Question about the 15% minoxidil / 5% azelaic acid formulas...

[Megadeth]

I've recently switched from Rogaine foam to MOPC lab's 15% minoxidil solution that contains 5% azelaic acid. I bought a 1 months supply just to try it out, but I'm starting to have some worries about it.

I read somewhere that people should only use stronger minoxidil strengths if the regular 5% solution does not yield results. I have not used Rogaine foam consistently enough to tell if it has worked or not. Should I just stay on foam for a while, or can I use this stronger stuff for a little longer?

This particular brand uses only 15% propylene glycol. There is another manufacturer with a 15% minoxidil/5% azelaic acid combo that uses no propylene glycol in their products, and warn that products that contain propylene glycol can damage the liver and kidneys. Are they just fearmongering in the hopes of selling more product, or do they have a point? I know that liquid minoxidil solutions have propylene glycol, but the foam doesn't.

Thanks

 

[Megadeth]

Wow, thanks for all the help.

These forums are worthless.

 

[John979]

Patience is a virtue, and a little of your own research helps.

Two years ago I would have said bunk to claims that 15% minoxidil was little more effective than 5% and presented more side effects.

Today, I think minoxidil should be removed from the market.

 

[John979]

To that last comment, I am in an active tapering of minoxidil from 15% to 10% to 5% to 2%...

I started my taper about a month ago and figured to do it over 9 months. Now, I have accelerated the taper to 4.5 months, when I will be minoxidil free.

I hope bitamoprost is as effective as I think it will be. Even if it is not, I would rather use ketoconazole and miconazole as growth stimulants than minoxidil.

 

[Mens Rea]

Patience is a virtue, and a little of your own research helps.

Two years ago I would have said bunk to claims that 15% minoxidil was little more effective than 5% and presented more side effects.

Today, I think minoxidil should be removed from the market.

why?

 

[John979]

Patience is a virtue, and a little of your own research helps.

Two years ago I would have said bunk to claims that 15% minoxidil was little more effective than 5% and presented more side effects.

Today, I think minoxidil should be removed from the market.

why?

Because the cardiovascular side effects are very, very real:

"Systemic cardiovascular effects during chronic treatment with topical minoxidil vs placebo were evaluated using a double-blind, randomized design for two parallel groups (n = 20 for minoxidil, n = 15 for placebo). During 6 months of follow-up, blood pressure did not change, whereas minoxidil increased heart rate by 3-5 beats min-1. Compared with placebo, topical minoxidil caused significant increases in LV end-diastolic volume, in cardiac output (by 0.751 min-1) and in LV mass (by 5 g m-2)."

"We conclude that in healthy subjects short-term use of topical minoxidil is likely not to be detrimental. However, safety needs to be established regarding ischaemic symptoms in patients with coronary artery disease as well as for the possible development of LV hypertrophy in healthy subjects during years of therapy."

This stuff should have never been approved.

 

[Mens Rea]

Patience is a virtue, and a little of your own research helps.

Two years ago I would have said bunk to claims that 15% minoxidil was little more effective than 5% and presented more side effects.

Today, I think minoxidil should be removed from the market.

why?

Because the cardiovascular side effects are very, very real:

"Systemic cardiovascular effects during chronic treatment with topical minoxidil vs placebo were evaluated using a double-blind, randomized design for two parallel groups (n = 20 for minoxidil, n = 15 for placebo). During 6 months of follow-up, blood pressure did not change, whereas minoxidil increased heart rate by 3-5 beats min-1. Compared with placebo, topical minoxidil caused significant increases in LV end-diastolic volume, in cardiac output (by 0.751 min-1) and in LV mass (by 5 g m-2)."

"We conclude that in healthy subjects short-term use of topical minoxidil is likely not to be detrimental. However, safety needs to be established regarding ischaemic symptoms in patients with coronary artery disease as well as for the possible development of LV hypertrophy in healthy subjects during years of therapy."

This stuff should have never been approved.

The sides do appear extremely rare in fairness and guys have been using it for many more years than propecia.

I suppose it is a little worrying what it's actually used for (heart).


Have you tried revivogen?

 

[ajax]

Hasn't it been around since the 80's? I think thats good enough a long term real life study for me!

 

[John979]

Hasn't it been around since the 80's? I think thats good enough a long term real life study for me!

But has there been any follow-ups on this? Many drugs don't show side effects unless used for years. More important, drug manufacturers tend to downplay side effects.

What is startling about this study is the unambiguous warning provided by the authors. Plus, that was for 2% not 5% or even worse 15%.