Afraid of minoxidil side effects on the heart...

[Megadeth]

After learning about the possibility that minoxidil can enlarge the left ventricle and cause the heart to beat faster, I am reconsidering the use of it. I recently bought some 15% minoxidil that has 5% azelaic acid, and I have been enjoying it. My scalp is not getting oily, and feels healthier overall. I think it may be the azelaic acid. But anyway, I notice that shortly after administering the minoxidil, my heart feels like it's racing. This lasts for about 20-30 minutes after application. I do not want to risk damaging my heart.

I don't recall having this feeling with the foam. Should I drop back down to 5%? Or should I just play it safe and stop using minoxidil? My hair loss isn't really that severe... I have slightly receding temples, and thinning towards the back. Overall, I still have a full'ish head of hair. If I stay on finasteride, or start using another anti-androgen, I would be happy just to keep the hair I have.

I wish there was a safe, cost effective way of dealing with this. I don't want to wreck my health.

 

[Primo]

One thing that you should remember is that once anyone exceeds the 1ml of 5% minoxidil dose/12hrs dose they are leaving themselves open to all the side effects.

Obviously when you take minoxidil 15% this means you are risking side effects every time you apply it.

Some people who tolerate minoxidil fine can deal with 15% no problem, but those who can't should stick rigidly to the 5% dose as it clearly the optimum amount of minoxidil where you get maximum results and minimum sides.

I also used to get heart sides when I kept accidently ODing with 5%, but now I'm a lot stricter on the does and I have no problem.

My advice would be to go back to 5% Foam and use strictly half a cap of foam every 12 hours, if you stick to that your sides should go away.

 

[Megadeth]

But is there still damage occurring to the heart, even if the side effects are not present?