Does minoxidil cause weight gain?

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Overview

Minoxidil’s original use was to help manage high blood pressure. However, taking this medication as an oral tablet may lead to severe side effects. Doctors typically only prescribe oral minoxidil if you have high blood pressure that is resistant to other medications.

Topical minoxidil is the only approved form of the drug to treat hair loss. It usually causes milder side effects than minoxidil oral tablet.

Weight gain is a possible side effect of oral minoxidil. This is most often due to excess fluid retention rather than increased fat. However, you can manage this side effect with the help of a healthcare professional.

Minoxidil and weight gain

While topical minoxidil rarely causes significant side effects, oral minoxidil is different. Weight gain is a possible side effect of oral minoxidil. This side effect hasn’t been reported with topical minoxidil. A healthcare professional will monitor your body weight closely while you take oral minoxidil.

The weight gain you may experience with minoxidil is not due to increased body fat but water and salt retention (also known as edema).

If you are taking minoxidil, a doctor may recommend also taking a diuretic medication to prevent edema. This is because edema can cause harm and has several uncomfortable symptoms, including:

• pain
• difficulty walking
• swelling
• lowered urine production

What is minoxidil?

Minoxidil is a prescription-only medication that comes as an oral tablet or topical foam and solution. The best option for you will depend on the condition you’re using the drug to treat.

Minoxidil tablets are FDA approved to help treat high blood pressure in certain cases. Due to the risk of side effects, doctors typically only prescribe minoxidil tablets after you’ve tried at least three other treatments for your condition. If you receive a prescription for minoxidil, your doctor will monitor your condition closely for side effects.

Minoxidil belongs to a group of drugs known as peripheral vasodilators. These medications all work in a similar way.

Peripheral vasodilators enlarge and relax your small blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily. This is known as vasodilation. It reduces the pressure on the walls of these small blood vessels, reducing your blood pressure.

This process also helps to boost hair growth in people experiencing hair loss. Applying topical minoxidil can improve blood flow to your hair follicles. Some studies have also suggested that topical minoxidil can affect your hair’s natural growth cycle, causing hair to grow faster and thicker.

Minoxidil for hair loss is available over the counter in both generic and brand-name formulas. It’s commonly known under the brand name Rogaine.

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Other side effects

If you notice itchy skin after taking minoxidil, you should seek help from a medical professional as soon as possible.

Common side effects from taking oral minoxidil include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• increasing thickness and darkness of body hair

If you notice these side effects, they are typically mild and will go away within a few weeks. If they continue, it is important that you speak with a doctor.

More serious side effects from minoxidil can include:

• rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
• edema
• breast or chest tenderness
• low blood pressure
• lightheadedness
• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• angina

Using topical minoxidil may make your skin more sensitive to the damage from ultraviolet (UV) rays. It is important to wear sunscreen every day and protect yourself during bright sunny days by wearing sunglasses and protective clothing.

Minoxidil alternatives

Other medications have the same effects as minoxidil. If you try minoxidil and experience severe side effects or mild side effects that do not go away, speak with a doctor about finding an alternative medication that works for you.

Some examples of other antihypertensive medications that a doctor may recommend for medication-resistant hypertension include:

• felodipine (Plendil), which selectively dilates small arteries without affecting your veins
• nifedipine (Procardis), a calcium channel-blocking medication that reduces blood pressure but may have a high risk of side effects in people who take it
• lisinopril (Qbrelis), which works by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for constricting your blood vessels
• amlodipine (Norvasc), a common treatment for hypertension that doctors often prescribe in combination with other medications like statins

Summary

Minoxidil is a medication that doctors may prescribe if you have hypertension, usually when other treatments are ineffective.

One side effect is weight gain, but this is due to increased water and salt retention rather than increased body fat. If you have an existing heart condition, a doctor will typically prescribe a diuretic medication alongside minoxidil to prevent edema.

If you notice significant unexplained weight gain while taking minoxidil, talk with your doctor.

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