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Is Unwanted Hair a Minoxidil Side Effect?

Minoxidil was originally approved as an oral tablet to treat high blood pressure. In 1988, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved minoxidil as a topical solution for the regrowth of hair for people with male pattern baldness. Growth of unwanted hair is a possible side effect of oral tablets.

  1. Strengths Available

    • Topical solutions range from two to 15 percent. For the treatment of high blood pressure your doctor may start you out with a dosage of 5 mg per day and increase it to up to 100 mg per day.

    Side Effects for Topical Minoxidil

    • Side effects for topical minoxidil are rare but may include dizziness, headaches, chest pain or swelling of the ankles. Rapid heart rate and a drop in blood pressure may also occur. Side effects have been reported in less than 0.1 percent of topical minoxidil users.

    Unwanted Hair Growth from Oral Minoxidil

    • After approximately three to six weeks of treatment, 80 percent of patients noticed an increase in body hair. Hair may become thicker on the temples, cheeks and between your eyebrows. With continued use of oral minoxidil, an increase of hair on your legs, arms and back may also occur.

    Permanency

    • If you experience unwanted hair growth from oral minoxidil, you can control it with shaving or other hair removal procedures. The unwanted hair will go away one to six months after you stop taking minoxidil, but you should not stop your medication without consulting with your doctor.

    Other Oral Minoxidil Side Effects

    • Side effects for oral minoxidil may also include nausea, vomiting and weight gain. Severe side effects may include swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, fainting and increased heart rate.

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