~ What is minoxidil
Minoxidil is a solution that is to be used only on your scalp. The solution contains the active ingredient minoxidil in a mixture of alcohol, propylene glycol and water.

~ What minoxidil is used for & how it works
Minoxidil is used as a long-term treatment for common baldness. Minoxidil is not a cure for baldness, but in some men and women it can improve hair regrowth. However, exactly how minoxidil works is not known.

~ How effective is minoxidil in regrowing hair?
It is important for you to understand that minoxidil does not work well in all people, and how well it works depends on a number of things. Your pharmacist or doctor can best decide whether you are likely to respond to treatment with minoxidil. You should discuss what results you might expect from treatment with minoxidil with your pharmacist or doctor.

If you respond to treatment with minoxidil, your initial regrowth may at first be soft, downy hair ("vellus"), and may hardly be visible. After further treatment it is likely that your hair regrowth will change and become the same colour and thickness as the rest of your hair.

Patients using minoxidil have reported that the loss of hair is slowed during treatment.

Treatment with minoxidil is a long-term therapy for hair regrowth. If you respond to treatment, you will need to continue its use in order to keep the new hair and also to stop additional hair loss. If you stop using minoxidil you will probably lose the hair that has already grown back. This hair loss will occur about three to four months after stopping treatment. The balding process will also start again.

Do not use minoxidil if:

• You do not have a family history of hair loss.
• Your hair loss is sudden and/or unexplained.
• Your scalp is red, inflamed, irritated, infected or painful.
• You have had an allergic reaction to minoxidil or any of its ingredients.
• You are under 18 or over 65 years of age.
• The expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
• You are a woman who is pregnant or breast-feeding.

~ What should I tell my pharmacist or doctor before using minoxidil?

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about medical problems you have now or have had in the past. In particular, tell your pharmacist or doctor if:

• you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you have bought without a prescription from a pharmacy or a supermarket or if you have any heart problems.

Some medicines may affect the way others work. Your pharmacist or doctor will be able to tell you what to do when using minoxidil with other medicines.

~ Can minoxidil be used by children or people over 65 years of age?

As there is no experience with the use of minoxidil in children or people over 65 years of age, it should not be used by them.

~ Can I use minoxidil while I am taking other medicines?

Theoretically, some people taking certain drugs to treat high blood pressure could experience a fall in blood pressure on standing. If you have any concerns please speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Your treatment with minoxidil may not be as effective, if you take diethylcarbamazine or paracetamol regularly.