How to Save on 6 Types of Dermatology Medications Insurance May Not Cover
Some dermatology medications aren’t covered by insurance. But there are still ways to save on the cost of your prescription. Learn more with GoodRx.
minoxidil
Used for Hypertension
Used for Hypertension
Minoxidil tablets are used to treat severe high blood pressure) in adults and children. This medication is usually only used when high blood pressure causes symptoms or damage to organs, like the heart or kidneys. It's also only used when other blood pressure medications haven't worked well enough. Minoxidil is a vasodilator, which means it relaxes your blood vessels to lower blood pressure. It's taken by mouth once or twice a day. Side effects include swelling and increased body hair growth. It also has a risk of serious heart problems.
What is Minoxidil?
What is Minoxidil used for?
- Severe high blood pressure that causes symptoms or organ damage and hasn't improved enough with other blood pressure medications
How Minoxidil works
Minoxidil is a vasodilator. It works by relaxing your blood vessels so blood can flow through the body more easily. This helps lower your blood pressure.
When does Minoxidil start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Loniten |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Vasodilator |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Minoxidil essentials
Side effects of Minoxidil
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- More body hair growth (e.g., thicker, longer, darker)
- Swelling from fluid buildup
- Faster heart rate
- Changes in heart rhythm patterns
Less Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin rash
- Breast tenderness
Minoxidil serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious heart problems: new or worsening pain in the chest, arm, or shoulder; shortness of breath, dizziness
- Fluid buildup in the body: rapid weight gain, swelling, trouble breathing (especially when lying down)
- Faster heart rate: more than 20 beats per minute faster than usual
- Serious skin reaction: rash, hives, peeling or blistering skin, flu-like symptoms
When do Minoxidil possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Y
Hair growth
Swelling in the body
Faster heart rate
Heart problems
Seek immediate medical care if you experience this side effect.
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
The following Minoxidil side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Itching or skin rash (continued)
Rare
Acne at site of application
burning of scalp
facial hair growth
increased hair loss
inflammation or soreness at root of hair
reddened skin
swelling of face
Signs and symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body—Rare
Blurred vision or other changes in vision
dizziness
fainting
fast or irregular heartbeat
flushing
headache
lightheadedness
numbness or tingling of hands, feet, or face
swelling of face, hands, feet, or lower legs
weight gain (rapid)
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Minoxidil
Pros
- Can help treat severe high blood pressure when other medications haven't worked well enough
- Can be used in both adults and children
Cons
- Usually needs to be taken with a water pill and a beta-blocker
- Has a risk of serious heart problems
Pharmacist tips for Minoxidil
- Take minoxidil with or without food at the same time each day, even if you feel fine. Don't stop taking it without talking to your prescriber. Your blood pressure could rise again if you stop treatment.
- If you miss a dose of minoxidil, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the usual time. Don't take extra medication to make up for the missed dose because this can raise your risk of side effects.
- You'll usually need to take other medications with minoxidil. This helps lower the risk of serious side effects. A water pill (loop diuretic) helps prevent fluid buildup and heart failure. A beta blocker helps prevent a fast heart rate. Take these medications as prescribed.
- Minoxidil can make your body hair grow longer, thicker, and darker. You might notice this on your face within 3 to 6 weeks of starting treatment. This hair growth can also happen on your arms, legs, and back. Extra hair growth stops after you stop taking minoxidil, but it can take up to 6 months for your body hair to go back to how it looked before. Talk to your care team if this bothers you.
- Ask your care team how often to check your blood pressure and heart rate while taking minoxidil. These checks help monitor your blood pressure and watch for side effects, like a fast heartbeat. Tell your care team if your blood pressure gets very high. Also tell them if your resting heart rate is more than 20 beats per minute faster than usual.
- Weigh yourself every day while taking minoxidil. A quick weight gain of 5 pounds or more can be a sign of fluid buildup. Watch for swelling in your face, hands, ankles, or stomach, too. Tell your care team right away if you notice these changes. They might need to adjust your medications or recommend eating less salt.
- Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all the medications you take or plan to take. Some medications can interact with minoxidil and put you at risk of harm. For example, taking minoxidil with some erectile dysfunction medications can lower your blood pressure too much. And taking minoxidil with other medications that can raise your heart rate can make this side effect more noticeable. Your care team can make sure all your medications are safe to take together.
Risks and warnings for Minoxidil
Minoxidil can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Serious heart problems
Some people taking minoxidil have had serious heart problems. These include pericarditis (swelling around the heart) and pericardial effusion (fluid buildup around the heart). In some cases, too much fluid can put pressure on the heart and make it harder to pump blood. This is called cardiac tamponade, which can be life-threatening.
Your care team will watch for signs of these heart problems while you take minoxidil. Get medical help right away if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, dizziness, or swelling in your legs. Also get help if you have trouble doing simple activities like walking.
Fluid buildup and risk of heart failure
- Risk factors: Heart failure
Minoxidil can cause your body to hold onto extra salt and water, sometimes within a few days of starting treatment. This can lead to swelling, especially in your legs, ankles, and feet. Too much fluid buildup can raise your risk of heart failure, which happens when your heart can't pump blood well.
To help prevent fluid buildup, your prescriber will usually give you a water pill (loop diuretic) to take with minoxidil. They might also ask you to follow a low-salt diet. Your care team will check your weight closely during treatment.
Tell your care team right away if you gain weight quickly or notice new or worsening swelling. These can be signs of fluid buildup. Get medical help right away if you also have trouble breathing or get tired or out of breath more easily during exercise. These could be signs of heart failure.
Fast heart rate and chest pain
Minoxidil can make your heart beat faster. This can sometimes cause new or worsening chest pain because your heart has to work harder. To lower these risks, your prescriber will usually give you a beta-blocker to take with minoxidil. This helps slow your heart rate and reduce the strain on your heart.
Risks of lowering blood pressure too quickly
For people with very high blood pressure, lowering it too quickly can be dangerous. A sudden drop in blood pressure can reduce blood flow to parts of the body. This can cause fainting, stroke, heart attack, or loss of vision or hearing.
Because of these risks, people with dangerously high blood pressure might need to start minoxidil in a hospital. This lets their care team watch their blood pressure closely and make sure it doesn't drop too fast.
Minoxidil dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 2.5mg of Minoxidil is $12.76 with a free GoodRx coupon.
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg | 90 tablets | $24.00 | $0.27 |
| 2.5mg | 30 tablets | $12.76 | $0.43 |
Typical dosage for Minoxidil
Adults and children ages 12 years and older
- The typical starting dose is 5 mg by mouth once a day. Your prescriber will adjust your dose based on your blood pressure.
- The usual dose is 10 mg to 40 mg per day, taken once a day or split into smaller doses throughout the day. The maximum dose is 100 mg per day.
Children under age 12
- The typical starting dose is 0.2 mg/kg of body weight by mouth once a day. The prescriber will adjust the dose based on your child's blood pressure.
- The usual dose is 0.25 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg per day, taken once at day or split into smaller doses throughout the day. The maximum dose is 50 mg per day.
More on Minoxidil dosage
Interactions between Minoxidil and other drugs
Minoxidil may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Minoxidil. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
More on Minoxidil interactions
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. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Minoxidil cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Minoxidil (generic)
$12.76
Minoxidil contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Minoxidil will not be safe for you to take.
- Pheochromocytoma (a rare adrenal gland tumor)
What are alternatives to Minoxidil?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Minoxidil. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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Minoxidil images
