Just need to vent.

I started taking minox about 6 years ago and it just fucking ruined my life, I can't believe it.

I was 18 and I desperately wanted a beard lol (still do) so I went online and found out about "the magic drug". Applied it on my face for about 5 months and stopped because I barely had any results.

The following weeks I started to notice I was thinning on my widow's peak more and more, even though my dad has a full head of hair and no one started balding before 30 in my family. But I didn't know minox could cause that at the time so for years I just blamed the anti depressant I used to take at the time.

It got better, stopped thinning, and then it got worse, my hairline kept receding ,slowly but surely, so I started taking it again 5 years later and went and applied it on my beard... I was probably gonna go bald in a matter of years so I thought instead of fighting it and taking an even worse drug (fin) that could fuck me up even more, I might as well get a nice beard.

Problem is, it made things so much worse for my hair. In the 3 months I put it on my face, the balding got so much crazier, I started thinning bad on my crown which used to be intact, the recession also attacked the whole front part of my hair.

Unfortunately I hadn't connected the dots yet that minox might not be for me or whatever so I went and applied it on my hair as well to try to gain some time. And obviously it did the exact opposite. After 7 months of daily application (1ml beard area morning, 1ml hair at night) I lost almost all my hair. The whole MPB area is extremely thin and I had to shave my head bald.

At this point it clicked and I knew minoxidil was the reason why I started losing my hair in the first place (I know it's debatable and people might not agree but I'm convinced it is).

You guys are gonna say I asked for it but that's when I wanted to try oral minoxidil out of pure desperation about 2 months ago and stopped applying it topically. And now not only is it not working for my hair, which I expected, but I'm actually also LOSING my fucking beard now. I was sold this idea that beard hair stays even after you stop applying because it's not the same hormones that come into play blablabla, but here I am actually losing it, what a fucking joke. I see hairs on the floor everywhere and on every furniture constantly. I actually see them fall out. Also it's making me age like crazy but it might just be me idk.

Anyway all of that to say I so fucking wish I could go back in time and prevent myself from taking this shit. I was so fucking beautiful. Looking at pictures of myself from just a few years ago literally breaks my heart. I can't even look at myself in the mirror, I turn the lights on only in the next room when I have to so I don't see too much of what I've done to myself. Fuck I'm on the brink of killing myself over HAIR for fucks sake, just stupid, useless, dead fucking cells, it's so dumb.

Hello everybody,

I’m writing this seeking advice and counsel from people who have possibly gone through, or are currently going through, what I am experiencing.

I’m 22 years old and have noticed balding since I was 18. I finally decided to start taking 1 mg of oral finasteride and 2.5 mg of oral minoxidil every day. It’s been two weeks now. I didn’t really have any major side effects initially, aside from some minor headaches that went away after the first 2–3 days.

However, over the past couple of days, I’ve noticed that my sleep has become terrible. I wake up at least 3–5 times every night and have a hard time falling back asleep. I can’t take naps anymore and have been having very strange dreams. This has left me feeling tired, sluggish, and unrested throughout the day.

I’ve also noticed that my sex drive has decreased to the point where it’s rarely on my mind, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I had an erection. In addition, I’ve experienced increased anxiety and feelings of depression.

I do have other stressors in my life that I worry about, but I’m wondering if these medications could be causing some of this. I really don’t want to lose my hair, especially at a young age, but my mental health is far more important.

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations on what I should or can do? Are there any alternatives, or should I just accept the balding?

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

3 days ago I Started taking topical 7% minoxidil, twice a day….I’ve only taken it for 3 days, and i noticed the following symptoms: decreased libido, chest pressure, eye pain, dry mouth. after i noticed the chest pain today, i finally put it together that it might’ve been related to the minoxidil, which led me to this sub.

i guess im just looking for reassurance? i’m admittedly freaking out. but, i’ve only taken it for 3 days? grateful I listened to my body, if anyone noticed symptoms after such a short period of use like myself, what was your story? thanks .

Eleven cases of "werewolf syndrome" or hypertrichosis have emerged among infants in Spain, linked to their caregiver’s use of over-the-counter hair-loss treatments containing minoxidil. The rare condition is characterised by excessive hair growth resembling fur.

The Navarra Pharmacovigilance Center recently reported that each affected infant's caregiver had used topical 5% minoxidil, a popular ingredient in products like Rogaine and Hims. Investigators suspect that the drug was inadvertently absorbed by the babies either through skin contact or orally. “The condition receded completely when caregivers ceased using the treatment,” the report by El Economista noted.

The infants developed excessive hair growth on their back, legs, and face, in some cases giving them a striking resemblance to fictional characters such as Chewbacca from Star Wars. While fewer than 100 such cases have been documented globally since the Middle Ages, Spain has seen a sudden spate of cases since last year.

The phenomenon first gained widespread attention in 2023 when a breastfeeding infant developed body hair over two months. During a follow-up with the family, officials discovered that the father had been using 5% minoxidil for androgenic alopecia. Once he stopped the treatment, the child’s condition reversed. Health experts have reiterated the dangers of minoxidil exposure to infants, with the European Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee issuing strong warnings. Hypertrichosis isn’t the only risk; ingestion of the drug can lead to severe complications. In one case, a French girl was hospitalised with tachycardia and hypotension after swallowing a teaspoon of minoxidil, according to Reuters. Spain has dealt with similar incidents in the past. In 2017, at least 17 children developed hypertrichosis after minoxidil was mistakenly mixed into acid reflux medication. Elsewhere, in Malaysia, a 2-year-old girl with congenital hypertrichosis was affectionately called a “child from heaven” by local monarchs, highlighting a stark difference between genetic and environmental causes of the condition.

While hypertrichosis is rare and often reversible in such cases, its sudden occurrence has spotlighted the need for awareness about the risks of household medications. Experts urge caution, especially for parents using products that might unintentionally expose their infants to harmful substances. Does anyone felt any experiences like this. Or is it fake?

Good day, I have a question:

I've been in treatment for 8 months, results have been decent, but nothing groundbreaking. I went to my 6th month check last month, and Doctor decided to increase my dosis of Minoxidil.

I was taking 1mg Fin and 1.25mg Min for 6 months with no issues, the hair loss stopped almost completely, but there were little gains.

So Doctor decided to increase the dosis. I'm now taking 1mg Fin and 4mg Min, I've been taking it for 1 month, and last week these weird palpitations started. The 'heart skipping a beat' kind of thing. They are really frecuent, but I have no other sintoms like chest pain or lack of air.

Could it be the Minoxidil? I stopped drinking coffee and been smoking less, but it doesn't seem to go away.

What would happen if I stop taking the pills for a few days? Just to see if this goes away.

Thanks in advance.

Hey! I've been on oral fin and min for about a year, seen some good progress.

At the same time however, I've suffered two fairly bad injuries seemingly out of nowhere, a shoulder rotator cuff injury and gluteal tendonopathy injury, both of which are taking a peculiarly long time to heal. Unlike anything I've dealt with before and it's impacting my usual health.

It struck me this morning due to the timing along with the fin and min that perhaps I'm having some kind of over inflammatory response? Or, it's a coincidence. I'm only 38 though so don't think I should be experiencing such injuries so profoundly.

I'm not trying to self diagnose, I'm seeing a GP and a Physio, just want to know if anyone else had experienced anything similar?

What do you think?

Hi everyone. Exactly a year and a half ago, I used Rogaine 5% for 5 days, twice a day. On the fifth day, I noticed a slight drop in my erectile function (about 95% of normal) and some premature ejaculation. I stopped using it immediately. The very next day, my erection and libido dropped to absolute zero. I couldn't get an erection by any means—neither masturbation nor porn had any effect.

After a couple of weeks, I recovered to a state where I could get a weak erection, but it wouldn't last. My libido only wakes up now if I stimulate myself physically or visually. My penis has shrunk overtime. Also, six months in, I realized I was experiencing mild anhedonia and blunted emotions. Things that used to be my passion and kept me busy now feel merely "okay" at best, and I have to force myself to do them. For example, music—I used to be a musician.

Before taking minoxidil, I only researched the official information and thought that was enough. I trusted medicine and doctors. I couldn't even imagine that an over-the-counter drug, which doesn't even list these side effects as possible, could cause PERMANENT changes in my body. I didn’t even bother reading forums like Reddit because I thought it was pointless. I always believed there were just crazy people out there experiencing God knows what from everything, like anti-vaxxers. Well, now I’ve become one of them, lol.

I am 30 years old, and when I realize that I might have to live like this for the rest of my life... I feel like I've been thrown into prison for a crime I didn't commit. I regularly experience severe bouts of depression because of this.

Most of my time i'm chatting with many people with same stories as mine. Some of them suffer for 10 years after last minox application.

Nothing stupider has ever happened in my life. I researched the drug, looked up the side effects, stopped as soon as I felt something wrong (effects that weren't even listed on the box), and ended up with permanent damage. I couldn't have imagined this was even possible.

If you are thinking about taking minoxidil and were smart and cautious enough to check the forums first, my message to you is: DO NOT TOUCH THIS POISON. Yes, you might slightly reverse or halt your hair loss. But even a 1% chance that it will destroy your sex life, at the very least, is not worth it.

Also, I would be deeply grateful if anyone could share stories of recovery after a year and a half or longer. I need some hope. It is incredibly hard to live with the thought that you ruined your life with an over-the-counter hair lotion.

For all the people that don't believe people like me. Remember: Accutane didn't have any warning about sexual side effects for 35 years. Fin didn't have any warning for persistent sexual sides for 20 years. We have same situation with Minoxidil right now.

Hello fellow quitters,

I have been having carpal tunnel / tendinitis since starting Min but did a good job ignoring symptoms.

Has anyone dealt with hand redness? I am white and my whole hand will be red except my knuckles which are white, particularly after physical exertion.

I’ve had docs/Derms look at them and run every kind of test. Quitting Min is my last idea. I’m seeing a cardiologist next month so my best guess is heart damage / disorder.

I use an Apple Watch to track my heart and my night sleep rate is high 80s to high 50s. I took a sleep study 10 years ago and nothing came up but my Apple Watch says I’m borderline - sleep apnea.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks my balding bros and sisters.

Hello everyone. I’d like to start by saying that I am absolutely not trying to say that people are imagining their symptoms — that is not my point at all. I genuinely believe that everyone going through this deserves a lot of empathy and compassion.

That being said, I want to share my story, because maybe some people will relate to it.

A few months ago, my girlfriend started reading erotic novels — like many young women do — books featuring guys who are basically 6’6”, extremely muscular, and with absurdly huge penises. You know the kind of fantasy I mean.

I think that, subconsciously, it started putting pressure on me. At one point during sex, I felt like she wasn’t feeling me as much anymore, like she could feel my penis less. So I started overthinking, ruminating, and I just couldn’t let it go.

At the same time, I had already used topical minoxidil for four months about a year earlier with absolutely zero sexual side effects. None at all. I only stopped back then because it made me itchy.

Recently, I started using it again. Around the same time, this whole thing with my girlfriend happened. I asked her about it once and she didn’t really say anything. Then another time, I had that same feeling again, so I asked her, and she said that maybe she had felt me less — she had even wondered whether I had partially lost my erection, even though I hadn’t.

That’s when I entered a really negative spiral filled with anxiety. It even got to the point where I lost my erection during sex once. We stopped, she went downstairs, and I took a few deep breaths. Then I went back, called her back to bed, and we ended up finishing things just fine.

The reason I’m sharing this is that, for me personally, I’m now convinced that this was entirely in my head. I think those erotic novels created some subconscious pressure in me. And because I happened to be using minoxidil at the same time, I blamed everything on the minoxidil.

After that, I got caught in a vicious cycle.

I have a lot of compassion for people who are trapped in that spiral — thinking their libido is ruined or that their penis no longer works — when in reality, anxiety, sexual performance anxiety, subconscious pressure, and obsessive thinking may actually be the real issue.

Again, I’m not saying the medication can never affect sexual health. But in my case at least, I’m convinced it was linked to performance anxiety. And maybe some people here will recognize themselves in my story.

Hello, I also used Regaine topical for 2 days. I started to feel very bad. I stopped the treatment for a week and I don't feel okay anymore. What should I do to get better? Please give me some advice.

Its been a year and a half since quitting minoxidil. It has not gotten any better. Zero improvements. I have had thoughts. I dont know what to do anymore. Why wasnt there any information about this.

I think this started about the same time as I started taking oral M. Nerve study said no issues. I do have a ruptured herniated disc in my neck and pretty bad stenosis also. That alone has been giving me hand issues for awhile. Could it be the minoxidil or probably my herniated disc?

Good morning, I'm asking you something I've suspected for some time. For years, I've been taking minoxidil on and off, and I've also been experiencing various burning sensations, mild muscle pain, and tinnitus. Has anyone else experienced similar problems?I also noticed an increase in tinnitus

I am 23(M) started balding at 20. Last September it got very noticeable so I decided to start minox (The worst decision I have ever made). I was a hyper responder within 3 months I had a full head of hair but what I didn’t realize is how the side affects effected me. Here is a list of side effects I experienced that got progressively worse until they were unbearable -

Scalp irritation, acne, weight gain, water retention, heart palps, dizziness, loss of strength in gym, eye bags and circles, pale skin, shortness of breath - these were the minor side effects that I thought I could live with.

The major side effects that ruined my life include - Extreme fatigue, extreme depression, Anxiety, constant mood swings, irritability at the smallest things, constant stress, extreme insomnia and sleeping issues( stayed up all night and slept all day), loss of motivation and drive, brain fog and concentration issues.

Before starting this drug I was in the best place in my life. I was working full time towards my dream career, I was in great shape and health, I looked healthy. I was with a wonderful women that I loved , I was motivated disciplined and happy and healthy, I was mentally strong and worked hard towards my goals. I was a nice happy person towards strangers and loved ones. The only slight worry I had in life was my hair.

The things this drug did to me I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

I ended up quitting my job because of the focus,insomnia,and brain fog I just couldn’t do it anymore, I almost failed my online class in college because of the same reasons. I gained 15 pounds and look like I aged 10 years, I was depressed, had extreme anxiety and would sleep all day and was bed rotting for 2 months straight. If I even found the motivation to do anything I would be too fatigued and dizzy to do it. I was irritable to my loved ones , the smallest things would set me off and I would get mad at them (my family and friends also pointed out something had changed in me). I had this weird depression, it was like nothing Intrested me anymore and I had no will to live but not suicidal just no interest In life. This got so bad that I ended up neglecting and harming the love of my life and finally she couldn’t take it anymore and left me. Now I am at rock bottom.

I started topical in late September of 2025 by December 2025 I had extreme regrowth and decided to switch to 1.25 oral daily To maintain because topical was getting annoying this is when side effects amplified. The physical side effects were immediate but bearable the mental side effects started very subtle and progressed drastically. By January of this year I had finally connected the dots and decided I need to get off asap but wanted to try to taper off. By February 1st I couldn’t take it anymore and completely stopped (this was when my gf ended things because she couldn’t take the neglect anymore) it is now April 20th and I am finally feeling like myself again all of the side effects have gone away but it took around two months now I am just left with the damage this drug has done to fix. I feel like I lost everything I had tried so hard in life for and now I have to build all of it back up. At least I have my mind back. I was going crazy trying to figure out what was driving me crazy.

For all the big pharma fanboys-

I was always a healthy, strong person with no mental weakness and I have a happy purposeful life, so I have no reason to be depressed. I had no other occurrences in my life to explain the extreme mental and physical side effects I had other than starting minoxidil. The other night after being off minox for almost 3 months and getting myself back I decided to put 1 ml topical on my head. I did this because minoxidil worked wonders on my hair as I said, I was a hyper responder and I didn’t want to believe that it was causing all these issues. After the minoxidil dried almost all of the side effects came back almost instantly, the stress the anxiety, the depression and I did not sleep at all that night and ended up bed rotting all day the next day. I was literally in the best mood right before I took it and instantly it’s like a switch flipped. Maybe it’s the placebo effect of my past experience? I don’t think so. I am sure this drug is poison at least for me. Also my hair is now a little worse off than before starting minox, it is a lot thinner than before.

Now I am bald out of shape, the love of my life left me and my career is uncertain 😂. I could’ve just been bald and kept everything else but oh well At least I have my mind back. I look forward to rebuilding my life, but this drug was a major setback and I feel it necessary to put this info out there. We always hear about the side effects of fin but the side effects of min are very real as well.

I feel that the situation has improved I feel that I see normally and the ringing in my ears is weaker and almost impossible to hear and the touch feels more real and it feels like a burning sensation and the head feels full and as if more blood has flowed through it and it feels like the front of the forehead is filling with oxygen But it still doesn't feel 100 percent and I'm not sure because I had DPDR for 3 years in a permanent state and I don't know if I have finally recovered or not

I feel that the situation has improved I feel that I see normally and the ringing in my ears is weaker and almost impossible to hear and the touch feels more real and it feels like a burning sensation and the head feels full and as if more blood has flowed through it and it feels like the front of the forehead is filling with oxygen But it still doesn't feel 100 percent and I'm not sure because I had DPDR for 3 years in a permanent state and I don't know if I have finally recovered or not

Hi guys, So, I was on topical Min for almost a year and by the end I was getting very inconsistent with it, because I was getting demotivated as I wasn't experiencing any progress (or very very little progress) and it was making my hair and scalp extremely dry and flakey. And due to being inconsistent, my hairfall started worsening and the very little progress I made had completely halted. Hence, I decided to switch to Oral Min and started to slowly transition from Topical to Oral Min around December last year (2025).

In the beginning of February, I suddenly started experiencing extreme constipation which later caused acute fissure. I drink lots of water daily and eat a good amount of fibre, there was no change in my daily routine as well, other than me losing some weight. The doctor told the same thing that I've read on the internet, that Oral Min rarely causes constipation, and it must be my routine (food and water intake), but it's pretty much the same since a year. Then the fissure slowly healed, and I upped my dose at the start of April from the transitioning dosage to complete dosage of Oral Min, and after a week or so I started getting constipation again and the pain in my fissure has returned.

I got it checked again, and I'm on medication for now, and am going to do a complete health checkup soon, but it has been bothering me a lot lately.

Did any of you experience it, or am I overthinking it? Oral Min had been surprisingly very helpful and I'm responding very well to it, which is why I don't want to stop Oral Min and test/experiment and see if it is the cause of the constipation. I'm afraid of losing all the progress I've gotten from Oral Min over the past 5 months and cause irreversible damage to my hair :'( Did any of you have a similar experience, or do you have any advice/suggestions for me?

Thanks in advance!

You know, while going through side effects, I was wondering if I can sue for product liability because I didn't know I was taking this type of risk. Anyone willing to all sue as a group, please dm me, we can plan something out,

Hola, vengo a contar mi experiencia con el Minoxidil tópico y a ver si alguien puede ayudar o compartir su experiencia.

Me dedico al deporte desde pequeño, pero desde que empecé a tomar el Minoxidil tópico, mis articulaciones y mis tendones me limitan realizar cualquier tipo de actividad física.

Empezaré contando mis síntomas:

- Realizando una pretemporada. Mis dos tendones del cuádriceps empezaron a desarrollar simultáneamente daños. No desgarro, pero si tendinopatía, es decir patología del tendón sin especificar.

- Mientras hacía readaptación, después de hacer tratamiento de este primer síntoma, me apareció el segundo dolor en la rodillas por delante y por detrás, tendones rotulianos y posteriores de la rodilla. Ambas rodillas simultáneamente.

- A los dos meses empezó a arder y hormigueo ambos tendones de Aquiles simultáneamente.

AQUI PARE LA TOMA DE MINOXIDIL TOPICO…

- El siguiente y últimos fue crujidos en todas las articulaciones, codos, hombros, tobillos, manos, acompañado de palpitaciones en los músculos, debido al mal estado de los tendones.

Diagnósticos que me han dado:

- Como el primer síntoma fue practicando deporte, me diagnosticaron, fisioterapeutas y traumatólogos tendinopatía, es decir, patología del tendón.

- Posteriormente, como no se solucionaba, acudí a reumatólogos , medicos y doctores privados , médicos del estómago… y empezaron a realizarme todo típico de analíticas, resonancias y pruebas musculoesqueléticas.

- También me miré posible intoxicacion metales pesados, el cual realicé quelaciones para intentar desintoxicar los posibles residuos de Minoxidil

Todas las analíticas todas las pruebas en Seguridad Social, en hospitales privados están correctas incluso excelentes pero siguen los síntomas.

Tratamientos que me he realizado

- EPI , prp, pruebas del estómago, readaptación tendinosas, quelaciones intravenosas, fisioterapia, ondas de choque, ozonoterapia, luz roja, magnetoterapia, incluso operaciones… y un sin fin de posibles pruebas que podían ayudar.

En fin, tengo síntomas tendinosos y articulares en todo el cuerpo y he acudido a fisioterapias traumatólogos reumatólogos, readaptadores, médicos de la Seguridad Social, médicos privados, incluso dentistas, dietistas para cubrir todos los aspectos y(también he descartado que sea enfermedad del sistema inmune) y todos me diagnostican un perfecto estado de salud, excepto síntomas anormales.

Lo único que coincide en el tramo de tiempo antes de que aparecieran a los síntomas, fue que 2/3 meses antes empecé con el Minoxidil tópico.. me he informado y he visto bastantes estudios de que el Minoxidil puede inhibir la lisil hidroxilasa y afectar al tejido conectivo del colágeno en el cuerpo… y otros efectos secundarios más que por suerte no he tenido.

He tomado medidas contra esto suplementando con colágeno, vitamina C incluso magnesio y cualquier cosa que pueda mejorar la salud y la salud del tejido conectivo. Lamentablemente ha ayudado pero no ha dado resultados.

Con este Post solo quería compartir mi experiencia e intentar buscar ayuda o ayudarnos con los diferentes efectos secundarios de este medicamento relativamente nuevo y poco estudiado.

Vosotros habéis tenido efectos secundarios? como lo habéis podido solucionar?

I have just started to apply topical (5%) minoxidil to my temples at 18 years old, but i just read something about minoxidil potentially lowering prolactin or interfering with hormones in general. As i am 18 years old i dont want to mess with my hormones so what should i do? Have anyone gotten hormonal side effects from topical. I should also say that i only apply like 3-4 drops per tempel a day.

After almost 2 years of daily use I decided to quit today because I can't take the side effects anymore. The longer I use it the worse it gets I think I even developed a heart disease because of it because my heart feels weak at the smallest anger or frustration and my joints feel weak since day 1, I don't know how I resisted all these years with such weak joints and Im a guy who has a physical job so Imagine the suffering. I feel fatigue all day and my sexual drive is at its lowest due to low blood pressure I also have breathing problems. I can go all day pointing out the side effects so please don't do what I did and stop using it. It's dangerous in the long term use. I appreciate the results though because I developed a nice facial hair but payed a heavy price for it.