This article describes possible side effects of minoxidil oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about minoxidil, including the drug’s uses, side effects, dosing, and more.
Minoxidil oral tablet is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version. Minoxidil also comes in a topical foam and topical solution. But these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.
Boxed warnings
Minoxidil oral tablet has boxed warnings about the appropriate use of the drug and the risk of serious heart effects. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For more information about the appropriate use warning, see the “Warnings for minoxidil” section below. For details about the risk of serious heart effects, see the “Side effects of minoxidil in detail” section below.
More common side effects of minoxidil
Minoxidil oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of minoxidil oral tablet include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of minoxidil in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of minoxidil
Minoxidil may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of minoxidil oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of minoxidil in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with minoxidil oral tablet. But it’s unclear whether it occured in the drug’s studies. Though some people reported different types of skin rashes.
Minoxidil oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of minoxidil
Minoxidil may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from minoxidil oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with minoxidil.
Serious side effects of minoxidil oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of minoxidil in detail” section below.
† Minoxidil oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of minoxidil in detail” section below.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible with minoxidil oral tablet. But it’s unclear whether it occured in the drug’s studies. Though some people reported different types of skin rashes.
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Common questions about side effects of minoxidil
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of minoxidil oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can minoxidil cause sexual side effects?
It is unlikely. Sexual side effects weren’t seen during studies of minoxidil. Breast tenderness was reported in studies. But it was rare.
There are certain conditions and medications that can affect your sexual health and function. This includes high blood pressure, which minoxidil is used to treat.
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about minoxidil’s side effects and what other conditions or medications may cause sexual side effects.
How do side effects of minoxidil in females compare with those seen in males?
Differences in side effects between males* and females* were not noted in studies of minoxidil. Side effects like breast tenderness and changes in facial or body hair occurred in both males and females. In some cases, females may find changes in facial or body hair to be more bothersome.
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about side effects you may be at risk for experiencing.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
Will I experience side effects of minoxidil even after stopping the drug?
It is possible. Most side effects are temporary and go away within a few days of stopping minoxidil. If you experienced changes in facial or body hair, it may take 1 to 6 months to return to your pretreatment appearance.
Other conditions, such as congestive heart failure, may develop or worsen. This is a long-term condition requiring long-term treatment.
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about your risk for side effects after stopping minoxidil.
Does minoxidil cause long-term side effects?
Possibly. In some cases minoxidil oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time or last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with minoxidil oral tablet include:
- Changes in facial or body hair: This usually lasts for the length of time you take minoxidil. Hair can take 1 to 6 months to disappear once you stop taking minoxidil.
- Risks of serious heart effects: Some of these, like congestive heart failure, can be long-term conditions that require long-term treatment.
Keep in mind that minoxidil has a boxed warning for the risk of serious heart effects. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details about this risk, see the “Side effects of minoxidil in detail” section below.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of minoxidil oral tablet may last.
Side effects of minoxidil in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of minoxidil oral tablet.
Risk of serious heart effects
Minoxidil oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of serious heart effects. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In studies, heart effects were common in people taking minoxidil oral tablet. This side effect is often mild but may be serious.
There are several heart effects that minoxidil can cause. You may experience a fast heart rate (tachycardia). Symptoms of this include lightheadedness, fainting, or shortness of breath. You may also experience new or worsening chest pain (angina). This includes pain in your chest, arm, or shoulder, and signs of severe indigestion.
Minoxidil may cause swelling or fluid to build up around your heart (pericardium). This can worsen to the point that your heart can’t pump enough blood to your body (tamponade). Speak with your doctor or seek medical help if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or altered mental status.
Certain factors can increase the risk of serious heart effects with minoxidil oral tablet. These include skipping or missing doses of your prescribed water pills (diuretics), blood pressure, and heart medications.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of heart effects, tell your doctor. Possible ways your doctor may manage your symptoms include:
- increasing your water pill dose or changing your water pill type
- dialysis
- a procedure to remove the fluid from around your heart (pericardiocentesis)
- prescribing a medication to manage your heart rate, such as metoprolol or a different beta blocker
In rare situations, other types of surgery may be recommended. If your symptoms persist, your doctor may have you stop taking minoxidil.
Salt and water retention
In studies, salt and water retention were common in people taking minoxidil oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild but may be serious.
When your body retains too much salt and water, you can have swelling in your face, hands, ankles, or abdomen. You may also have rapid weight gain of 5 or more pounds. This fluid buildup can worsen some heart conditions, like heart failure. If you experience these symptoms, speak with your doctor.
Certain factors can increase the risk of salt and fluid retention with minoxidil oral tablet. These include not taking your water pill (diuretic) as prescribed by your doctor.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of salt and fluid retention, tell your doctor. They’ll likely add to or adjust your water pill dose. Or they may have you temporarily stop taking minoxidil.
Changes in facial or body hair
In studies, changes in facial or body hair (hypertrichosis) were common in people taking minoxidil oral tablet. This side effect does not affect your health but can be visually bothersome.
Hair is usually first noticed on your temples, forehead, upper cheeks, and between your eyebrows. It may also grow on your back, arms, legs, or scalp.
Ways to manage
Excess hair can be managed with shaving or hair removal. If you have concerns with changes in your facial or body hair, tell your doctor. If it’s very bothersome to you, they may recommend that you stop taking minoxidil depending on how well your blood pressure is controlled. But you should not stop taking minoxidil without speaking with your doctor first.
For some people, minoxidil oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.
But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies. Though some people reported different types of skin rashes.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to minoxidil oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for minoxidil
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking minoxidil oral tablet.
Boxed warnings
This drug has boxed warnings about the appropriate use of the drug and the risk of serious heart effects. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Minoxidil most likely needs to be taken with certain medications because of its side effects. It can make your heart beat faster (tachycardia) and work harder. Because of this, minoxidil is usually prescribed with a beta-blocker. This group of drugs helps prevent your heart from beating faster or working harder. Minoxidil is also usually given with a water pill (diuretic) to prevent salt and fluid retention.
Since you will likely need to take multiple medications while on minoxidil, your doctor may monitor you more closely.
If you have a type of high blood pressure called malignant hypertension or are taking guanethidine, you may require hospitalization when starting minoxidil. This is so that your blood pressure can be closely monitored.
For details about the risk of serious heart effects, see the “Side effects of minoxidil in detail” section above.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take minoxidil oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other issues may also affect whether minoxidil oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking minoxidil oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Factors to consider include:
Minoxidil and pregnancy
It’s unknown whether minoxidil oral tablet should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Minoxidil and breastfeeding
Minoxidil oral tablet should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with minoxidil.
Minoxidil oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.
However, minoxidil and alcohol can cause similar effects. So drinking alcohol while taking minoxidil can increase your risk of experiencing certain side effects. This includes like lightheadedness, fainting, and nausea or vomiting. Alcohol also affects your blood pressure, and salt and water retention. This could worsen minoxidil side effects, or make the drug less effective.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with minoxidil oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of minoxidil oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Could my side effects increase with minoxidil if I stop taking my other blood pressure and heart medications?
- Am I more likely to experience side effects as my dosage increases?
- Do I have a higher risk of side effects than others?
- Which side effects can I expect to lessen over time?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
