Fri 10 Nov 2006
Does Minoxidil cause sexual side effects?
Category: Common Questions , Non Surgical Treatments , Rogaine (Minoxidil)I just stared using 5% minoxidil about a month ago. I have no good news to report so far regarding hair growth yet, but I have noticed that I am not shedding so much.
However, I have noticed that I am experiencing some sexual side effects, particularly what seems to be erectile disfunction. Is this normal for new users of minoxidil? Will it go away?
It takes a few months to see any results from applying minoxidil, so as far as that aspect of your question, everything seems normal.
However, Pfizer doesn’t list any sexual side effects that result from the use of minoxidil. Furthermore, I have not seen any posts on the Hair Restoration Research Forums from posters that are experiencing any similar side effects. This is true concerning all available types of minoxidil: Rogaine Extra Strength Formula, Rogaine Regular Strength Formula, and Rogaine Foam.
Rogaine can, however, cause a rapid heartbeat, which is the closest side effect that I can guess would give you that sort of problem. If you really suspect the Rogaine is at play, then I would highly suggest that you discontinue use and give your physician a call, particularly if you are experiencing a higher heart rate than normal.
Here are the listed side effects from Rogaine’s website:
Stop use and ask a doctor if
* chest pain, rapid heartbeat, faintness, or dizziness occurs
* sudden, unexplained weight gain occurs
* your hands or feet swell
* scalp irritation or redness occurs
* unwanted facial hair growth occurs
* you do not see hair regrowth in 4 months
Robert – Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog
Technorati Tags: minoxidil, hair growth, shedding, Pfizer, Rogaine, regrowth
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December 5th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Although not often mentioned, I’m sure it can cause sexual side effects since I exprienced them myself with rogaine.
I was on propecia for about a year when I wanted to add Minox just to see what it would do. About at the same time or a little later I experienced sexual side effects (low libido/weak erections).
Because sexual side effects were never mentioned on sites or in the manual, I did not even consider to think the minoxidil (rogaine) were causing my sexual side effects. After 2 months of using it, it was still the same. Since I was taking propecia for a year I thought the sexual side effects were from the propecia (I read some people develop side effects later on). I was a bit depressed about having to stop propecia, since it helped to restore my hairline quite well ( i was thinning there, not ‘receiding’). But just before I was about to stop the propecia I thought back of the time I started to develop these sexual side effects and the time I began using minoxidil (rogaine). So suddenly I realised that it ‘could’be the reason of my sexual side effects. So before Stopping propecia I wanted to make sure that propecia was actually causing my side effects and not rogaine. So I stopped using rogaine and it took about a week or maybe 2 to notice quite a remarkable comeback of my sexdrive and erections. Now I’ve stopped for about 1.5 month I do not exprience any sexual side effects anymore (still on propecia).
So anyone who is BOTH using propecia and MINOX, make sure you stop the RIGHT one before thinking it has to be propecia which is causing your sexual side effects. I used to think so, but ‘proved’ to myself that it was not the case.
So in the end: use both if you have no side effects (most effective) , but try stopping BOTH for a while if you have sexual side effects, because rogaine CAN cause sexual side effects, no matter what they report. If you look in google like I did and search for “sexual side effects rogaine” you will find quite some people that exprience the same thing
for those who think it’s all in my mind: I did not think it COULD cause sexual side effects, so it was not possible I was imaginging my sexual side effects. I just knew it could happen with propecia, not with minox
December 5th, 2009 at 1:21 am
Just wanted to add:
with propecia they kind of know the process of how propecia kind of ‘works’…(it blocks about 70% of the male hormone DHT which causes hairloss)
But with MINOX, they still don’t really know how it works, so therefore can not really state rogaine ‘CAN NOT’cause side effects, because they openly say they don’t know the way it works, so they CAN not know what kind of side effects it MAY bring.
Most people don’t get sexual side effects from ROGAINE as far as I know, but I wonder how many stopped with propecia cause of the sexual side effects whiel it was coming from MINOX. Like i’ve heard from a guy that said he lost his sexdrive/erections forever from propecia. I wonder if he is still using rogaine. If he is, I wonder if his erectile function and libido will come back after stopping rogaine
A third possibility is that BOTH rogaine and propecia kind of work on the ’same hormones’ in your body, so that just the combination of BOTH can cause sexual side effects. So maybe stopping with either one will stop you from having sexual side effects. Just a few of my thoughts about this.
January 11th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Just in addition to what Nero has mentioned.Im currently on 12.5% Minoxidil and Azelaic cream(scalp DHT blocker). Prior to the mixodil, I was using Nu hair regrowth supplements (DHT blocker made from natural sources). I have been having weaker erections so I discontinued the Nu hair and carried on with the 12.5% minoxidil and 5% Azelaic acid combination. I still have weak erections, now Im begining to think its the 12.5% minoxidil and 5% Azelaic acid combination.
February 16th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
When I first used propecia, it affected my sex drive right away. I stopped using it and regained my sex drive right away. No doubt it affected me.
Then my doctor recommended giving rogaine a try. I used 5% Minox twice every day. I applied to my vertex (top of head) and also to front of scalp. It did not affect my sex drive. After 4 to 5 months I noticed some hair regrowth. My friends noticed also. However, my sex drive had completely diminished. I couldn’t figure out why at first. Then when I thought of the rogaine and the Minox, I knew it had to be the reason. I stopped taking it completely and within the week I was once again “hard as a rock.”
People say it can all be in your head (psychological), but there’s no way it was. I didn’t even think of the rogaine until days later. So it wasn’t in my head. It was physical. Maybe I was using too much. Maybe not. I kind of regret cutting it out completely. I should’ve just cut back on the amount I used to see how that affected me. I could have applied only once a day and experimented, or apply only a minimal amount.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Firstly, I have tried almost everything from saw palmetto at various combinations to finasteride(poscar)at various strenghts and ditasteride, green teas, minoxidil cream at 30%, minoxidile lotion at 7 – 12% with azelaic acid and retinoic acid; lazer combs and clinical programs and yes: even the minoxidil tablet ( lonitin 10mg) for 2 years; shampoos with retinoic acid and saw palmetto; and natural hair growth products: tablets and lotions; cyseine hydrochloride at high dosages; grape seed: yes everything except the new not legally approved hair drug: R something i.e. R224544 (can’t remember). Everything else.
So now to your question> finasteride causes the said problem ( are you taking that? as well?); with respect to minoxidil: a blood dilating drug that loosen the vascular muscles to increase periferal circulation; at higher dosages i.e. 7.5% or 15% esp when in combination with retinoic acid: it can cause a lower blood pressure and that means that the pressure entering your penis is greatly reduced and therefore causing a delayed errection or the mentioned problem you are experiencing. Minoxidil tablets will most certainly cause this esp, once again, if in combination with other treatments like finasteride ( poscar, propecia). Other side effects include a tired looking face and bags and body fuild retention making you look a little out of shape temporily. However, I have never recieved any side effects by the trade name Rogaine 5% because it is a very low dosage and you guessed it: it did nothing for me. I have noticed that when something works so too does the side effects. I have tired over 100 treaments and many more products. Everyone is a little different. About my hair success: had more hair than I wanted but also had a lot of side effects some quite severe. I have had to compromise on the cosmetic aspects in order to maintain healty. Good luck. A healthly balance of the two worlds
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:26 pm
It happened to me too; this is why browsing the net for some answers I came over this site. I started to feel a decreased level of erection and sexual drive at about 2-3 weeks after I’ve started Minoxidil 5% spray twice a week. It took me another 3-4 weeks to figure out it comes from Minox (after blaming age, girls, old smoking habits etc.). To balance both of them (the hair grow and steel erections) I use Minox only once a day, in the morning. I don’t see any difference now (after one week).
March 7th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
i used propecia from boots 2 years back but soon i had problems with erction den i stopped it but now 3 weeks back i started minoxidil spray , minoxidil does put affects on erection as i just used minoxidil hair spray for 3 weeks , noticably increase on facial hairs plus major affect is no erection or weak erection ….im thinkin to quit it now as sex is more important than hairs , as we can live wothout hairs but cant live without starting family and children , i guess its not necessary for every one as medicine works differently for every one , anywys good luck as i ave decided to quit taking any hair growth medicine now even though result is amazing as i have got good growth in very short time