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Minoxidil is indicated for the treatment of severe hypertension.

It should not be used as the sole agent to initiate therapy. It is a peripheral vasodilator and should be given in conjunction with a diuretic, to control salt and water retention, and a beta-adrenergic blocking agent, or appropriate substitute, to control reflex tachycardia.

Patients over 12 years and adults

The recommended starting dose is 5 mg per day. If required, this dosage can later be increased up to 20 mg, and then to 40 mg daily (given as a single dose or in two divided doses). Dose increases should be made at increments of 5 mg to 10 mg minoxidil per day at intervals of three or more days. If a dose of 50 mg of minoxidil has been reached, the dose may be increased by 25 mg minoxidil per day to a maximum dose of 100 mg per day.

If the desired decrease of diastolic blood pressure exceeds 30 mmHg, dosage should be divided to two daily doses to keep daily blood pressure fluctuations as low as possible.

The use of minoxidil in children is restricted to children with severe hypertension associated with target organ damage where other treatment has failed. The data regarding the use of minoxidil in children is very limited, especially in infants. The dosage recommendations can only be considered as a rough guide to treatment at present as this is based on the publication of a few case reports and studies involving a small number of children. The starting dose used based on these reports is 0.2 mg/kg of minoxidil as a single or divided dose. Careful titration increasing in steps of 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg/day at intervals of at least 3 days is essential. The effective dose range is 0.25 to 1.0 mg/kg/day. The maximum dose is 50 mg/day.

Treatment of children with minoxidil should only be initiated under the close supervision of a specialist in hospital.

At present there are no extensive clinical studies with minoxidil in patients over age 65. There is data indicating that elevated systolic and diastolic pressures are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease in individuals over age 65. However, elderly patients may be sensitive to the blood pressure lowering effect of minoxidil and thus caution is urged in initiating therapy as orthostatic hypotension may occur. It is suggested that 2.5 mg per day be used as the initial starting dose in patients over 65 years of age.

It is recommended that, where possible, antihypertensive therapy, other than a beta-adrenergic blocking agent and a diuretic be discontinued before minoxidil treatment is started. It is recognised that some antihypertensive agents should not be abruptly discontinued. These drugs should be gradually discontinued during the first week of minoxidil treatment.

Minoxidil causes sodium retention and if used alone can result in several hundred milli-equivalents of salt being retained together with a corresponding volume of water.

Therefore, in all patients who are not on dialysis, minoxidil must be given in conjunction with a diuretic in sufficient dosage to maintain salt and water balance. Examples of the daily dosages of diuretics commonly used when starting therapy with minoxidil include:

1. Hydrochlorothiazide (100 mg) - or other thiazides at equi-effective dosage.

2. Chlortalidone (100 mg).

3. Furosemide (80 mg).

If excessive water retention results in a weight gain of more than 3 pounds when a thiazide or chlortalidone is being used, diuretic therapy should be changed to furosemide, the dose of which may be increased in accordance with the patient''s requirements. Diuretic dosage in children should be proportionally less in relation to weight.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: MINOXIDIL
• Production Capacity: 1000000 strips
• Delivery Time: INSTANT
• Packaging Details: 10 X 10