Are There Any Side Effects To Using Rogaine?
The truth is that every drug has a side effect. The ingredient in Rogaine that causes hair growth is minoxidil. When minoxidil is taken orally it has a severe effect on the body. It is often prescribed to lower high blood pressure, but has a side effect which strongly effects the heart. Generally speaking minoxidil taken orally is very dangerous for people who have heart troubles and is not recommended for such cases. Other negative side effects of minoxidil taken orally may include painful urination, rapid weight gain, skin rash, and unusual bleeding and bruising.
When Rogaine is used to treat hair loss the minoxidil in it is applied on to the balding skin and is not taken orally. When applied to the skin minoxidil does enter into the body through the skin, but when it is applied carefully and properly the amount of minoxidil that enters is marginal. Most experts agree that when Rogaine is used properly, the amount of minoxidil taken in to the body is not sufficient to cause the major side effects of taking the drug orally.
Still Rogaine has some side effects that you should know about. These include minor and major side effects:
- Minor Side Effects: The minor side effects associated with Rogaine include: skin irritations on the scalp such as dry red skin, flaking, and itching, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea. These are short-term effects that should go away as soon as your body adjusts.
- Major Side Effects: The major side effects associated with Rogaine are like those associated with minoxidil when it is taken orally. These include back and chest pain, cold-like symptoms, rapid heartbeat, fluid retention, difficulty breathing, weight gain, and worsening of hair loss. These are significant side effects but are not very common.
In addition, it must be cautioned that since Rogaine is such a new drug its long term effects are not fully known. Although it has shown no signs yet of severe long-term side effects, it takes decades, if not generations, to really know what the full effects of a drug might be. When deciding to use Rogaine or not keep this caution in mind.