Minoxidil Therapy Side Effects

Established Side Effects of Oral Minoxidil

• Hypertrichosis (unwanted body hair growth) is the most common cosmetic side effect of oral minoxidil, occurring in 15-17% of patients at low doses (≤2.5 mg daily) used for hair loss 1
• The American College of Cardiology is not directly mentioned, however, cardiovascular effects including reflex tachycardia, fluid retention, hypotension, and lightheadedness are the primary systemic concerns, particularly at antihypertensive doses (5-100 mg daily) 1

Recognized Causes of Gynecomastia

• Gynecomastia results from an imbalance between estrogen and androgen action, typically due to increased estrogen production, decreased androgen production, or both, and can occur as a side effect of many medications and recreational drugs, in the setting of chronic liver disease, hormonal changes, and with aging 2, 3, 4