You can use minoxidil more than twice a day, but you should not because there is no added benefit to using it more than twice a day; therefore, you may experience side effects. According to some studies, even if you use minoxidil once a day, it can work as if you used it twice a day.
In this article, we are going to answer this question in more detail.
Recommended dosage of minoxidil
In every bottle of minoxidil, you can see the recommended dosage is 2ml a day, 1ml in the morning and 1ml in the evening. Even if your doctor prescribes you minoxidil, he will recommend you to follow this same guideline.
The reason doctor and minoxidil companies tell you to use it twice in a day is the lifespan of minoxidil, which is 20 to 22 hours. That means, if you apply minoxidil in your scalp or beard, it will work for 20 to 22 hours.
It is impossible to know if it will work for you 20 hours or 22 hours, but let’s consider the minimum which is 20 hours, which means if you use it every 20 hours, it will still be effective for you.
Based on this, sometimes you can even use minoxidil only once a day, twice is not even required. Then why would you want to use it more than twice? It’s a medicine and consider it’s as a medicine.
If someone takes a double dose of blood pressure medicine or diabetic medication, what will happen? They will suffer severe side effects and may even die.
So, don’t take more than the recommended dosage of any medicine.
What are the side effects of topical minoxidil?
According to rxlist, minoxidil side effects are –
- Irritation
- Eczema
- Abnormal hair growth on the body
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Application site redness
- Worsening of hair loss
- Burning
- Respiratory infections
- Tendinitis
- Back pain
- Fractures
- Sinusitis
- Fluid retention (edema)
- Anxiety
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Faintness
When you take only the recommended dosage, you are very unlikely to experience many of these side effects. However, if you keep breaking the rules, these side effects may occur.
So better be safe and follow your doctor’s prescription.
Final Verdict
Minoxidil is a safe and effective medication that can be used to promote hair growth. It is important to follow the recommended dosage and to apply the medication correctly. Results may vary, but most people should see some improvement in hair growth.
References
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Minoxidil usage guidelines: How and when should I apply? – https://www.hairmdindia.com/questions/how-many-times-a-day-should-i-use-minoxidil/
- What to know about minoxidil – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/minoxidil