Minoxidil and pericardial effusion: an idiosyncratic reaction.

Abstract

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Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1981 Jul;30(1):64-70.
Minoxidil and pericardial effusion: an idiosyncratic reaction.
Reichgott MJ.
Abstract

Minoxidil is a new potent antihypertensive vasodilator. Although highly effective, its use is limited by the association of the drug with pericardial effusion. We examined possible relationships in 37 patients. There was no significant effusions identified by echocardiography in 22 patients under active treatment. Retrospective review of 15 additional patients no longer under treatment identified seven who had had effusion and one who had had transient pericarditis. Resolution of effusion accompanied withdrawal in five patients; rechallenge was followed by effusion in one patient. Ninety-one episodes of pericardial disease have been reported in 1,869 experimental subjects (4.8%). Pericardial tamponade occurred in 21, with eight associated deaths. There are no specific patient characteristics that predict the likelihood of effusion. Since the reaction is both idiosyncratic and potentially fatal, it seems appropriate to continue to limit the use of minoxidil.

PMID:
   7237900
   [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Pericarditis causes chest pains. I believe this is what I'm experiencing now and in the past on minoxidil.

There have been studies that peppermint oil outperforms minoxidil. Some people are mixing the highly concentrated peppermint essential oil to their minox for a double whammy against hairloss. Not sure of the results yet since it's a new fad. But for you it may be a bad idea to mix the two if the peppermint oil increases absorbtion of the minox. Maybe you can try peppermint oil with something else like jojoba or emu oil.

shaftless wrote:There have been studies that peppermint oil outperforms minoxidil. Some people are mixing the highly concentrated peppermint essential oil to their minox for a double whammy against hairloss. Not sure of the results yet since it's a new fad. But for you it may be a bad idea to mix the two if the peppermint oil increases absorbtion of the minox. Maybe you can try peppermint oil with something else like jojoba or emu oil.

That's interesting thank you. Do you have a link to any of those studies? I'm using the Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap as shampoo right now. Peppermint is high in phyto-estrogens so maybe that's why it works. Increasing minox absorption is definitely a bad idea for everyone. I speculate that the only reason minoxidil works is because it goes systemic.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289931/

Supposedly it was done last year. They're yapping about it on other forums. Naturally it was done on mice so don't get your hopes up too high haha. But as long as you dilute it well it probably won't have any side effects.