Like all medicines, this treatment can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. These effects are normally mild to moderate in nature, if experienced at all.
• Minoxidil: if you have high blood pressure, contact your doctor immediately if you are feeling faint or dizzy, if your body is holding on to more water than normal, if you find that you get more wheezy, breathless and tired or if you notice angina (pains in your chest) for the first time. May affect more than 1 in 10 people: increased heart rate, inflammation of the lining that surrounds the heart, abnormal electrocardiogram, increased hair growth on the face or body, hair colour changes. May affect up to 1 in 10 people: accumulation of fluid around the heart, compression of the heart due to a buildup of fluid, fluid retention. May affect up to 1 in 1000 people: decrease in white blood cells, reduction in blood cells, reduction in blood platelets, which increases risk of bleeding or bruising, serious illness with blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes and genitals, inflammation and blistering of the skin, rash.
• Finasteride: in clinical trials, 3.8% of patients receiving a treatment of oral Finasteride tablets noticed some sort of sexual side effects, compared to 2.1% of patients who were taking the placebo. These side effects included less desire to have sex, difficulties with erectile function and decreases in the volume of semen released during sex. Other possible side effects include breast tenderness or enlargement and rash. The side effects are usually temporary and disappear when the treatment is stopped. Stop taking Finasteride and talk to your doctor immediately if you experience depression (feeling of severe sadness and unworthiness).
• Biotin is generally well tolerated, but when taken in excess, side effects may include stomach ache, trouble sleeping, excessive thirst, skin rashes, digestive upset, problems with insulin release, and kidney problems.
• Vitamin C is generally well tolerated, but when taken in excess, side effects include stomach pain, diarrhoea, flatulence.
• Vitamin B5 is generally well tolerated, but when taken in excess, side effects may include diarrhoea.
• Vitamin B6 is generally well tolerated, but when taken in excess, side effects may include lack of muscle control, rash, heartburn and nausea, sensitivity to light and numbness.
If you experience any of the following side effects stop using the medicine and seek medical help immediately:
• signs of allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing or lumps under your skin (hives).
• changes in breast tissue such as swelling, tenderness, pain, or if there is any discharge from the nipple.
• chest pain or testicular pain.
Stop using the medicine and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any of the following:
• dizziness, feeling faint due to low blood pressure.
• palpitations and/or fast heart beat.
• swelling in the hands, feet or legs, or shortness of breath.
• sudden, unexplained weight gain (more than 2kg).
• increased difficulty in breathing.
• new or worsening pain in the chest, arm, or shoulder or signs of severe indigestion.
Other common side effects include:
• temporary hair loss (or shedding) may occur during the first 2-4 weeks of use. This is likely to be a result of a change in the natural hair growth cycle. This should stop within a couple of weeks.
• headache.