Minoxidil
Minoxidil is an active ingredient used in oral tablets to treat severe high blood pressure and in topical products to regrow hair on the scalp.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 268 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
Minoxidil widens blood vessels and does two very different jobs, as a last-resort tablet for severe high blood pressure and as the familiar scalp treatment (Rogaine and many store brands) for hair regrowth, on the market since the late 1980s and available generically. The scalp products are well tolerated and work only with continued twice-daily use, while the tablets commonly cause swelling, a faster heartbeat and unwanted hair on the face and body. The tablets carry a boxed warning for fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion) and worsening chest pain (angina), so they are always paired with a water pill and a beta-blocker under close monitoring.
Clinical pearls
- Use topical minoxidil on the scalp only, and know that applying more or more often will not speed regrowth.
- Apply it to a clean, dry scalp and wash your hands afterward.
- On the tablets, report rapid weight gain, new swelling, chest pressure or shortness of breath right away.
- Guanethidine plus minoxidil tablets can drop blood pressure sharply on standing, so guanethidine is ideally stopped first.
Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Minoxidil, written from its FDA label.
What Minoxidil is used for
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Minoxidil is used in two very different ways depending on the form — oral tablets for blood pressure, and topical products for hair regrowth.
- MINOXIDIL oral tablets treat severe high blood pressure (hypertension) that hasn't responded adequately to other medications
- Topical solutions, gels, sprays, and foams are used to regrow hair on the top of the scalp (vertex area)
- Bosley MD Regular Strength for Women topical solution is indicated for hair regrowth in women
- Bosley MD Extra Strength for Men topical solution is indicated for men's hair regrowth
- Dizop Minoxidil Topical Gel is a hair regrowth treatment specifically for men
- RIZE Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men 5% topical spray is used to regrow hair on the top of the scalp in men
- Axelofein and Azelomax Forte topical solutions are used to regrow hair on the top of the scalp
How Minoxidil works
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Oral minoxidil works by directly relaxing the walls of small arteries (peripheral vasodilation), which lowers the resistance blood has to push against and brings blood pressure down. This drop in resistance triggers the body's natural defenses — the heart beats faster, output increases, and the kidneys hold onto salt and water — which is why companion medications like a beta-blocker and a diuretic are almost always needed alongside it.
Minoxidil is absorbed well from the gut, doesn't bind to blood proteins, and doesn't cross into the brain. It's processed mainly by the liver and cleared by the kidneys. The blood pressure–lowering effect can last up to about 75 hours after a single dose.
Minoxidil dosage
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Oral minoxidil tablets are taken by mouth once or twice daily, with or without food, always alongside a diuretic and a beta-blocker as prescribed. Topical minoxidil products are applied directly to the scalp — not swallowed. Most topical formulations are used twice a day. Do not use more than directed; more product does not mean better results.
- Topical solutions and sprays: typically 1 mL applied to the scalp twice daily
- Using the product more often or in larger amounts will not speed up hair regrowth
- Hair regrowth requires continued use — stopping will likely cause hair loss to return
Always follow your prescriber's instructions and the specific product labeling for your form of minoxidil.
Dosing details from the FDA-approved label
From the Minoxidil prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.
- Minoxidil Topical Solution 2% (hair loss, scalp)
- Apply one mL with dropper 2 times a day directly onto the scalp in the hair loss area
- using more or more often will not improve results; continued use is necessary to increase and keep your hair regrowth, or hair loss will begin again
- Minoxidil Topical Solution, 5% (hair loss, scalp)
- Apply one mL with dropper 2 times a day directly onto the scalp in the hair loss area
- using more or more often will not improve results; continued use is necessary to increase and keep your hair regrowth, or hair loss will begin again
- Minoxidil spray products (hair loss, scalp)
- Prime the sprayer by pumping 5 times
- Apply one mL with spray (6 sprays) 2 times a day directly onto the scalp in the hair loss area
- do not inhale mist; using more or more often will not improve results; continued use is necessary to keep hair regrowth
Read the label’s full dosing text
Directions • apply one mL with dropper 2 times a day directly onto the scalp in the hair loss area • using more or more often will not improve results • continued use is necessary to increase and keep your hair regrowth, or hair loss will begin again
Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →
Minoxidil side effects
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Side effects vary significantly depending on whether you're taking oral tablets or using a topical product.
Common side effects
- Fluid retention or swelling (edema)
- Increased heart rate
- Unwanted hair growth on the face, arms, legs, or back (hypertrichosis) — mainly with oral use
- Worsening or new chest pain (angina)
- Changes in hair color or texture (topical use)
- Skin rash
- Weight gain from fluid retention
- Skin rash; rarely, serious skin reactions including blistering (toxic epidermal necrolysis) or Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
- Low platelet or white blood cell counts (thrombocytopenia, leukopenia) — with oral use
When to get medical help
- Call your doctor right away if you notice rapid weight gain, swelling, or difficulty breathing — these may be signs of fluid buildup or heart failure
- Get medical help immediately if you have chest pain or worsening angina
- Seek care urgently if you notice symptoms of pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart): chest pressure, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeat
- Tell your doctor immediately if you experience dizziness when standing up, especially if you also take guanethidine
- Serious skin reactions have rarely occurred — seek care if you develop a severe rash, blistering, or skin peeling
- Contact your doctor if you notice signs of very low blood pressure: fainting, extreme dizziness, or feeling faint
Minoxidil warnings and precautions
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- Fluid buildup and heart failure risk (oral tablets): Minoxidil causes the body to retain salt and water. Without a diuretic, dangerous fluid accumulation can occur within days. Monitor weight closely and report sudden gains to your doctor.
- Increased heart rate and angina (oral tablets): Minoxidil speeds up the heart, which can worsen or trigger chest pain. A beta-blocker is almost always required to prevent this.
- Fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion/tamponade): Occurs in about 3% of patients on oral tablets who are not on dialysis. Can become life-threatening. Report any chest pressure or breathing difficulty immediately.
- Severe blood pressure drop with guanethidine: Taking oral minoxidil with guanethidine can cause dangerous low blood pressure when standing up (orthostatic hypotension). Guanethidine should be stopped before starting minoxidil if at all possible.
- Too-rapid blood pressure lowering: In patients with very severe high blood pressure, dropping it too quickly can cause stroke, heart attack, or vision/hearing loss. First doses should be given in a hospital for high-risk patients.
- Unwanted hair growth (hypertrichosis): About 80% of people on oral minoxidil develop extra hair growth on the body. Women and children should be informed about this before starting treatment.
Minoxidil interactions
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The label specifically identifies one key drug interaction with oral minoxidil tablets, but other blood pressure medications should always be discussed with your prescriber.
- Guanethidine: Combining oral minoxidil with guanethidine (a blood pressure drug) can cause a severe, dangerous drop in blood pressure when standing up (orthostatic hypotension). Guanethidine should ideally be stopped well before starting minoxidil. If it can't be stopped, treatment must begin in a hospital.
Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.
Before taking Minoxidil
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- Do not use oral minoxidil tablets if you have pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor that raises blood pressure) — it is contraindicated
- Do not use if you have a known allergy to minoxidil or any ingredient in the product
- Tell your doctor if you have heart disease, heart failure, or kidney disease — close monitoring is essential
- Patients with malignant (very severe) hypertension must start oral minoxidil in a hospital setting
- Women and children should be fully informed about the high likelihood of unwanted hair growth (hypertrichosis) with oral minoxidil before starting treatment
- Tell your doctor about all medications you take — especially guanethidine or other blood pressure drugs
- For topical products: do not apply to broken or irritated skin, avoid contact with eyes, and do not apply to parts of the body other than the scalp
Minoxidil overdose
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Overdose with oral minoxidil tablets mainly causes severely low blood pressure. If this happens — especially in someone also taking guanethidine or similar drugs — intravenous fluids (normal saline) can help stabilize blood pressure and support kidney function. Stimulant medications like epinephrine or norepinephrine should be avoided in overdose because they overstimulate the heart; other agents such as dopamine or phenylephrine may be used only when a vital organ is not getting enough blood flow.
What Minoxidil does in the body
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Oral minoxidil lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by relaxing the walls of peripheral arteries, reducing the resistance the heart pumps against. Blood pressure typically starts to fall within 30 minutes of an oral dose, reaches its lowest point in 2–3 hours, and the effect can last about 75 hours. The body responds to this drop in pressure by releasing signals that increase heart rate, cardiac output, and salt and water retention — effects that must be managed with companion medications.
How your body processes Minoxidil
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Oral minoxidil is at least 90% absorbed from the gut, with peak blood levels reached within the first hour. Its average half-life in the body is about 4.2 hours. About 90% of the drug is broken down (metabolized) — primarily in the liver — and the byproducts are cleared through the urine. Minoxidil does not bind to blood proteins and does not cross the blood-brain barrier. In people without functioning kidneys, minoxidil and its breakdown products can be removed by hemodialysis.
How to store Minoxidil
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store at 20 ° to 25 ° C (68 ° to 77 ° F).
Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
Supplements & herbs that interact with Minoxidil
139 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Minoxidil in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.
- Major · 4
- Moderate · 113
- Minor · 22
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
Nutrient depletion considerations
Minoxidil has been associated with lower levels of 1 nutrient in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
Minoxidil: pharmacist answers to common questions
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Minoxidil — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
Can I use the topical minoxidil solution on my beard or other areas, not just my scalp?
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How long does it take to see results with topical minoxidil?
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Why do I need to take a diuretic and a beta-blocker with the oral minoxidil tablet?
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I heard oral minoxidil can cause extra hair growth on my body — is that true?
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Is it safe to just stop using topical minoxidil whenever I want?
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What warning signs should make me call my doctor right away while taking oral minoxidil?
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Is Minoxidil available over the counter?
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When was Minoxidil first available?
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Who makes Minoxidil?
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Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
More about Minoxidil on HelloPharmacist
Minoxidil forms and strengths (how it comes)
Minoxidil is available in 6 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Topical solution
How this form is used
- Used to regrow hair on the top of the scalp (vertex area only)
- Bosley MD Regular Strength for Women topical solution is used for hair regrowth in women
- Bosley MD Extra Strength for Men topical solution is used for hair regrowth in men
- Axelofein and Azelomax Forte topical solutions are used to regrow hair on the top of the scalp
- Apply 1 mL with a dropper or sprayer (6 sprays) directly onto the scalp twice a day
- Do not apply to other parts of the body; avoid contact with eyes
- Using more or using it more often will not improve results
- Continued use is necessary — stopping the product will likely cause hair loss to return
Show 12 more strengths Show fewer strengths
Inhaler
How this form is used
- Used to regrow hair on the top of the scalp (vertex only)
- Apply directly to the scalp in the hair loss area as directed on the product labeling
- Continued use is necessary to maintain hair regrowth — stopping will likely result in hair loss returning
Tablet
How this form is used
- MINOXIDIL tablets treat severe high blood pressure that hasn't responded to other medications
- MINOXIDIL tablets are reserved for patients who haven't responded to a diuretic plus two other blood pressure drugs
- MINOXIDIL tablets are taken by mouth, usually once or twice a day
- MINOXIDIL tablets must almost always be taken with a diuretic and a beta-blocker as directed by your doctor
- Monitor your body weight closely while taking MINOXIDIL tablets — report sudden weight gain to your doctor
- Patients with very severe high blood pressure should begin MINOXIDIL tablet therapy in a hospital
Topical cream, ointment or gel
How this form is used
- Dizop Minoxidil Topical Gel is a hair regrowth treatment for men, used to regrow hair on the top of the scalp
- Apply topical gel or cream directly to the scalp in the area of hair loss
- Wash hands thoroughly after applying
- Do not apply to areas other than the scalp
Topical spray
How this form is used
- RIZE Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men 5% is used to regrow hair on the top of the scalp (vertex only)
- RIZE Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men 5%: prime the sprayer by pumping 5 times before first use
- Apply 1 mL (6 sprays) twice a day directly onto the scalp in the hair loss area; do not inhale the mist
- Using more or more often will not improve results
- Continued use is necessary to maintain hair regrowth
Oral solution
Minoxidil on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands
How Minoxidil appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
110 companies list 247 Minoxidil product records with the FDA, mostly as topical solution, inhaler, tablet; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1979. Brand names on the directory include Loniten, Rogaine, Regoxidine and 13 more; the rest are generics.
FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.
Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (38) · Kit (1) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.
Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.
How widely Minoxidil is used (Medicaid data)
A general measure of how commonly Minoxidil is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Minoxidil is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Minoxidil prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Minoxidil ranks #364 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 77% of them.
Utilization by Minoxidil product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
minoxidil 2.5 MG Oral Tablet Most dispensed
Summed across the 4 of 32 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197987
minoxidil 10 MG Oral Tablet
Summed across the 4 of 26 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197986
minoxidil 50 MG/ML Topical Foam
Summed across the 1 of 158 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 645146
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Minoxidil, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 9 of 216 listed Minoxidil NDCs with Medicaid activity.
Compare Minoxidil products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Minoxidil — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Inhaler | ||||
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Amazon.com Services LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Amazon.com Services LLC × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Aurohealth LLC × 4 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Better Living Brands, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Bjwc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | BosleyMD × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Cardinal Health 110, Llc. Dba Leader × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Clarity Cosmetics Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Costco Wholesale Company × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | CVS Pharmacy × 3 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | CVS Pharmacy | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Guangzhou Ariel Medical Technology Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Guangzhou Binsi Clothing Co.,Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Guangzhou Jianyuan Biological Technology.Co.,Ltd | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Guangzhou Jingliang Cosmetics Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Hims Inc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Hims Inc × 3 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 0.05 g/mL | Topical | Hong Kong Yuejie International Trading Limited | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Innovus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. × 4 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Kenvue Brands LLC × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Keranique | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Kramer Laboratories | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Kroger Company × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | L. Perrigo Company × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | L. Perrigo Company × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Meijer Distribution Inc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Meijer Distribution Inc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | P & L Development, LLC × 4 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | P & L Development, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Profectus Beauty Llc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Restoration Holdings, Llc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Sam's West Inc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Scientific Hair Research, Llc × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Shenzhen Shandian Jingling Technology Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Shenzhen Yifusi Technology Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Spazi Inc. × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | TARGET Corporation × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Thirty MADISON, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Thirty Madison Inc × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Virtue Labs, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Wal-Mart Stores Inc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Wal-Mart Stores Inc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/g | Topical | Walgreen Company × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 💊Topical cream, ointment or gel | ||||
| 1 mg/234 mL | Topical | Laboratorio Mk Srl | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 1 mg/473 mL | Topical | Laboratorio Mk Srl × 2 listings | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 2 mg/234 mL | Topical | Laboratorio Mk Srl | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 2 mg/456 g | Topical | Laboratorio Mk Srl | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 2 mg/473 mL | Topical | Laboratorio Mk Srl × 2 listings | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 💊Topical solution | ||||
| 2 g/100 mL | Topical | Amazon.com Services LLC × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Amazon.com Services LLC × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 20 mg/mL | Topical | Apira Science, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Apira Science, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Belleka Inc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Bionetics Health LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 mg/30 mL | Topical | BOE Dominicana SRL | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 2 g/100 mL | Topical | Cardinal Health 110, LLC. dba Leader | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Cardinal Health 110, LLC. dba Leader | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 0.02 g/mL | Topical | Carol's Daughter, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Cavtech Holding Llc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 3 g/60 mL | Topical | Costco Wholesale Company | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Costco Wholesale Company | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Cozesmo | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2 g/100 mL | Topical | CVS Pharmacy | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | CVS Pharmacy | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | DS Healthcare Group | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Esalon.com, Llc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | FlexiGo Inc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | FlexiGo Inc × 3 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Good Manager Holdings Inc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2 g/100 mL | Topical | Growth Essence LLC | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Growth Essence LLC | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 0.05 g/mL | Topical | Guangdong Quadrant Ecological Technology Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 0.5 g/10 g | Topical | Guangzhou Ariel Medical Technology Co., Ltd. × 2 listings | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Guangzhou Ariel Medical Technology Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Guangzhou Binsi Clothing Co.,Ltd. × 2 listings | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Guangzhou Haishi Biological Technology Co., Ltd. × 2 listings | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 mg/100 mg | Cutaneous | Guangzhou Huanmei Cosmetics Co., Ltd. | UNAPPROVED DRUG OTHER | View NDC → |
| 5 mg/mL | Topical | Guangzhou Jianyuan Biological Technology.Co.,Ltd | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Guangzhou Jianyuan Biological Technology.Co.,Ltd × 2 listings | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Guangzhou Jianyuan Biological Technology Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 0.05 g/mL | Topical | Guangzhou Xinhongda Trading Service Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 0.05 g/mL | Topical | Guangzhou Zeus E-commerce Co., Ltd | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 mg/60 mL | Topical | Haloria Inc. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Intelligent Elephant, Llc | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/100 mL | Topical | Jiashen International Trade Limited | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 1 mg/473 mL | Topical | Laboratorio Mk Srl | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 2 mg/117.6 mL | Topical | Laboratorio Mk Srl | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 mg/20 mL | Topical | Laboratorio Mk Srl | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Salonceuticals, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 20 mg/mL | Topical | Scientific Hair Research, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Scientific Hair Research, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Shenzhen Deshijian Medical Equipment Co., Ltd | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Shenzhen Earth Surface Trading Co., Ltd. × 5 listings | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 0.05 g/mL | Topical | Shenzhen Huayuan Hengsheng Technology Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Shenzhen Xinxin Yunhai Technology Co., Ltd. × 2 listings | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Shenzhen Xuemin E-commerce Co., Ltd. | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 50 mg/mL | Topical | Suavecito, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 20 mg/mL | Topical | Topiderm, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 0.05 g/mL | Topical | Tuosen Hong Kong Import Export Trading Co., Limited | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 g | Topical | Veloce Trading Co., Limited | OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Yiwu Yizhou Trading Co., Ltd | UNAPPROVED DRUG OTHER | View NDC → |
| 5 g/100 mL | Topical | Yiwuyizhoutradingco.,ltd | UNAPPROVED DRUG OTHER | View NDC → |
| 💊Kits | ||||
| — | — | Invest Strong, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
Showing 146 of 247 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 247 Minoxidil NDCs →
Minoxidil side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Minoxidil — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
The effects most often named in FDA reports that mention Minoxidil are adverse drug reaction, alopecia, application site pruritus; about 11% of the reports were classed as serious. These are voluntary reports, so they show what people report, not how often it happens.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Minoxidil in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Minoxidil FDA approval history
How Minoxidil went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Minoxidil was first approved by the FDA in 1979 (Brand: LONITEN · Pfizer); the first generic version was approved in 1987. It remains available in U.S. pharmacies today.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
Minoxidil recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Minoxidil recalls since July 2021.
✅No Minoxidil recalls on record since July 2021Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.
RxCUI 6984 5 dose forms · 10 strengths
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Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 372938In current FDA listings -
Dose form (SCDF) Topical Foam RxCUI 645145In current FDA listings -
Dose form (SCDF) Topical Gel RxCUI 378054In current FDA listingsClinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.05 MG/MGRxCUI 2668433 -
Dose form (SCDF) Topical Solution RxCUI 372937In current FDA listings -
Dose form (SCDF) Topical Spray RxCUI 1537946In current FDA listings
Look up RxCUI 6984 in the RxCUI Atlas →
RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.
Minoxidil supply and shortage status
Whether Minoxidil is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
💵 What Minoxidil costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)
The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.
| Form | Strength | Pharmacy acquisition benchmark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet · Oral | 2.5 mg | $0.098 per tablet | NDC details & price history |
| Tablet · Oral | 10 mg | $0.156 per tablet | NDC details & price history |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.
Minoxidil brand names
Minoxidil is sold under 16 brand names in the FDA directory — Loniten, Rogaine, Regoxidine, hair regrowth treatment and others. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.
Who makes Minoxidil: manufacturers and labelers
110 companies list Minoxidil products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Bryant Ranch Prepack, Laboratorio Mk Srl, Amazon.com Services LLC. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.
…and 86 more on the FDA NDC directory.
Minoxidil drug class (RxNorm)
Minoxidil belongs to the Arteriolar Vasodilator class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
Sources for this Minoxidil page
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How this page is built
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Amazon.com Services LLC is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →