Is Rogaine in ANY way dangerous for your heart/system?

[Nickie]

I use Rogaine, but every time I do, especially if I overdose on it, meaning take more than the recommended dosage, I notice side effects such as slight spacy feeling, headache and slight tingling or burning sensation in the foot or arm or chest.

Is this stuff in ANY way bad for your heart or whole body system?

I heard it's supposed to tinker with your blood pressure by lowering it. Doesn't this therefore indicate a GOOD thing, especially if you have high BP?

I'd think it would be GOOD for your system lol.

 

[Matgallis]

It can be. Cut back on how much you're apply, and please see a doctor.

 

[Bryan]

There was a medical journal study a few years ago that found that the normal use of 2% Rogaine (the testing period was six months, if I recall correctly) caused a small but statistically significant increase in LV mass in the heart. That's a change which is definitely NOT desirable. The only question left unanswered in that study was whether or not the increase in LV mass continues to increase over long periods of use of Rogaine, like in YEARS. My guess is that it probably doesn't; otherwise, we would have all heard about it by now.

 

[Anus]

2 months ago I ran out of rogaine for a week. The results were very noticable at the gym. The resistance I had to use on the training bike to achieve the same heart rate increased by 40-45% in about 7 days. I've repeated the experiment a few times since then and the results are the same. Everytime I start minoxidil, my aerobic performance will worsen significantly and improves again when I quit. I also recalled reading the same study Brian mentioned which worried me at the time. So I have quit rogaine.

 

[hairsucks]

That's a bit scary

 

[RaginDemon]

2 months ago I ran out of rogaine for a week. The results were very noticable at the gym. The resistance I had to use on the training bike to achieve the same heart rate increased by 40-45% in about 7 days. I've repeated the experiment a few times since then and the results are the same. Everytime I start minoxidil, my aerobic performance will worsen significantly and improves again when I quit. I also recalled reading the same study Brian mentioned which worried me at the time. So I have quit rogaine.

are you saying that minoxidil actaully reduce your heart rate while your training?

 

[closertoheaven]

It seems like the makers of the drug believe that LV mass does increase.

http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/lexicomp/minoxidil.html

However, what the heck is LV mass? Obviously it increases the mass and volume of the left ventricle. But what effect does that have? Is anyone on this forum able to give an educated answer to that one?

 

[closertoheaven]

This article kind of explains "left ventricular mass index."

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Health/20 ... ailure.htm

It is about how obese patients have a high LVMI, which leads to heart failure. Does Rogaine cause a similar risk of heart failure. I suppose it depends on how much the LVMI is affected by Rogaine.

Does anyone know where the original study can be found?

 

[closertoheaven]

Ok, sorry for the multiple posts, but someone who is used to reading this nonsense needs to help me out with this one.

http://www.nature.com/jhh/journal/v11/n ... 0410a.html

http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/conte ... t/16/1/137

http://www.ionchannels.org/showabstract ... id=9175566


The one quote I find interesting is this: "In spite of yielding a satisfactory reduction of BP, minoxidil therapy, even in combination with a diuretic and a beta-blocker, may lead to an aggravation of pre-existing LVH; this effect of minoxidil could be prevented by the simultaneous administration of cilazapril."

 

[closertoheaven]

Hey guys! I don't post very often and I apologize for harping on this question but this is pretty important relatively speaking. Minoxidil might cause heart disease if it's not taken with a second medication. Really?

I know I'm not the most knowledgeable person on this board. Well perhaps I am but then we're all in trouble. But I am confused about the lack of response. Has this been discussed elsewhere?

 

[Anus]

are you saying that minoxidil actaully reduce your heart rate while your training?

No, the opposite.

 

[lazarus]

Are we talking about oral or topical minoxidil? I honestly still don't understand how people can systemically absorb so much minoxidil that they have severe sides. Are they pouring it into an open wound?

I would guess that if you aren't experiencing sides you would be less prone to this side effect as well?

 

[closertoheaven]

Thanks for the reply Lazarus.

It seems that both oral and topical minoxidil are suspect of causing heart problems.

"Minoxidil topically applied for male-pattern baldness can be transdermally absorbed. To this end, it has been observed over a several-month period of treatment with topical minoxidil that left ventricular end-diastolic volume, cardiac output, and left ventricular mass all can increase.[29] To this end, the manufacturer of topical minoxidil in their instructions to patients provides a specific warning to stop its use and consult a physician if a patient experiences chest pain, rapid heartbeat, swelling, or a significant weight gain.[30] These are self-evident manifestations of minoxidil effect that are easily identified by a patient. The more significant cardiac structural effects that have been described with topically administered minoxidil must be identified by physicians."

That is from this source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/478895_5

I have only recently begun using Dr. Lee's Minoxidil but am considering stopping because of this. First I need to learn a lot more about what exactly LV mass, cardiac output, etc really means. Too bad there are not any more doctors on this board!

Good luck to everyone.