Topical minoxidil reduces blood pressure

A study conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation found that topical minoxidil, a medication used to treat hair loss, can reduce blood pressure in some patients. The study involved 30 nonhypertensive patients who were treated with 3% minoxidil solution twice daily for 15 months. Seven of the patients experienced a significant decrease in blood pressure, with systolic blood pressure dropping as much as 60 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure dropping as much as 24 mm Hg. The study authors recommend that physicians monitor the blood pressure of patients treated with topical minoxidil. Another study conducted at the University of Michigan Medical School and Veterans Administration Medical Center found no change in blood pressure in 15 normotensive patients treated with 1% or 5% minoxidil solution for androgenic alopecia or alopecia areata.