Rogaine Or Minoxidil – Which One Shall I Use?

February 5, 2010 · Posted in baldness · Comment 

Rogaine was the first medicinal drug in history approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating hair loss. By now it has been approved and is available as a cure for baldness in many other countries of the world. Its main active ingredient is minoxidil, a vasodilator that was originally used in the form of the oral drug Loniten to treat high blood pressure. Minoxidil is a hair-growth stimulant but its exact mechanism of action is not known. Since Loniten has long come off patent, generic minoxidil is widely available in pharmacies at a very reasonable price and in most countries it does not require a doctor’s prescription.

Both Rogaine and generic minoxidil solutions come in concentrations of 2% for women and 5% for men but many experimental, generic products use concentrations of up to 20%. Minoxidil is often blamed for causing various negative side effects. Since it has become the most frequently-used drug for treating baldness, its side effects are very well documented and they happen to be often exaggerated. In less than one percent of patients they include an irregular or fast heart beat, very low blood pressure, blurred vision, swelling face and ankles, numbness in the hands, etc. These symptoms are directly related to minoxidil being a vasodilator. In addition, minoxidil can cause increased hair growth on the face and other parts of the body. This is due to its ability to stimulate hair growth. But some side effects that minoxidil is often blamed for are not caused by minoxidil itself. They include inflammation, itchiness and redness of the scalp, dandruff and allergic reactions. These side effects can be attributed to the vehicles used in the solution, such as propylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol (propanol). Many hair loss sufferers have discontinued their minoxidil treatment because of scalp problems, although minoxidil seldom causes such reactions.

Furthermore, many generic, minoxidil-based lotions contain supplementary ingredients that are supposed to enhance their overall efficacy, such as azelaic acid, retinoic acid, herbal extracts, etc. These substances, especially the herbal extracts, are known to be allergenic to many people. It is advisable to try several different minoxidil-based products, for instance, those that do not contain propylene glycol, in order to test their tolerability for your scalp. A more expensive product, e.g. the original formulation – Rogaine solution – is not necessarily a better option than a less expensive generic mixture. However, Rogaine foam, though quite expensive, is usually very well tolerated. Anti-dandruff shampoos, e.g. Nizoral, can, in the majority of patients, be employed successfully to treat scalp inflammations, itchiness and dandruff caused by the use of minoxidil-based topicals.

Author: Dody Gasparik
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Rogaine Side Effects

January 14, 2010 · Posted in baldness · Comment 

There may be some side effects with Rogaine. Some users do experience certain problems such as scalp irritation, itching, and dandruff. However, this can be treated with a good shampoo. Some user reported an increase in hair shedding at the start of the treatment. It is just temporary, and treatment should not be stopped. Indeed, this may actually be a signal that the treatment is working.

Due to the medication’s alcohol content, some users may develop a contact rash or irritated skin. In addition, with excessive doses, some users may experience dizziness or a rapid heartbeat. However, with normal use these effects are uncommon. A minority of Rogaine users experience “hypertrichosis” problem. This is hair growth on the face or other bodily areas. This side effect appears in about 3-5 % of women who use the 2% solution, and higher among women using the 5% solution. In this case, the treatment should be stopped.

Rogaine should not be used if a person has any of these systemic effects:

  • Chest pain
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Faintness
  • Dizziness
  • Sudden unexplained weight gain
  • swelling of the extremities

Tell your doctor quickly if you get any of these (less common) Rogaine side effects:

  • Increased hair loss
  • Dizziness
  • Burning of scalp
  • Inflammation at root of hair
  • Rash/reddened skin
  • Upset stomach/vomiting
  • Acne on scalp
  • Headaches
  • Breast tenderness
  • Increased growth/darker pigmentation of fine (vellus) body hair

If too much of this drug is absorbed by your body, you need to tell your doctor quickly. These are the symptoms:

  • Racing/irregular heartbeat
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Numb/tingling hands, feet, or face
  • Blurred vision
  • Fainting
  • Decrease in libido
  • Rapid weight gain
  • Swelling of face, hands, feet and/or lower legs

You should also tell your doctor if any of the following applies to you:

  • If you have any allergy (especially to minoxidil or propylene glycol).
  • If you’re pregnant, or plan to become so during your treatment – minoxidil in oral form will pass into breast milk and is not recommended during breast-feeding. (Topically applied minoxidil hasn’t been studied in pregnant women).
  • If you are taking any medicine (prescription or non-prescription) especially anti-hypertensive drugs, diuretics, or vitamins.
  • If you’re using Vaseline, Corticosteroids or Tretinoin (Retin-A) on your scalp. These things can cause too much minoxidil to be absorbed and so increase your chances of side effects.
  • Alcohol can make the side effects of Rogaine/minoxidil worse.
  • Generic Rogaine contains 80% alcohol and is flammable – keep it away from fire as well as eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • There are other concerns with this drug – make sure you read the label carefully before you start using it.

You can find more information about Rogaine side effects by clicking http://www.rogainehair.com/rogaine_review.htm.

Author: Edgar Gilbertson
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