Minoxidil Drug Interactions: A Guide

If you’re experiencing hair loss, you might be wondering about your treatment options. One of the most effective hair loss treatments out there is minoxidil, which has been proven by decades of research to help regrow hair.

Minoxidil doesn’t usually come with side effects, and minoxidil interactions with other medications are unlikely. But still, getting a complete picture of its safety profile might help you decide if it’s the right treatment for you.

Read on to learn about minoxidil, its potential drug interactions and other medications for promoting hair growth. 

Hair loss is part of the natural three-phase hair growth cycle, which involves the anagen (growth) phase, the catagen (declining) phase and the telogen (resting) phase.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), you lose about 100 hairs daily from regular shedding. 

Ninety percent of your hair should be in the growth stage at any one time, with the remainder falling into the declining or resting phase. 

About nine percent of your hair is regularly in the telogen phase, when the hair follicles rest before beginning to grow again.

Hair loss happens when there’s an interruption in this cycle. Here’s what can happen:

• The telogen phase gets longer, so hair doesn’t return to the hair regrowth phase quickly enough to replace natural shedding.

• The hair follicle is destroyed beyond repair and can no longer go through the hair growth cycle.

Minoxidil (brand name Rogaine®) is a non-prescription topical medication that promotes hair growth and regrowth by restarting the growth phase in dormant hair follicles. 

Experts don’t fully understand how it works, but significant research shows it’s an effective way to boost hair growth and thickness. 

It’s available in a 5% strength foam or liquid solution.

You’re wise to be wondering about minoxidil drug interactions. Both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications have the potential to interact with other substances, including supplements.

Thankfully, minoxidil comes with a minimal risk of harmful drug interactions. 

While issues with either are rare, oral minoxidil interactions are more likely than drug interactions if you’re using a topical application. 

Taking minoxidil with the following medications may lower blood pressure and cause changes in your heart rate:

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

• Alprazolam (Xanax)

• Medications for hypertension, or high blood pressure, including:

  • Diuretics like furosemide (Lasix)

  • Vasodilators

  • Beta-blockers

Quick disclaimer: It’s important to note that this list of medications isn’t exhaustive. Talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to find out if it’s safe to use minoxidil with your current prescriptions. 

Minoxidil can also negatively interact with alcohol and lower your blood pressure. 

Additionally, it may not be safe to use minoxidil, even at a low dose, if you have:

• Congestive heart failure

• Ischemic heart disease

• An adrenal gland tumor known as pheochromocytoma

• Kidney failure or another condition that requires dialysis

• A recent history of heart attack

• Low blood pressure

Let a healthcare professional know if you have any of these conditions or regularly experience angina-like chest pain. They may be able to recommend an alternative hair loss treatment. 

If you want to know about the common side effects, as well as the potential serious side effects of minoxidil, check out our guide to minoxidil side effects. 

And one more FYI: There can actually be beneficial medication interactions too — mixing topical minoxidil with other topical hair loss treatments like tretinoin may increase the benefits of both medications.  

There are a few other hair loss treatments you can consider if minoxidil doesn’t sound right for you. These include:

• Finasteride. This medication targets the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which contributes to male pattern baldness (AKA androgenic alopecia). Using finasteride daily can reduce DHT levels by as much as 70 percent and encourage hair regrowth. 

• Saw palmetto. Evidence suggests this natural ingredient may help reduce DHT levels, especially when combined with finasteride. 

If you’ve been choosing whichever shampoo and conditioner is cheapest at the drugstore, you can make these daily grooming products work harder for you. Look for volumizing formulas containing ingredients like saw palmetto to target excess hair shedding and help encourage hair growth.

Want to learn more about shampoo for hair loss? Check out our guide to what to look for in men’s hair loss shampoo.

Minoxidil is an effective, FDA-approved treatment for hair loss. But to recap, here’s what you need to know about potential Rogaine interactions:

• Like any medication, minoxidil can interact with some prescription drugs.

• Medications like diuretics and antidepressants can increase the blood pressure-lowering effects of minoxidil. However, interactions are more likely with oral minoxidil than topical minoxidil.

• Minoxidil might not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions like heart or kidney disease.

• If minoxidil solution or foam isn’t an option, other effective hair loss treatments are available. 

If you’re experiencing hair loss and want to try minoxidil, it’s a good idea to get some medical advice from a healthcare professional. 

They can help determine why you’re shedding more strands than usual and whether minoxidil is right for you. 

Our DHT and male hair loss guide is a great place to learn about male pattern balding, and we’ve also put together a guide on how minoxidil and finasteride can work together to stop hair loss.