Minoxidil topical and Heart Palpitations: What Users Say

• bal...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 25, 2020

Minoxidil topical for Alopecia "Was prescribed minoxidil in my early 20s, used it for a couple of years. Did not seem to do much. As soon as I stopped it, which was due to heart palpitations (side effects), I started shedding heavily. Rogaine made me lose my hair faster than I otherwise would have. I'd say never start on this, cause if you stop (and it's likely you will), your hair will become dependent on this drug and fall out rapidly. It's created a diffuse pattern of thinning, so bad the doctor says nothing can be done now."

• Max...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2021

For Alopecia "Minoxidil really induces a wide range of persistent sexual, physical, and psychological/mental side effects that do not go away even after drug discontinuation, including persistent loss of libido, ED (erectile dysfunction), impotence, loss of morning, nocturnal, and random erections, reduced sperm volume, weak ejaculation and watery or clumpy sperm leak, weak orgasm, penile shortening and curvature, genital numbness, severe depression, extreme anxiety and fatigue, difficulty focusing and concentrating, loss of motivation, loss of train of thought, slurring of speech, brain fog, dizziness, muscle twitches, loss of muscle and bone, weight gain (fat), collagen disorders, sleep disorders, weak urination/urine flow, blurry vision, testicular/penis pain, heart palpitations, swallowing disorders, bad body response to junk food consumption, and high sugar (tickling of throat)."

• Anonymous
• September 4, 2020

For Alopecia "Because of minoxidil, I have chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, wheezing on exertion, inability to exercise, headaches, and muscle spasms are the side effects that I am left with 2 years after quitting minoxidil. I was a 19-year-old bodybuilder and college-level track athlete when I decided to start minoxidil. After 2 weeks of use, I quit because it was causing me intense chest pain and shortness of breath any time I would exercise. I have seen 4 cardiologists and 1 pulmonologist, and the only things that they have found are a right-to-left shunt and high bilirubin. They have so far been unable to find the origin of the shunt, though."

• Nev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2020

Minoxidil topical for Alopecia "This Rogaine Men's Extra Strength medication caused my face to swell and my hands/feet. It causes excruciating headaches and makes your head feel as though it weighs 5 pounds. It causes irregular and rapid heartbeats, some nausea/vomiting. In the area applied, it takes the color from your hair and leaves it 'gray.' It causes you to feel dizzy, like fainting and fatigue with cold chills intermittently. Maybe taking a diuretic would have eliminated the discomfort and unpleasantness of facial swelling and feeling heavy-headed."

• Nev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2020

Minoxidil topical for Alopecia "This Rogaine Men's Extra Strength medication caused my face to swell and my hands/feet. It causes excruciating headaches and makes your head feel as though it weighs 5 pounds. It causes irregular and rapid heartbeats, some nausea/vomiting. In the area applied, it takes the color from your hair and leaves it 'gray.' It causes you to feel dizzy, like fainting and fatigue with cold chills intermittently. Maybe taking a diuretic would have eliminated the discomfort and unpleasantness of facial swelling and feeling heavy-headed."

• Phe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2016

For Alopecia "Applied 5% topical twice daily (as prescribed). Hair regrowth very significant, both at the top of the head and front line, within 3 or 4 months after starting to use the drug. BUT severe impotence and anxiety, irregular heartbeat; such side effects disappeared shortly after discontinuing the use of Minoxidil topical 5%."

• Med...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2018

For Alopecia "21-year-old male with slowly progressing MPB since 20s. Used once daily 5% for 4 months and shedding was reduced. No objective data about effectiveness, but I would say it reduced shedding and progression a little. Stopped due to palpitations and chest discomfort (not any other side effect). My advice is to keep in mind this is a long-term treatment and increased shedding could be seen the first month (my case). Another thing to remind is that effectiveness can only be appreciated within 4 to 6 months of usage. Decided to stop slowly for two months and then stop completely. Approximately 2 months have passed since no minoxidil, and shedding had increased a lot, but seems to be more stable now (as it was before starting any treatment). Keep in mind any result obtained will be lost after 3 months. Thinking about starting finasteride, but luckily not in a hurry. Best of luck to all the balding men reading."

• joh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 27, 2022

For Alopecia "I have stopped using it. The more I used it (the higher the dose), the more I had soreness at the site, but this didn't bother me much. Other symptoms did, such as: loss of sex drive, palpitations, dizziness and light sensitivity, headaches, nausea, fatigue, digestive issues, weight gain, brain fog. Don't be vain in your 20s and dead in your 40s for this stuff. It never really did anything noticeable anyway!"