Minoxidil is an oral and topical drug that is mainly used to treat hair loss and promote hair growth. It was initially developed as an oral drug to treat hypertension. Chemically, it is a pyrimidine N-oxide, a member of piperidines. It can be purchased over the counter as a topical liquid or foam and as a generic drug with a prescription in the form of oral tablets.
CAS No.: 38304-91-5
Synonyms: Regaine; Alostil; Theroxidil; Alopexil; Lonolox; Loniten; Rogaine
| Physical Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C9H15N5O |
| IUPAC Name | 3-hydroxy-2-imino-6-piperidin-1-ylpyrimidin-4-amine |
| Molecular weight | 209.253 g/mol |
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohol and propylene glycol, sparingly soluble in methanol, slightly soluble in water. Practically insoluble in chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, and in hexane |
| Chemical Properties | |
| Color | White to Off-white |
| State | Crystalline powder |
| Melting point | 248 °C (478 °F) |
| pKa | 4.61 |
| LogP | 1.24 |
| Pictograms : |  |
| Hazard Statements : | H302: Harmful if swallowed H315: Causes skin irritation H319: Causes serious eye irritation H335: May cause respiratory irritation |
| Precautionary statements : | P261 Avoid breathing dust/ fume/ gas/ mist/ vapors/ spray. |
Minoxidil is an oral and topical drug that is mainly used to treat hair loss and promote hair growth. It was initially developed as an oral drug to treat hypertension. Chemically, it is a pyrimidine N-oxide, a member of piperidines. It can be purchased over the counter as a topical liquid or foam and as a generic drug with a prescription in the form of oral tablets.
CAS No.: 38304-91-5
Synonyms: Regaine; Alostil; Theroxidil; Alopexil; Lonolox; Loniten; Rogaine
| Physical Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C9H15N5O |
| IUPAC Name | 3-hydroxy-2-imino-6-piperidin-1-ylpyrimidin-4-amine |
| Molecular weight | 209.253 g/mol |
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohol and propylene glycol, sparingly soluble in methanol, slightly soluble in water. Practically insoluble in chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, and in hexane |
| Chemical Properties | |
| Color | White to Off-white |
| State | Crystalline powder |
| Melting point | 248 °C (478 °F) |
| pKa | 4.61 |
| LogP | 1.24 |
| Pictograms : | |
| Hazard Statements : | H302: Harmful if swallowed H315: Causes skin irritation H319: Causes serious eye irritation H335: May cause respiratory irritation |
| Precautionary statements : | P261 Avoid breathing dust/ fume/ gas/ mist/ vapors/ spray. |
The response to minoxidil varies widely. It may help activate dormant or less active hair follicles, potentially leading to increased facial hair growth. However, it cannot create new follicles, hence won’t work in areas where follicles are absent.
Minoxidil is not found to have any interactions with Finasteride and can be used to treat hair loss, especially male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). They both work through different mechanisms, minoxidil being a topical vasodilator improves blood flow to the hair follicles while finasteride reduces dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, a hormone linked to shrinking of hair follicles.
Minoxidil can work for beard growth, although it is not approved by the FDA for facial hair growth. It stimulates hair follicles by increasing blood flow to the area.
Topical preparations containing 2% and 5% of the medication are available over the counter.
