Big Hair Goals? We’ve Got You Covered
**availability depending on selected treatments & individual insurance plans
Two powerful solutions to combat hair loss in menopause
Evidence-based solutions to treat age-related hair loss
Topical minoxidil & finasteride
5.6% minoxidil, 0.3% finasteride
Key Benefits:
Oral Minoxidil
Key Benefits:
Important safety information: Oral Minoxidil
Oral Minoxidil
Important Safety Information
ORAL MINOXIDIL MAY CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS THAT IMPACT THE HEART, INCLUDING PERICARDIAL EFFUSION AND TAMPONADE. WHEN TESTED ON ANIMALS, MINOXIDIL CAUSED LESIONS OF THE HEART AS WELL AS OTHER ADVERSE HEART EFFECTS
Side Effects & Risks:
Oral minoxidil has a black boxed warning for serious cardiac events.
- Minoxidil may cause pericardial effusion, the accumulation of fluid in the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium). This may progress to tamponade and angina pectoris
- When tested on animals, minoxidil caused lesions of the heart as well as other adverse heart effects.
Oral minoxidil may also contribute the following:
- Pleural effusion, the accumulation of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity
- Hypotension or blood pressure that is lower than normal. This may also result in lightheadedness
- Hypertrichosis, or increased hair growth on the face or body
- Lower extremity edema (fluid retention) or the swelling of the legs, ankles and/or feet
- Palpitations or tachycardia
- Headaches
- Swelling around the eyes
- Insomnia
- Nausea
If you experience any of the above side effects, contact your provider in order to cease treatment or adjust your dose.
Minoxidil may also cause changes to your EKG; tell your doctor prior to an EKG if you are taking oral minoxidil.
Contraindications:
Do not use oral minoxidil if:
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- You have a cardiac history of CHF, hypotension (below 90/60), pulmonary hypertension, kidney or liver disease
- You are taking blood pressure medications for hypertensions
- You have experienced dizziness or fainting that occurs upon standing after sitting or lying down
- You have experienced a sudden onset of muscularity, a deepening of the voice, enlargement of the clitoris or excessive hair growth on the face and body
- You have frontal fibrosing alopecia: If hairline is pushing back (or eyebrow hair loss or skin-colored bumps in the eyebrows, sometimes with associated eyebrow hair loss) with symptoms (itching, burning, dry skin around hair follicle, stinging, erythema)
- You have Alopecia areata
- You have Lichen planopilaris
- You have Ludwig stage II-2 and above
- You have history of pheochromocytoma, a tumor in the adrenal gland
- You have a known allergic reaction to minoxidil
Check with your physician to determine if oral minoxidil is right for you. Withholding or providing inaccurate information about your health and medical history in order to obtain treatment may result in harm, including, in some cases, death.
Drug Interactions
Oral minoxidil has certain drug interactions. It’s important to tell your provider of all the medications you are currently taking, including prescription, over the counter medications, vitamins, and herbal or dietary supplements.
Some medications to what out for include:
- Guanethidine should be discontinued before starting treatment
Seek emergency medical care if you experience any of these side effects:
- Salt and water retention
- Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
- New or worsening chest, arm or shoulder paid
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting
- Sudden changes to your vision or hearing
- Very severe heartburn or signs of indigestion
- A sudden or too large of a drop in blood pressure
This information is not comprehensive. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You may report side effects to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088 or visiting www.fda.gov/medwatch. Please see the full Prescribing Information for complete safety information.
Important safety information: Topical Minoxidil & Finasteride
Side Effects & Risks:
Possible side effects and risks of using topical minoxidil & finasteride:
- Local scalp irritation including itching, redness, irritation, burning sensation, dry and flaky scale, contact dermatitis & more
- Facial hypertrichosis or the growth of excessive hair on the face.
- Headaches
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Breathlessness
- Palpitations
- Tachycardia
If you experience any of the above side effects, contact your provider in order to cease treatment or adjust your dose.
These are not all of the possible side effects of topical minoxidil & finasteride. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Contraindications:
Do not use topical minoxidil & finasteride if:
- You are pregnant or may become pregnant
- You are breastfeeding
- You have frontal fibrosing alopecia: If hairline is pushing back (or eyebrow hair loss or skin-colored bumps in the eyebrows, sometimes with associated eyebrow hair loss) with symptoms (itching, burning, dry skin around hair follicle, stinging, erythema)
- You have Alopecia areata
- You have Lichen planopilaris
- You have Ludwig stage II-2 and above
- You have used topical minoxidil or finasteride in the past and either:
- Had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients
- Did not see results
- You have active eczema/psoriasis or allergic contact dermatitis
- Your scalp is red, inflamed, infected, irritated, or painful
- You have a history of breast cancer, uterine, cervical or ovarian cancer
- You have a history of liver disease - inform your doctor before use
- You have a psychiatric history – inform your doctor before use
- Your hair loss is sudden and/or patchy
- Your hair loss is associated with childbirth
- You are under 18 years of age
- You are currently taking oral finasteride or other medications in the same class as finasteride
Ask a doctor before use if you have heart disease.
Check with your physician to determine if this product is right for you. Withholding or providing inaccurate information about your health and medical history in order to obtain treatment may result in harm, including, in some cases, death.
Drug Interactions
Minoxidil and finasteride have certain drug interactions. It’s important to tell your provider of all the medications you are currently taking, including prescription, over the counter medications, vitamins, and herbal or dietary supplements.
Seek immediate medical care or consult your physician if you experience any of these side effects:
- Chest pain
- Rapid heart beat (tachycardia)
- Faintness or dizziness
- Sudden and unexplained weight gain
- Edema, or swelling of hands or feet
- Breast tenderness/enlargement
- Facial hypertrichosis (unwanted facial hair growth)
- Sexual dysfunction (e.g., low libido etc.)
- Symptoms of depression
- No scalp hair regrowth after 6 months of use
- Severe scalp irritation
Other Warnings
- For External Use only
- Flammable
- Keep out of reach of children
- Do not donate blood if you are using this medication
- Inform your physician that you are taking this medication
- Women of child-bearing potential should not handle this medication
- Using more medication than prescribed will not speed up results and may lead to increased risk of side effects
- Inform your doctor if you experience breast tenderness or enlargement
- Do not use this medication for a condition for which it was not prescribed.
- Do not give this medication to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
- Do not apply on other parts of the body
- Avoid contact with the eyes. In case of accidental contact, rinse eyes with large amounts of cool tap water.
- Some people have experienced changes in hair color and/or texture
- Minoxidil is suspected to be toxic to cats and dogs. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6988634/, Please do not allow cats, dogs, or other pets to ingest this medication or to come into contact with the treatment site after the medication has been applied. If these occur, consult your pet's veterinarian
This information is not comprehensive. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. The content herein is not intended to be, act as, or replace medical advice or diagnosis for individual health conditions nor is it making evaluations as to the risks or benefits of particular compounded preparations. Please consult a licensed healthcare professional about diagnosis and treatment. Information and statements within this handout have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration
You may report side effects to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088 or visiting www.fda.gov/medwatch. Please see the full Prescribing Information for complete safety information.
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Why Hair Care at Evernow
Expert guided hair care
Access providers that specialize in hair loss during menopause
Address the ‘root’ cause
Oral and topical solutions to treat female pattern hair loss
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