Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia

February 2024 in “ Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy ”

Aditya K. Gupta, Mesbah Talukder, Avner Shemer

low-dose oral minoxidil androgenetic alopecia topical minoxidil finasteride vasodilation anti-inflammatory action Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway hypertrichosis hypotension edema premature ventricular contractions tachycardia LDOM AGA Rogaine Propecia

TLDR Low-dose oral minoxidil is effective and safe for treating hair loss in men and women.

The document reviews the efficacy and safety of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) in treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in both males and females. While only topical minoxidil and finasteride 1mg daily are FDA-approved, LDOM is increasingly being used off-label due to its favorable efficacy and safety profile demonstrated in several trials. Minoxidil may enhance hair growth through various mechanisms, including vasodilation, anti-inflammatory action, and induction of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. For male AGA, patients may start with 1.25 mg/day of minoxidil, potentially increasing to a maximum of 5 mg/day, while for female AGA, the maximum daily dose is 2.5 mg/day. Common side effects include hypertrichosis and systemic effects like lightheadedness, hypotension, edema, premature ventricular contractions, and tachycardia. The authors suggest that with increased usage, better dosage and monitoring guidelines will be established.

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52 / 52 results

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7 / 7 results

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