Regular Member Fritzerik Posted October 27, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted October 27, 2015 Hey guys, I'd love to know if any of you guys had any experience with a low dose of oral minoxidil (Loniten). I don't think I'll get much more regrowth from propecia and I'm def not a great responder to rogaine, so I was thinking that maybe a low dose (nothing above 5mg) could give me some regrowth so I would be ok to wait a little bit more to have a hair transplant, since I'm only 21 yo . I'd also take it for less than a year and of course I'd speak with my doctor before doing that. Do you guys think I can get good results with a daily dose of 5mg? Are the side effects really strong? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Blake Bloxham Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Frit, Oral minoxidil is a serious medication. It absolutely can cause adverse side effects. Particularly those related to blood pressure, and the effect this can have on some vital organs -- heart and kidneys namely -- and the abnormal distribution of fluid in the body. It's usually only reserved as a medication for individuals with serious blood pressure or heart problems, and the potential for side effects prevents it from being used for hair loss regularly. Remember that it really hasn't been studied orally for hair loss either (for the reasons I discussed above). This is why most universally recommend the topical solution. Dr. Blake Bloxham is recommended by the Hair Transplant Network. Hair restoration physician - Feller and Bloxham Hair Transplantation Previously "Future_HT_Doc" or "Blake_Bloxham" - forum co-moderator and editorial assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, Hair Restoration Network, Hair Loss Q&A blog, and Hair Loss Learning Center. Click here to read my previous answers to hair loss and hair restoration questions, editorials, commentaries, and educational articles. Now practicing hair transplant surgery with Coalition hair restoration physician Dr Alan Feller at our New York practice: Feller and Bloxham Hair Transplantation. Please note: my advice does not constitute as medical advice. All medical questions and concerns should be addressed by a personal physician. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Fritzerik Posted October 28, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 28, 2015 Dr Blake, Thanks for your reply. I won't go through all my story, but my hair loss had a huge impact on my life. I've been balding since 17 and decided to get on propecia and rogaine only last year, at the age of 20. I was almost a NW4. I had some regrowth on the crown, but nothing that really made me happy. My hair loss seems to be stabilized tho. As I'm too young to have a HT, I was thinking that maybe I could take a stronger drug for regrowth, helping to reduce the pain of all this issue, until I don't have a HT. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member iiieee Posted November 2, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted November 2, 2015 (edited) Hey Fritzerik, There is one major thing you are overlooking (or, as I should say, unaware of) that should help improve your situation dramatically. . . I've been using Rogaine since 1993--when it was available only as 2% minoxidil in strength. Since then (around the time propecia came on the market) it was upgraded to 5% but, recently, two years ago this December, Rogaine (Johnson & Johnson) decided to discontinue the 5% lotion without informing their users, they simply put 2% under 5% labelling (it used to be viscous with a plasticine like smell; now, it is watery with a strong smell of alcohol--solvent). To circumvent the problem I bought all the remaining Rogaine 5% preceeding the production dates of the fraudulent material (listed on the product) from ebay. I am about to run out and currently looking for a replacement. So, in the interim, I have secured a prescription for lonitem from my doctor. . . .My advice to you would be to MAKE SURE you're not using Rogaine, and I am suspicious of some other brands, as well--particularly those under the control of J&J, such as Kirkland 5% (you'll notice that it is unbelievably cheap). If you find 5% (asuming you're using Rogaine) you can also let it evaporate down for a day or so--in humidity less than 20% (important)--to double it's strength, again; 5% should double the results of 20%, 10% doubles 5%. And let me know if you find true 5%; I live in Canada so it's difficult to do trials of different products. Best wishes, Mark Edited November 4, 2015 by iiieee It's just a typo, but it's important because it's hard to get equipment to measure below 10% humidity from a hardware store Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member JON86 Posted November 2, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted November 2, 2015 Fritzerik you need to scratch the idea of oral minoxidil off your list. Everything Blake has said is true. That is a last resort drug for people that are dying with uncontrollable blood pressure. It will mess your heart up bad and those few that take it have to take have to also take a beta blocker or a diuretic just to keep from having rapid heart beating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member fortune11 Posted December 29, 2016 Senior Member Share Posted December 29, 2016 Frit, Oral minoxidil is a serious medication. It absolutely can cause adverse side effects. Particularly those related to blood pressure, and the effect this can have on some vital organs -- heart and kidneys namely -- and the abnormal distribution of fluid in the body. It's usually only reserved as a medication for individuals with serious blood pressure or heart problems, and the potential for side effects prevents it from being used for hair loss regularly. Remember that it really hasn't been studied orally for hair loss either (for the reasons I discussed above). This is why most universally recommend the topical solution. Blake - I am actually on the 2.5mg daily medication of Oral minoxidil prescribed by Dr Ron Shapiro post my recent FUE w him. I had an extensive discussion (via email) with him and am convinced that at this dosage it is no more harmful (in terms of side effects) than the topical version. He also mentioned that there were several ISHRS presentations done on this topic , notably by Dr Rodney Sinclair from Australia and Dr Pathomavich as well. Topical minox wasn't really effective for me so I am going to see if this oral version can change things up a bit (some people's scalps are not as amenable to topical absorption , i may be one of those). I will keep you guys posted on how this goes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUT #1, ~ 1600 grafts hairline (Ron Shapiro 2004) FUT #2 ~ 2000 grafts frontal third (Ziering 2011) FUT #3 ~ 1900 grafts midscalp (Ron Shapiro early 2015) FUE ~ 1500 grafts frontal third, side scalp, FUT scar repair --300 beard, 1200 scalp (Ron Shapiro, late 2016) http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/185663-recent-fue-dr-ron-shapiro-prior-fut-patient.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member MM1 Posted May 2, 2017 Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2017 I almost started a new thread asking this same question, but since this one already exists, please let me now how things are going for you after taking this drug for several months. I was also offered oral minox, but I decided to wait until my 2nd HT hit the 12 month mark to see if it would be necessary or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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