Minoxidil and the Treatment of Severe Hypertension

October 1980 in “ The New England Journal of Medicine ”

William A. Pettinger

Studysummary Minoxidil lowers blood pressure effectively but may cause unwanted hair growth and other side effects.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The article discusses the use of minoxidil for the treatment of severe hypertension. Minoxidil is effective in lowering blood pressure, but can cause unwanted side effects such as increased hair growth, particularly in women. Some patients have found the excess hair growth so objectionable that they have discontinued use of minoxidil. Unfortunately, this problem is so great that two patients died of hypertensive renal complications within four months of discontinuing minoxidil, which had previously controlled their severe hypertension very well. There have also been several case reports of pulmonary hypertension in minoxidil-treated patients. Renal disease can progress in some minoxidil-treated patients whose blood pressure is controlled and kept at 100 mm Hg or less. Further investigations are necessary to establish the role of the drug in patients with less severe hypertension.

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Research cited in this study

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research Minoxidil: Hemodynamic and Clinical Experiences with a New Peripheral Vasodilator

14 citations , April 2009 in “Acta Medica Scandinavica”

In this study, oral minoxidil combined with other medications improved blood pressure control in patients with severe hypertension but often had to be discontinued due to side effects.

research Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics of Minoxidil

57 citations , January 1980 in “Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology”

Minoxidil treats high blood pressure and side effects can be managed.

research Pericardial Disorders During Open-Label Study of 1,869 Severely Hypertensive Patients Treated with Minoxidil

49 citations , January 1980 in “Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology”

Minoxidil doesn't increase pericardial disorder risk, but may cause fluid accumulation.

research Pulmonary Hemodynamics in Systemic Hypertension

6 citations , October 1979 in “Chest”

This study found that minoxidil significantly reduces systemic blood pressure and vascular resistance in patients with hypertension, but does not alter pulmonary vascular resistance or exacerbate pulmonary hypertension.

research Rapid Blood Pressure Control With Minoxidil

19 citations , May 1979 in “Archives of internal medicine”

Minoxidil effectively lowers blood pressure and initially increases plasma renin activity without raising aldosterone levels.

research Acute Cardiomyopathy Induced by the Vasodilating Antihypertensive Agent Minoxidil

52 citations , March 1979 in “Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology”

Minoxidil can cause heart muscle damage in dogs.

$Long-Term Treatment of Refractory Hypertensive Patients With Minoxidil$

research Long-Term Treatment of Refractory Hypertensive Patients With Minoxidil

43 citations , May 1978 in “JAMA”

Minoxidil controls blood pressure but may cause kidney damage and needs diuretics to prevent swelling.

research Minoxidil Therapy in Children with Severe Hypertension

54 citations , May 1977 in “The Journal of Pediatrics”

Minoxidil helps lower high blood pressure in kids, but can cause fluid retention and hair growth.

research The Effects of Minoxidil on Pulmonary and Systemic Hemodynamics in Hypertensive Men

20 citations , February 1977 in “Circulation”

Minoxidil lowers blood pressure and increases heart efficiency, but may raise lung artery pressure in some people.

research Long-Term Treatment of Severe Hypertension with Minoxidil, Propranolol, and Furosemide

55 citations , October 1975 in “Circulation”

Minoxidil, propranolol, and furosemide effectively control severe hypertension, but may cause sodium retention.

research Minoxidil in Severe Hypertension: Value When Conventional Drugs Have Failed

50 citations , September 1975 in “American Heart Journal”

Minoxidil effectively controls blood pressure in severe cases, but may cause fluid retention and edema.

research A Method for Achieving Blood Pressure Control Expeditiously with Oral Minoxidil

18 citations , July 1975 in “Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics”

Oral minoxidil effectively controls blood pressure quickly and safely.

Control Plasma Renin Activity and Changes in Sympathetic Tone as Determinants of Minoxidil-Induced Increase in Plasma Renin Activity

research Control Plasma Renin Activity and Changes in Sympathetic Tone as Determinants of Minoxidil-Induced Increase in Plasma Renin Activity

57 citations , February 1975 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

This study found that minoxidil increased plasma renin activity in patients with hypertension through both an adrenergic mechanism related to heart rate changes and a secondary mechanism unrelated to propranolol.

research Differential Effects of Propranolol on Heart Rate and Plasma Renin Activity in Patients Treated with Minoxidil

25 citations , December 1974 in “Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics”

Propranolol affects heart rate and renin levels in minoxidil-treated patients.

$Minoxidil: An Alternative to Nephrectomy for Refractory Hypertension$

research Minoxidil: An Alternative to Nephrectomy for Refractory Hypertension

180 citations , July 1973 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

In this study, minoxidil effectively reduced blood pressure to near normal levels in patients with malignant or accelerated hypertension resistant to conventional treatments, offering a potential alternative to nephrectomy.

research Pharmacokinetic Studies of Minoxidil

90 citations , May 1972 in “Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics”

Minoxidil quickly leaves blood, turns into urine metabolites, and has lasting blood pressure-lowering effects.