Loniten
- Generic Name: minoxidil tablets, usp
- Brand Name: Loniten
- Drug Class: Vasodilators
Loniten (Minoxidil Tablets, USP) side effects drug center
Loniten Side Effects Center
Loniten (minoxidil) is an antihypertensive peripheral vasodilator used only in the treatment of hypertension that is symptomatic or associated with target organ damage and is not manageable with maximum therapeutic doses of a diuretic plus two other antihypertensive drugs. Common side effects of Loniten include:
- dizziness or lightheadedness as your body adjusts to the medication,
- increased growth or darkening of fine body hairs (this will usually return to normal within 1 to 6 months after stopping this medication),
- rash,
- low blood platelet count,
- low blood white cell count,
- nausea,
- vomiting, and
- breast tenderness.
The recommended initial adult dosage of Loniten tablets is 5 mg given as a single daily dose. Loniten may interact with guanethidine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Loniten should be taken only if prescribed. This drug is not recommended for use while breastfeeding.
Our Loniten (minoxidil) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Loniten Consumer Information
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- new or worsening chest pain;
- chest pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder;
- fast or pounding heartbeats;
- swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet;
- rapid weight gain, especially in your face and midsection;
- shortness of breath;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- fluid build-up in the lungs--pain when you breathe, feeling short of breath while lying down, wheezing, gasping for breath, cough with foamy mucus; or
- severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common side effects may include:
- changes in color, length, or thickness of body or facial hair;
- nausea, vomiting;
- rash; or
- breast pain or tenderness.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Loniten (Minoxidil Tablets, USP)
Loniten Professional Information
SIDE EFFECTS
Salt and Water Retention
(see WARNINGS: Concomitant Use of Adequate Diuretic is Required)—Temporary edema developed in 7% of patients who were not edematous at the start of therapy.
Pericarditis, Pericardial Effusion And Tamponade
(see WARNINGS).
Dermatologic
Hypertrichosis—Elongation, thickening, and enhanced pigmentation of fine body hair are seen in about 80% of patients taking LONITEN Tablets. This develops within 3 to 6 weeks after starting therapy. It is usually first noticed on the temples, between the eyebrows, between the hairline and the eyebrows, or in the side-burn area of the upper lateral cheek, later extending to the back, arms, legs, and scalp. Upon discontinuation of LONITEN, new hair growth stops, but 1 to 6 months may be required for restoration to pretreatment appearance. No endocrine abnormalities have been found to explain the abnormal hair growth; thus, it is hypertrichosis without virilism. Hair growth is especially disturbing to children and women and such patients should be thoroughly informed about this effect before therapy with LONITEN is begun.
Allergic—Rashes have been reported, including rare reports of bullous eruptions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.
Hematologic
Thrombocytopenia and leukopenia (WBC < 3000/mm³ ) have rarely been reported.
Gastrointestinal
Nausea and/or vomiting has been reported. In clinical trials the incidence of nausea and vomiting associated with the underlying disease has shown a decrease from pretrial levels.
Miscellaneous
Breast tenderness—This developed in less than 1% of patients.
Altered Laboratory Findings
(a) ECG changes—Changes in direction and magnitude of the ECG T-waves occur in approximately 60% of patients treated with LONITEN. In rare instances a large negative amplitude of the T-wave may encroach upon the S-T segment, but the S-T segment is not independently altered. These changes usually disappear with continuance of treatment and revert to the pretreatment state if LONITEN is discontinued. No symptoms have been associated with these changes, nor have there been alterations in blood cell counts or in plasma enzyme concentrations that would suggest myocardial damage. Long-term treatment of patients manifesting such changes has provided no evidence of deteriorating cardiac function. At present the changes appear to be nonspecific and without identifiable clinical significance. (b) Effects of hemodilution—hematocrit, hemoglobin and erythrocyte count usually fall about 7% initially and then recover to pretreatment levels. (c) Other—Alkaline phosphatase increased varyingly without other evidence of liver or bone abnormality. Serum creatinine increased an average of 6% and BUN slightly more, but later declined to pretreatment levels.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Loniten (Minoxidil Tablets, USP)
&Copy; Loniten Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Loniten Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.