Minoxidil and Pericardial Effusion: An Idiosyncratic Reaction

    July 1981 in “ Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics ”
    Michael J. Reichgott
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    TLDR Minoxidil can cause dangerous fluid buildup around the heart.
    Minoxidil, a drug used to treat hypertension and hair loss, has been associated with pericardial effusion, a buildup of fluid around the heart. A study found that 10 out of 37 patients treated with minoxidil developed pericardial disease, with one having transient pericarditis and nine having pericardial effusion. The reaction is idiosyncratic and potentially fatal, and no specific patient characteristics predict the likelihood of effusion. The authors suggest limiting the use of minoxidil due to this risk.
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      community Warning: Minoxidil usage around pets

      in Minoxidil  454 upvotes 3 months ago
      Minoxidil is highly toxic to pets, especially cats and dogs, even in small amounts. Many users have switched to oral minoxidil to prevent accidental exposure to their pets.

      community Being Safe on Oral Minoxidil: tl;dr on the literature.

      in Research/Science  48 upvotes 3 months ago
      Oral minoxidil is effective for hair loss but can cause cardiovascular side effects, such as pericardial effusion, especially in those with genetic predispositions. Starting with low doses and monitoring cardiovascular health are advised to reduce risks.

      community Oral Min is much better than topical

      in Minoxidil  182 upvotes 1 month ago
      Oral minoxidil is seen as more effective and convenient than topical minoxidil for hair regrowth, but it may cause heart-related risks. Users often combine it with finasteride or dutasteride, though some prefer topical treatments due to safety concerns.

      community Will my liver get destroyed long term on this stack ??

      in Chat  15 upvotes 1 year ago
      A user is considering a long-term hair loss treatment stack including Dutasteride, Finasteride, and oral Minoxidil, and is concerned about potential liver damage. Some responses suggest the stack is excessive, while others believe it's not harmful to the liver, but recommend regular blood work to monitor health.

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