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Is Minoxidil Legal in Uk

Alcohol and propylene glycol, found in some topical preparations, can dry out the scalp, causing dandruff and contact dermatitis. [20] Allergic reactions to minoxidil or the non-active ingredient propylene glycol present in some topical formulations of minoxidil have been reported. Minoxidil was developed in the late 1950s by the Upjohn Company (later part of Pfizer) to treat ulcers. In studies on dogs, the compound did not cure ulcers, but proved to be a powerful vasodilator. Upjohn synthesized more than 200 variations of the compound, including the one he developed in 1963 called minoxidil. [47] These studies led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve minoxidil (under the brand name “loniten”) as oral tablets in 1979 to treat high blood pressure. [48] [49] Oral minoxidil is a drug originally developed in the 1950s and approved by the FDA in 1979 to treat high blood pressure. It was first noticed in 1980 to improve hair loss in men. Minoxidil is a drug approved by Health Canada and the U.S. FDA for hair loss in both men and women. While 5% minoxidil foam has been approved for men since 2006, Health Canada and the FDA only approved 5% minoxidil foam for female pattern baldness (FPHL) in 2014.

Recent phase III clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of 5% minoxidil foam once daily for the treatment of FPHL, with a significant change in the number of hairs in the target area compared to baseline compared to placebo. Similar changes in hair count for the 5% foam solution and 2% minoxidil solution twice daily justified the non-inferiority of the 5% foam formulation. Five percent minoxidil foam provides an additional option for women with HPLPF and will soon be available in Canada. www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/minoxidil-topical-route/proper-use/drg-20068750www.regaine.co.uk/men/hair-loss-explained/faqswww.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15529357www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5765/smpc#gref We found that the efficacy, quality, or safety of unapproved drugs had not been tested. The lack of response from the advertiser meant that the ASA was not able to fully evaluate the advertised products and their appropriate license. We contacted the MHRA who provided us with further information. They said that topical finasteride with minoxidil and the advertised minoxidil solution were products containing active medicinal ingredients, and they were pretty sure they didn`t have a UK license due to the limited information on Hims` website, so they were likely unapproved drugs. A number of in vitro effects of minoxidil have been described in monocultures of various skin and hair follicle cell types, including stimulation of cell proliferation, inhibition of collagen synthesis and stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor, synthesis of prostaglandins and expression of leukotrienes B4. [30] “Side effects of topical minoxidil are rare,” says Brooke Grant Jeffy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Phoenix, Arizona, according to WebMD Connect to Care. According to the Mayo Clinic, some rare side effects of minoxidil include itching, swelling, and burning of the scalp.

Kahn, along with his colleague Paul J. Grant MD, had been given a certain amount of the drug and conducted their own research, as they first observed side effects. Neither Upjohn nor Chidsey were aware of the side effects of hair growth at the time. [52] Both doctors had experimented with a 1% solution of minoxidil mixed with several alcohol-based liquids. [53] Both parties filed patents to use the drug to prevent hair loss, which led to a decades-long process between Kahn and Upjohn that ended with the inclusion of Kahn`s name in a consolidated patent in 1986 (US #4,596,812 Charles A Chidsey, III and Guinter Kahn) and the receipt of royalties from the company to Kahn and Grant. [52] In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in using low-dose oral minoxidil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (hair loss). Studies have shown a significant increase in hair density in this condition with its use and it has also been shown to help with hair loss after chemotherapy. While oral minoxidil is generally well tolerated at low doses, as with most medications, side effects can occur and therefore the prescription should be supervised by a doctor who has experience in its use. These most often include: Topical solution of commercial minoxidile should be stored at a temperature of 20-25 ° C. Masterful formulations of minoxidil have been reported to have varying stability depending on the vehicle and method of preparation, and the FDA urges physicians and pharmacists not to manufacture extemporaneous topical formulations using commercially available minoxidil tablets. Minoxidil tablets should be stored in tightly closed containers at a temperature between 15 and 30 °C. In 2017, JAMA published a study of pharmacy prices in four states for 41 over-the-counter minoxidil products that were “gender-specific.” The authors found that the average price of minoxidil solutions was the same for women and men, although women`s formulations were 2% and men`s formulations were 5%, while the average price of minoxidil foams, which were all 5%, was 40% higher for women.