Rogaine
® (
minoxidil) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication used in the treatment of male and female pattern baldness, a condition medically known as androgenetic alopecia. It is applied directly on the scalp to stimulate hair growth.
Minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine, is also available as an oral tablet (
Loniten®), which is used to treat severe
hypertension (
high blood pressure). Although these medications contain the same active ingredient, they are not the same medication. Loniten should not be used to promote hair growth, as it may cause serious and potentially dangerous side effects. This article applies only to minoxidil formulations that are applied directly on the scalp.
Who Makes This Medication?
Brand-name Rogaine is made by Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products. Generic versions are made by various manufacturers.
It is not exactly known how this medication works to cause hair growth. It is thought that the medication stimulates resting hair follicles to enter into an active growth phase and, therefore, grow hair. Rogaine may open the blood vessels around the hair follicles, allowing more blood to flow to the follicles. It could also directly stimulate and enlarge the hair follicles.
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