General Information on Rogaine
Minoxidil Topical is the generic name for Rogaine, a topical solution used for growing hair. It also helps in reversing the progression of hair loss and is available for both men and women. You can buy Rogaine from a medical store or pharmacy with or without a prescription. The active ingredient minoxidil topical helps in reinvigorating any shrunken hair follicles and thus increases their thickness and size. It is available in the form of a topical solution and foam. Rogaine is being increasingly used for treating baldness, unexplained or sudden hair loss, and a receding hairline.
Side effects of Rogaine
The use of Rogaine can lead to several side effects, and these can vary from one person to another. Some of the mild side effects reported so far include various allergic reactions like difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, and tongue, itching, and hives. You might even experience other symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, fast heartbeat, lightheadedness, fainting, tiredness, weakness, unusual weight gain, burning or stinging sensation at the application site, redness of skin at the site of application, dryness of scalp, flaking of scalp, and headache.
Some of the other side effects of Rogaine that can be quite persistent include changes in the color of your hair, severe irritation of the scalp, unwanted hair growth in other parts of the body, and exacerbation of hair loss. Some of the serious side effects of Rogaine include pericardial effusion, edema, water retention in the body, tamponade, pericarditis, angina, tachycardia, generalized hypertrichosis (rare case), eczema, allergic rhinitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and decreased visual acuity.
Precautions
Whether you buy Rogaine foam or topical solution, it is important to check the expiry date on the label. Expired medications can cause severe side effects. An important and necessary precaution is to ensure that Rogaine is applied only to your scalp and not to any other part of the body as it can result in unwanted hair growth or allergic reactions. You need to also ensure that you refrain from using any other hair growth topical solution or cream simultaneously with Rogaine. It is not known if any active or inactive ingredients of Rogaine can seep into breast milk, but most doctors advise against using this topical solution or cream if you are breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, inform the same to your doctor before starting the course.
Rogaine Dosage
Rogaine is available in the form of a foam and topical solution. The standard treatment is applying Rogaine 1 mL to the affected areas of your scalp. It has to be applied two times a day, once in the morning and once at night. The maximum dose should not exceed Rogaine 2 mL a day. The standard course period is 4 months.
Interactions
Rogaine can interact with specific drugs or other topical solutions like sodium thiosulfate, isosorbide dinitrate, isoxsuprine, alfuzosin, nitroglycerin, unipres, verteporfin, tamsulosin, sapropterin, rondameth, regroton, rauwolfia serpentina, prazosin, papaverine, NitroMist, nesiritide, trichlormethiazide, and loniten among others.
