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Rogaine Side Effects


People often wonder if there are any Rogaine side effects. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine, and there are a few minoxidil side effects you should know about if you are considering using Rogaine.

Minoxidil was originally developed as an oral medication to treat high blood pressure. In fact, it is still used as such. It is only available this way with a prescription. However, it was also discovered to encourage the regrowth of hair in some patients with hair loss. It is now used as a topical treatment for that purpose. It was the first FDA approved medication to treat hair loss. The topical treatment is available without a prescription.

Because it is available without a prescription, people often assume Rogaine is safe to use and that it doesn’t have side effects. While serious side effects are rare, they can occur. It is good to be aware of the possibility of side effects and to know what to do should they occur.

Common Rogaine Side Effects

The most common Rogaine side effects include itching and dandruff of the scalp. Using a dandruff shampoo should resolve the problem. If the dandruff shampoo does not help or if your scalp becomes irritated, stop using Rogaine and see your doctor.

Rogaine is meant to be used twice a day, and using it more than directed may make the problem worse. You should know that using it more than twice a day will not improve the results, either; it just wastes your Rogaine.

Less Common Rogaine Side Effects

Less common but more serious Rogaine side effects include dizziness, faintness, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, sudden unexplained weight gain, and swollen extremities. If you experience these minoxidil side effects, you are absorbing too much Rogaine into your system. You should stop using Rogaine immediately and see your doctor.

Do not use Rogaine if you have broken skin, cuts, irritation, inflammation, or sunburn on your head. That will increase the likelihood of absorbing more Rogaine into your system and causing you to experience minoxidil side effects. Again, using Rogaine more often than directed, or using a larger amount than directed, will increase the likelihood that you will experience harmful side effects.

To help prevent side effects, use Rogaine on your scalp only. Rogaine has not been shown to be effective on any other area, such as the beard, chest, back, or eyebrows.

Minoxidil Side Effects and Women

Women seem to be more susceptible to minoxidil side effects. That’s one of the reasons Rogaine makes a separate formula for women; it contains a lesser strength than that of the men’s formula. Only 2% minoxidil is approved by the FDA for use in women, while 5% minoxidil is approved for use in men.

Women are more likely to experience a decrease in blood pressure (hypotension), which can cause lightheadedness and dizziness. They are also more likely than men to experience allergic skin reactions.

Women may also experience the growth of facial hair. This can happen even when Rogaine is not applied to the face. It happens when minoxidil is absorbed into the system. It usually goes away when the use of minoxidil is discontinued, but can be disturbing when it occurs.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not use Rogaine. Nursing mothers should not use Rogaine, either.

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