponsSaveupto80%onyourprescriptionwithWebMDRxViewFREEWebMDRxcouponSelectedfromdataincludedwithpermissionandcopyrightedbyFirstDatabank,Inc.Thiscopyrightedmaterialhasbeendownloadedfromalicenseddataproviderandisnotfordistribution,exceptasmaybeauthorizedbytheapplicabletermsofuse.CONDITIONSOFUSE:Theinformationinthisdatabaseisintendedtosupplement,notsubstitutefor,theexpertiseandjudgmentofhealthcareprofessionals.Theinformationisnotintendedtocoverallpossibleuses,directions,precautions,druginteractionsoradverseeffects,norshoulditbeconstruedtoindicatethatuseofaparticulardrugissafe,appropriateoreffectiveforyouoranyoneelse.Ahealthcareprofessionalshouldbeconsultedbeforetakinganydrug,changinganydietorcommencingordiscontinuinganycourseoftreatment.MedicationsThatMakeYouTiredCommonculpritsandwhatyoucando.PharmacyandMedicationTipsThingstorememberwhenyoufillyourprescription.MedicationSideEffectsTipsfordealingwiththem.ReadingMedicineLabelsHowtomakesenseofthem.MoreAboutDrugsandMedicationsPillIdentifierMyMedicineInteractionCheckerDrugsandMedicationsA-ZDrugsandMedicalConditionsFDALabelingforminoxidilonRxListLatestDrugNewsFindaPharmacyFindaVitaminHealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHempSeedOilLiveBetterWithPsoriaticDiseaseTypesofB-CellTherapyforMS5HealthBenefitsofHempWhyProstateCancerSpreadsLivingwithAdvancedBreastCancerWhereBreastCancerSpreads