minoxidil 5% 3x is equal to Xandrox 15% 1x?

[Bryan]

Explain where I am incorrect douchebag?

I already showed you where you are incorrect. See my post just above.

You people are the RETARDS.

Here, are the ingredients for Dr. Lee's standard Minoxidil 5%: 5% minoxidil (50mg minoxidil / mL) in a liquid base of 50% ethyl alcohol, 30% propylene glycol, and 20% water.

Thus, post-evaporation of the .5 mL ethyl alcohol and .2 mL of water, you would have 50 mg of minoixidil suspended in a .3 mL saturated solution of propylene glycol.

Some of it will be dissolved in the remaining propylene glycol (somewhere between 7.5% and 10%, because PPG can't dissolve the full amount to a total of 14%), and the rest of it will fall out of solution. "Suspended", in other words.

Bryan is the one that made the idiotic claim that 2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% becomes Minoxidil 5% on the scalp! LMAO.

I never made any such claim, and you know it. We've exposed your ignorance in all this, so you're just making up sh*t.

 

[LostAnagenCycle]

Sure, after the alcohol evaporates, the minoxidil concentration increases in comparison to the REMAINING propylene glycol solution vehicle left behind on the scalp, BUT you non-science folks are just plain mistaken if you think this somehow makes 2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% turn into Minoxidil 5% on the scalp.

I have told you UMPTEEN different times that 2.5 mL of 2% Rogaine doesn't turn into 5% Rogaine on the scalp. Once the alcohol and water evaporate, 2% Rogaine and 5% Rogaine turn into the same thing: a saturated solution of minoxidil in propylene glycol.

Anyone can see the following with regards to Minoxidil 5%: It is composed of (50mg minoxidil / mL) in a liquid base of 50% ethyl alcohol, 30% propylene glycol, and 20% water.

WRONG. You've got your numbers mixed-up. The vehicle in 5% Rogaine consists of 50% propylene glycol, 30% ethyl alcohol, and the rest water.

When the ethyl alcohol and water evaporate, the remaining .30 mL of saturated solution of propylene glycol still contains the 50mg of minoxidil. This DOES NOT mean all of a sudden you are really using 16.666% minoxidil or 7.5% or 10%.

This is fuzzy math! Do the math yourselves and use logic!

Doing the math with the corrected numbers, you will have 50 mg of minoxidil dissolved in 0.5 mL of propylene glycol (at least, it'll be MOSTLY dissolved). The total mass of the solution will be 0.5 gram (lets assume for simplicity of calculation that 1 mL of propylene glycol weighs exactly 1 gram) + 50 mg of minoxidil, so the final concentration of minoxidil as it sits on your scalp will be 0.05 / 0.55 = 9% or so.

If the Merck Index is accurate when they say that the maximum concentration of minoxidil in propylene glycol is only about 7.5%, then obviously it won't make it all the way to 9%. If the Upjohn scientists are correct when they say that the maximum concentration is about 10%, then it _will_ make it to 9%.

When the evaporation occurs on the scalp, you are still left with 50mg of minoxidil in a saturated solution of propylene glycol. You can increase the dosage exponentially, but all you are really increasing is the saturated solution of propylene glycol, which STILL has a suspended quantity of MINOXIDIL 5% to be diffused throughout the purcutaneous layers.

You seem very very confused. Please review the arithmetic I did for you above. If you have 50 mg dissolved in half a gram of propylene glycol, then you have about a 9% solution (unless the solubility is limited to 7.5%). Do you have a calculator? DO THE NUMBERS.

Ask any pharmacologist. I challenge any pharmacologist to come on here and risk his or her reputation by stating that 2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% (twice the recommended dosage) becomes Minoxidil 5%, 7.5%, or 10% based on the science proposed in this thread! Good luck finding any takers!

LOL!! My friend, you are one of the most confused people I've ever talked to on this site.

Bryan,

My numbers are CORRECT, and I would appreciate it if you would acknowledge as much in your next post!

We were both using different numbers for the Minoxidil 5%!

Straight from Dr. Lee's website (http://www.minoxidil.com):

Here, are the ingredients for Dr. Lee's standard Minoxidil 5%: 5% minoxidil (50mg minoxidil / mL) in a liquid base of 50% ethyl alcohol, 30% propylene glycol, and 20% water.

Thus, post-evaporation of the .5 mL ethyl alcohol and .2 mL of water, you would have 50 mg of minoixidil suspended in a .3 mL saturated solution of propylene glycol (16.666%).

For Minoxidil 2%, I believe I used the ingredients in Rogaine 2% for women and reached a reconstituted concentration of 10% minoxidil in the propylene glycol solution vehicle.

My math is CORRECT and my understanding of medicine is CORRECT.

Sure, both 2% and 5% (according to the UpJohn ingredients NOT mine) turn into a reconstituted concentrate of minoxidil trapped in a propylene glycol solution vehicle.

2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% DOES produce an equal percent solution in the remaining propylene glycol solution vehicle as 1 mL of Minoxidil 5%!

BUT, it is still technically INCORRECT to state that 2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% is equal to 1 mL of Minoxidil 5%. This DOES NOT account for the fact that not all of the 2.5 mL of the saturated solution will likely be absorbed by diffusion into the purcutaneous layers. Moreover, additional quantities of ethyl alcohol and water will effect the evaporation rates and results!

REMEMBER YOUR ORIGINAL CLAIM:

Do you acknowledge and accept that what I alluded to much earlier in this thread IS correct (applying 2 1/2 mL of 2% Rogaine is the same as applying 1 mL of 5% Rogaine, because they both turn into the same thing on the scalp)?

LAC, a.k.a. The Genius

 

[LostAnagenCycle]

Explain where I am incorrect douchebag?

I already showed you where you are incorrect. See my post just above.

You people are the RETARDS.

Here, are the ingredients for Dr. Lee's standard Minoxidil 5%: 5% minoxidil (50mg minoxidil / mL) in a liquid base of 50% ethyl alcohol, 30% propylene glycol, and 20% water.

Thus, post-evaporation of the .5 mL ethyl alcohol and .2 mL of water, you would have 50 mg of minoixidil suspended in a .3 mL saturated solution of propylene glycol.

Some of it will be dissolved in the remaining propylene glycol (somewhere between 7.5% and 10%, because PPG can't dissolve the full amount to a total of 14%), and the rest of it will fall out of solution. "Suspended", in other words.

Bryan is the one that made the idiotic claim that 2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% becomes Minoxidil 5% on the scalp! LMAO.

I never made any such claim, and you know it. We've exposed your ignorance in all this, so you're just making up sh*t.

:dunno:

The only factual and/or scientific error in my method was the mere failure to point out that I was basing my positions on the use of Dr. Lee's standard Minoxidil #500 NOT UpJohn's formula.

I have made no other errors!

Check the numbers!

SEE THE POST DIRECTLY ABOVE!

:bravo:

 

[Bryan]

Bryan,

My numbers are CORRECT, and I would appreciate it if you would acknowledge as much in your next post!

We were both using different numbers for the Minoxidil 5%!

Straight from Dr. Lee's website (http://www.minoxidil.com):

Here, are the ingredients for Dr. Lee's standard Minoxidil 5%: 5% minoxidil (50mg minoxidil / mL) in a liquid base of 50% ethyl alcohol, 30% propylene glycol, and 20% water.

Yes, those are the correct numbers FOR DR. LEE'S PRODUCT. They are NOT the correct numbers for ROGAINE. Notice that I've been very careful to specify "Rogaine" in my last several posts, to avoid confusion. I suggest you do the same thing.

Thus, post-evaporation of the .5 mL ethyl alcohol and .2 mL of water, you would have 50 mg of minoixidil suspended in a .3 mL saturated solution of propylene glycol (16.666%).

You need to learn to be very careful when quoting numbers like "16.666%" above. Specifically, you need to understand that about half of that minoxidil will be dissolved in the PPG, and the other half suspended (dropped out of solution). It's incorrect and misleading for you to refer to the whole mass as "16.666%".

For Minoxidil 2%, I believe I used the ingredients in Rogaine 2% for women and reached a reconstituted concentration of 10% minoxidil in the propylene glycol solution vehicle.

Well, you're pretty much correct on that one. As the old saying goes, even a stopped clock is correct twice a day!

My math is CORRECT and my understanding of medicine is CORRECT.

You're hilariously WRONG on both the numbers, and your knowledge of elementary chemistry (how things dissolve).

Sure, both 2% and 5% (according to the UpJohn ingredients NOT mine) turn into a reconstituted concentrate of minoxidil trapped in a propylene glycol solution vehicle.

2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% DOES produce an equal percent solution in the remaining propylene glycol solution vehicle as 1 mL of Minoxidil 5%!

No it doesn't, and I've explained to you why not several times already. Think it through again, one step at a time. Come on, you can do it! I have faith that you can eventually figure this out, it's not rocket science!

BUT, it is still technically INCORRECT to state that 2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% is equal to 1 mL of Minoxidil 5%.

I said that it's equal in EFFECTIVENESS. I've never said that it BECOMES 5% minoxidil. What it actually "becomes" is a saturated solution of minoxidil in PPG.

This DOES NOT account for the fact that not all of the 2.5 mL of the saturated solution will likely be absorbed by diffusion into the purcutaneous layers. Moreover, additional quantities of ethyl alcohol and water will effect the evaporation rates and results!

There isn't any "2.5 mL" of a saturated solution. There's only 0.5 mL of a saturated solution. Read through my post again, until you can understand the numbers and the arithmetic.

REMEMBER YOUR ORIGINAL CLAIM:

Do you acknowledge and accept that what I alluded to much earlier in this thread IS correct (applying 2 1/2 mL of 2% Rogaine is the same as applying 1 mL of 5% Rogaine, because they both turn into the same thing on the scalp)?

Yes, and I want YOU to remember that original claim! Re-read it until you can understand it!

 

[Bryan]

The only factual and/or scientific error in my method was the mere failure to point out that I was basing my positions on the use of Dr. Lee's standard Minoxidil #500 NOT UpJohn's formula.

From now on, let's stick to ROGAINE, to avoid further confusion. You're already confused enough as it is, and you don't need even MORE confusion.

Here are the vehicle formulas for both versions of Rogaine:

2% Rogaine -- 60% ethanol, 20% propylene glycol, the rest is water.
5% Rogaine -- 30% ethanol, 50% propylene glycol, the rest is water.

I have made no other errors!

LOL!! Yeah, right.

 

[LostAnagenCycle]

Obviously based on my SECOND TO LAST POST above , I know the appropriate percentages and what dissolves to amount to what with regards to Rogaine 2% and Rogaine 5%.

You cleverly left out my references to the correct computations for Rogaine 2% and Rogaine 5% in order to demonize and alienate me!

WHAT A LOW BALL/BELOW THE BELT MOVE!


ATTENTION BELOW: THE FOLLOWING QUOTED LANGUAGE IS IN FACT THE OUTRAGEOUSLY FALSE CLAIM MADE AND BEING PERPETUATED BY BRYAN:

Do you acknowledge and accept that what I alluded to much earlier in this thread IS correct (applying 2 1/2 mL of 2% Rogaine is the same as applying 1 mL of 5% Rogaine, because they both turn into the same thing on the scalp)?

CLEARLY, you are throwing out insults because you have lost the battle, BUT MAYBE I might as well stoop to that level too for other users' enjoyment!

THE ABOVE QUOTED CLAIM MADE BY YOU IS WRONG!!!!!!!!!

There, will be several pharmacologists on here soon and/or their responses posted about how IGNORANT your above quoted CLAIM is under proper science.

:woot:

Also re-read the following exchange and try again (READ CAREFULLY):

Sure, both 2% and 5% (according to the UpJohn ingredients NOT mine) turn into a reconstituted concentrate of minoxidil trapped in a propylene glycol solution vehicle.

2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% DOES produce an equal percent solution in the remaining propylene glycol solution vehicle as 1 mL of Minoxidil 5%!

No it doesn't, and I've explained to you why not several times already. Think it through again, one step at a time. Come on, you can do it! I have faith that you can eventually figure this out, it's not rocket science!

You have done the following all over this thread to confuse the issue and hide your outrageous, bogus claim (cited above in quoted language): uke:

 

[Bryan]

I think we can bring this discussion to a merciful end. You're just ranting now, and not making any sense at all.

 

[asf]

I think we can bring this discussion to a merciful end. You're just ranting now, and not making any sense at all.

good . now i can ask my question . ive been reading this article :
http://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/hair-loss-p ... rption.pdf
and i thought to make an expriment of my own like sunray73 did .
i want to buy the kirkland 5% and add alcohol so it will reach 90% like in the study and use 2.5 mL per application since it will be dilluted to 2% minoxidil now .

what do you think ? can it work better ?

 

[LostAnagenCycle]

I think we can bring this discussion to a merciful end. You're just ranting now, and not making any sense at all.

I agree this thread has become ridiculously hijacked over nothing.

We are essentially arguing over semantics and confusion caused by using two (2) different formulas for our calculations, which is apparent to anyone that takes the time to critically analyze the debate.

Unfortunately, you had to resort to insulting my intelligence, but that is fine because I do not get my self-worth from anonymous message boards anyway...lol. Besides, we are all here to help each other in the good fight!

Carry on!

:bravo:

asf: Did that study give the results of the non-occluded penetration rates for 90% ethyl alcohol? Are you planning to occlude the areas of application?

 

[Old Baldy]

LMAO.

That solves nothing my friend!

Applying 2.5 times the required dosage of Minoxidil 2% DOES NOT turn it into Minoxidil 5% when you applied to your scalp.

I didn't say that it does. I said that they both turn into the same thing (saturated solutions of minoxidil in propylene glycol).

2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% leaves behind 2.5 times the recommended dosage of a saturated propylene glycol solution with a 2% concentrate of minoxidil.

WRONG. A saturated solution of propylene glycol contains around 7.5% to 10% minoxidil. Re-read my post CAREFULLY.

Applying 2.5 times the necessary dosage of Minoxidil 2% DOES NOT increase or transform the concentration of minoxidil in the saturated propylene glycol solution to become a Minoxidil 5% concentrate in the scalp.

Did you even bother to READ my post? Read it again, CAREFULLY this time.

The entire above cited response is useless, BUT I must point out the gross inaccuracy and misunderstanding in this gem:

2.5 mL of Minoxidil 2% leaves behind 2.5 times the recommended dosage of a saturated propylene glycol solution with a 2% concentrate of minoxidil.

WRONG. A saturated solution of propylene glycol contains around 7.5% to 10%minoxidil. Re-read my post CAREFULLY.

This right here takes the cake.

Now, you want reasonable people to believe that the 2% and 5% concentrates or solutions of minoxidil become 7.5% to 10% when saturated in a solution of propylene glycol.

Propylene glycol intensifies or strengthens concentrates now?

I am through with this argument.

Does someone know a Pharm.D or Pharmacologist that can resolve this mess?

Yes, Bryan is correct because the PPG was at 20 percent in the original concoction (i.e., using the 2 percent recipe). If the water and alcohol evaporates, the remaining minoxidil remains in the PPG, thus a higher concentration of minoxidil is leftover in the PPG.

My only complaint with Bryan when he makes this point is that, IMHO, cosmetically it is a pain in the butt to use that much 5 percent minoxidil.

But I don't see why it wouldn't work fairly similarly as 15 percent minoxidil in 1ml solution. Just too darn MESSY!!

Plus, maybe you'd have to leave it on your scalp a little longer?

Sorry if this was explained after LAC made that post a few pages ago, I didn't read the ensuing posts. This area of Bryan's conclusion seems to confuse us the first time we read his "theory".

 

[Old Baldy]

I think we can bring this discussion to a merciful end. You're just ranting now, and not making any sense at all.

good . now i can ask my question . ive been reading this article :
http://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/hair-loss-p ... rption.pdf
and i thought to make an expriment of my own like sunray73 did .
i want to buy the kirkland 5% and add alcohol so it will reach 90% like in the study and use 2.5 mL per application since it will be dilluted to 2% minoxidil now .

what do you think ? can it work better ?

FWIW, I don't see any problem with that. Plus, two percent minoxidil is about 78 pecent as effective as 5 percent over the long term IIRC. Give it a try.

Good luck!

 

[asf]

I'm not sure what you mean LAC . theres a table with the amount of minoxidil penetrated on the article .
the reason i want to try it is because i used both foam and liquid and the results were minor . couple of month ago i tried to use just foam and i think it got worse . so im going back to liquid . i know not everyone respond to minoxidil but i figure i'll should try using it with the higher alcohol component . it could be the reason why i hardly had any results before .

 

[Bryan]

now i can ask my question . ive been reading this article :
http://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/hair-loss-p ... rption.pdf
and i thought to make an expriment of my own like sunray73 did .
i want to buy the kirkland 5% and add alcohol so it will reach 90% like in the study and use 2.5 mL per application since it will be dilluted to 2% minoxidil now .

Where'd you get the idea that if you added enough alcohol to a bottle of Kirklands (or Rogaine) to get the alcohol content up to 90%, that would only dilute the minoxidil concentration to 2%?? According to my calculations (I'm literally doing the numbers on the back of a napkin here, so I hope I haven't made any mistakes), that would drop the minoxidil content to only about 0.7% or so.

It would take about 360 mL of added alcohol to get the alcohol percentage to 90%: 360 + 18 / 60 + 360 = 0.9 = 90%. But doing that would drop the minoxidil concentration to 3 / 60 + 360 = 0.00714 = 0.714%.

what do you think ? can it work better ?

You'd have to use about 7 mL of such a solution to get the same amount of minoxidil as what's in 1 mL of 5% Rogaine, but who knows?? Maybe it would work a bit better. Are you going to try it?

 

[Bryan]

We are essentially arguing over semantics and confusion caused by using two (2) different formulas for our calculations, which is apparent to anyone that takes the time to critically analyze the debate.

This debate didn't have one WHIT, not one IOTA, to do with semantics, or confusion over different formulas. It had to do primarily with your lack of knowledge about how substances dissolve into other substances, and (secondarily) how to compute the percentages of such solutions.

I still have the basic feeling that if I could sit down with you over a couple of beers, I could explain it to you so that you could finally understand some basic chemistry, and how the numbers work when making those simple calculations. But I've found through bitter experience that trying to explain this stuff to you over the Internet is a waste of time.

 

[Bryan]

Yes, Bryan is correct because the PPG was at 20 percent in the original concoction (i.e., using the 2 percent recipe). If the water and alcohol evaporates, the remaining minoxidil remains in the PPG, thus a higher concentration of minoxidil is leftover in the PPG.

Exactly. But why LAC doesn't understand such a simple concept, I have no idea.

My only complaint with Bryan when he makes this point is that, IMHO, cosmetically it is a pain in the butt to use that much 5 percent minoxidil.

Old Baldy, I'm not sure what you're talking about. What exactly do you mean? I've taken care to explain that my theory about the equivalence of 1 mL of 5% Rogaine and 2.5 mL of 2% Rogaine ONLY has to do with those versions of Rogaine, it doesn't make any assumptions at all about Dr. Lee's 15% minoxidil products. That's because propylene glycol only dissolves minoxidil to a maximum of about 7.5% to 10% (depending on whom you believe). Dr. Lee's uber-high minoxidil concentrations can't be duplicated just by letting alcohol and water evaporate!

 

[LostAnagenCycle]

We are essentially arguing over semantics and confusion caused by using two (2) different formulas for our calculations, which is apparent to anyone that takes the time to critically analyze the debate.

This debate didn't have one WHIT, not one IOTA, to do with semantics, or confusion over different formulas. It had to do primarily with your lack of knowledge about how substances dissolve into other substances, and (secondarily) how to compute the percentages of such solutions.

I still have the basic feeling that if I could sit down with you over a couple of beers, I could explain it to you so that you could finally understand some basic chemistry, and how the numbers work when making those simple calculations. But I've found through bitter experience that trying to explain this stuff to you over the Internet is a waste of time.

2.5 mL of Rogaine 2% becomes a propylene glycol vehicle solution post-evaporation of approximately .5 mL of propylene glycol and 50 mg of minoxidil, which approximates to a 10% reconstituted minoxidil solution suspended in the propylene glycol vehicle.

1 mL of Rogaine 5% becomes a propylene glycol vehicle solution post-evaporation of approximately .5 mL of propylene glycol and 50 mg of minoxidil, which approximates to a 10% reconstituted minoxidil solution suspended in the propylene glycol vehicle.

This assumes that all of the water in the initial solutions of Rogaine 2% and Rogaine 5% dissolves or evaporates, which may or may not fully happen (whichs accounts for the actual range of 7.5% to 10% according to most studies).

Is this not correct?

 

[Bryan]

2.5 mL of Rogaine 2% becomes a propylene glycol vehicle solution post-evaporation of approximately .5 mL of propylene glycol and 50 mg of minoxidil, which approximates to a 10% reconstituted minoxidil solution suspended in the propylene glycol vehicle.

1 mL of Rogaine 5% becomes a propylene glycol vehicle solution post-evaporation of approximately .5 mL of propylene glycol and 50 mg of minoxidil, which approximates to a 10% reconstituted minoxidil solution suspended in the propylene glycol vehicle.

I object to your use of the word "suspended" in both of those sentences, which is strange and misleading. There is no minoxidil solution "suspended" in the propylene glycol, the minoxidil is DISSOLVED in the propylene glycol. In other words, it's a solution of minoxidil IN the propylene glycol.

This assumes that all of the water in the initial solutions of Rogaine 2% and Rogaine 5% dissolves or evaporates, which may or may not fully happen (whichs accounts for the actual range of 7.5% to 10% according to most studies).

As the Upjohn scientists themselves said, alcohol and water are far more volatile than propylene glycol, so there's no need to worry about that. They'll be gone after a little while.

BTW, there is no "range" of minoxidil solubility in propylene glycol in various studies. I've told you clearly and unambiguously that those two different numbers (7.5% and 10%) come from exactly TWO different sources: the 7.5% number is from the Merck Index, which is a chemical reference book, not a study; and as you saw for yourself in the quotation from the Upjohn study I posted, those authors had a slightly different number of about 10%, not 7.5%. I don't know which is the correct figure, or if the correct figure is somewhere BETWEEN 7.5 and 10. But in any event, it doesn't have anything to do with whether or not water evaporates from some topical minoxidil hair-growing product, it has to do with the chemical properties of propylene glycol and minoxidil!

 

[asf]

now i can ask my question . ive been reading this article :
http://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/hair-loss-p ... rption.pdf
and i thought to make an expriment of my own like sunray73 did .
i want to buy the kirkland 5% and add alcohol so it will reach 90% like in the study and use 2.5 mL per application since it will be dilluted to 2% minoxidil now .

Where'd you get the idea that if you added enough alcohol to a bottle of Kirklands (or Rogaine) to get the alcohol content up to 90%, that would only dilute the minoxidil concentration to 2%?? According to my calculations (I'm literally doing the numbers on the back of a napkin here, so I hope I haven't made any mistakes), that would drop the minoxidil content to only about 0.7% or so.

It would take about 360 mL of added alcohol to get the alcohol percentage to 90%: 360 + 18 / 60 + 360 = 0.9 = 90%. But doing that would drop the minoxidil concentration to 3 / 60 + 360 = 0.00714 = 0.714%.

what do you think ? can it work better ?

You'd have to use about 7 mL of such a solution to get the same amount of minoxidil as what's in 1 mL of 5% Rogaine, but who knows?? Maybe it would work a bit better. Are you going to try it?

Here is how i did it :
5% kirkland minoxidil :
ppg 50%=30 mL
alcohol 30%=18 mL
water 15%=9 mL
minoxidil 5%=3 mL

I pour out 36 mL which leaves me with 24 mL of solution . 5% of that 24 mL is minoxidil so i have 1.2 mL of minoxidil . now i add 36 mL of alcohol so i have a 60 mL bottle of new solution with 90% alcohol and 1.2 mL of minoxidil .
100*1.2/60=2% .
That's how i did it . is there a mistake in my calculation ?

 

[Bryan]

I pour out 36 mL which leaves me with 24 mL of solution . 5% of that 24 mL is minoxidil so i have 1.2 mL of minoxidil . now i add 36 mL of alcohol so i have a 60 mL bottle of new solution with 90% alcohol and 1.2 mL of minoxidil .
100*1.2/60=2% .
That's how i did it . is there a mistake in my calculation ?

I think so, yes. It looks like you're right about the 2% minoxidil, but wrong about the alcohol content.

If you start with 24 mL of the Kirkland solution, there's only 0.3 x 24 = 7.2 mL of alcohol in that. If you then add 36 mL of pure alcohol, you have a TOTAL alcohol content of 7.2 + 36 = 43.2 mL. Since the total volume of the solution is once again 60 mL, that means the alcohol content is only 43.2 / 60 = 0.72 = 72%, not 90%.

 

[Old Baldy]

Bryan wrote, in part: Old Baldy, I'm not sure what you're talking about. What exactly do you mean? I've taken care to explain that my theory about the equivalence of 1 mL of 5% Rogaine and 2.5 mL of 2% Rogaine ONLY has to do with those versions of Rogaine, it doesn't make any assumptions at all about Dr. Lee's 15% minoxidil products. That's because propylene glycol only dissolves minoxidil to a maximum of about 7.5% to 10% (depending on whom you believe). Dr. Lee's uber-high minoxidil concentrations can't be duplicated just by letting alcohol and water evaporate!

I see. I went too far with what I thought you were always implying. Nevermind! :blush:

Tidbit: IIRC, Dr. Lee uses an acid to make the minoxidil dissolve(?) at higher concentrations or remain suspended(?) in solution. Don't know which relative to dissolved or suspended in solution though.

IIRC, he uses phosphoric acid in very small amounts in his 12.5 percent concoction (or is it a 12 percent concoction?). And, as you know, he uses AA in his 15 percent concoction.

Do you recall ever reading that an acid substance would dissolve more minoxidil if used in the recipe? (Because you are correct, PPG will only dissolve about 7.5 or 10 percent minoxidil by itself.)

LAC: In the main, you've got it!! (You have to be very careful though when you state "things" to Bryan. You must be explicit, which is a good thing overall IMHO.)

For example, I always thought he felt you could mimic Dr. Lee's 15 percent concoction. You can't, but he was never saying that. I went too far with what I thought he was implying all these years. I needed to read his posts on this matter more closely. (My "cosmetic" statements over the years were a nice way of saying I thought Bryan might be wrong on his concentrations but he, like I said, was never saying that. I should have just asked him explicitly in the first place for pete's sake.)

However, maybe, you can have a concoction dissolve more minoxidil when you add an acid because, IIRC, I could swear Dr. Lee once said, years back, that acids (i.e., phosphoric acid in small amounts) can help the concoction dissolve/suspend more minoxidil?