Drug profile
Minoxidil
ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener causing vasodilation; hair growth mechanism partially via VEGF upregulation.
Why this drug?
Oral minoxidil was approved for refractory hypertension; hypertrichosis side effect led to topical formulation development for androgenetic alopecia—one of the most cited serendipitous repurposing cases.
Known risks
- Fluid retention and tachycardia (oral)
- Scalp irritation (topical)
- Hypertrichosis at unintended sites
- Pericardial effusion (oral, rare)
Evidence behind this
Increased hair count and patient-reported improvement vs vehicle.
Mechanism
Topical minoxidil prolongs anagen phase; VEGF upregulation may promote follicular perfusion.
Authoritative sources
AI-generated summary
Topical minoxidil is FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia, repurposed from oral antihypertensive hypertrichosis observations. Efficacy is modest but well-established in RCTs.
- Olsen EA et al., 2002
This summary is AI-assisted and human-reviewed. It does not constitute medical advice. Always consult authoritative sources and qualified professionals.