From Wiki Drugs

Minoxidil is a medication with peripheral vasodilative effect. This drug’s action is directed to dilating of resistant vessels and facilitating decrease of blood arterial pressure and lessening load on the cardiac muscle. The local application of Minoxidil stimulates hair growth in males and females with androgen-genetic alopecia (in 95% of baldness cases).

Pharmacological Action

It is considered that the effect of vessels dilatation and the ability of reduce the blood pressure was due to that fact that Minoxidil is able to open potassium channels in nonstriated muscles of veins and arteries. This drug is mostly used in cases of serious problems connected with increased arterial pressure, when other similar action drugs are not desirable.

Pharmacokinetics

When the Minoxidil medication is locally applied, it is slowly being absorbed through the normal intact skin: on average 1.4% of the drug penetrate the systemic blood flow. No affect of concomitant skin diseases upon the drug resorption has been reported. Minoxidil does not link to plasma proteins. Minoxidil and its metabolite are excreted by kidneys.

Indications

Solution for exterior application (regain), male-type alopecia (androgenic alopecia) in men and women. Minoxidil tablets: arterial hypotension (very severe forms resistant to combined therapy with other hypotension medications).

Dosage

Minoxidil solution is applied in doses of 1 ml (20-50 mg of Minoxidil 2 times a day, starting from the most impaired area (it is rubbed in the pelade problematic areas). The applied medication (1 ml) should be spread all over the head skin that grows balder. The total daily dose should not be over 2 ml. That quantity was found to be the optimal dose for hair growth regain on condition of 2-time application daily. The treatment course is not less than 4 months. The 2-time daily treatment should continue after appearing new hairs in order to increase their quantity and maintain their growth.

Side Effects

Minoxidil medication application may cause edemas, tachycardia, headache, blood circulation impairments. The most common negative effect is itching and other irritations on the head skin subject to treatment.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the medicine, damage of cutaneous covering or scalp dermatosis (irritation, infection, tenderness, solar burn, psoriasis, desquamation and so on). Precautions should be taken when applying Minoxidil by patients with coronary heart disease, stenocardia, arrhythmias and also by ones who are inclined to have arterial hypotonia. Minoxidil should not be taken by persons under 18. As long as the action of Minoxidil in pregnancy, deliveries and lactation period have not been studied enough, pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers are not advised to apply Minoxidil.

External links

• MEDLINEplus Drug Information: Minoxidil (Topical)

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