5 mg of oral minoxidil : How well does it work?

A Closer Look at the 2020 Panchaprateep et al. Study

A 2020 study is important to be take note. It is among the most widely referenced studies of the effectiveness of oral minoxidil in males.

The study was a prospective study of 30 men aged 24-59 with AGA. It was not a randomized controlled trial so we need to keep this in mind as we review the study. Oral minoxidil was given as 5 mg once daily for 24 weeks

The efficacy of oral minoxidil was evaluated via

a) Hair counts

b) Hair diameter

c) Photographs

d) Self administered and physician based assessments of improvement

Results

There was a significant increase in total and non-vellus hair counts at weeks 12 and 24

Total hair counts increased 19.23 % at week 24. Non-vellus hair counts: 23.57 % week 24. There was also an increase in hair diameter by 15.21% by week 24

The following are the clinician assessments of improvement (done by blinded dermatologists)

What were the side effects of oral minoxidil in males in the Panchaprateep et al study?

Hypertrichosis in 93.3 %  at week 24

Pedal edema 3 patients (10 %) 

No serious cardiovascular effects

No significant changes in blood pressure or heart  rate

Abnormal EKG in 6 of 30 pts (20 %)

Reference

Panchaprateep et al. Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil 5 mg Once Daily in the Treatment of Male Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia: An Open-Label and Global Photographic Assessment. Dermatol Ther. 2020 Dec;10(6):1345-1357