Loniten (Minoxidil)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Loniten Used For?
Loniten contains minoxidil and is specifically prescribed for severe cases of high blood pressure that require combination therapy with other blood pressure medications.
Primary Uses
Loniten is used to lower high blood pressure (hypertension). It is reserved for severe cases where it is used in combination with other blood pressure lowering medicines.
How It Works
Loniten works by relaxing the muscles of your blood vessels. This makes it easier for your blood to flow around your body and results in a decrease in your blood pressure.
Important: Loniten helps control your high blood pressure, but does not cure it. Therefore, you must take Loniten every day.
How to Take Loniten
Take Loniten exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the tablets with a glass of water and take them at the same time each day.
Dosage Instructions
The usual adult dosage range of Loniten is between 5 mg and 40 mg per day. The maximum recommended dosage is 100 mg per day. Your doctor will adjust the dose to suit your individual needs. Dosage adjustments are usually made at intervals of 3 days or longer.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Important: Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- unusual growth, thickening and darkening of fine body hair (usually first noticed on or around your face about 3 to 6 weeks after starting)
- changes in hair colour
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- puffiness or swelling of face, eyes, ankles, hands or feet
- weight gain
- increase in heart rate
- dizziness or light headedness (particularly when standing up)
- tiredness
- muscle aches
- constipation, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting
- stomach pain or signs of indigestion
- rash
- breast tenderness
- frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
- bleeding or bruising more easily
- onset or worsening of angina (chest pain)
- pain behind the breast bone
- shortness of breath
- difficulty breathing
- peeling skin or skin redness
- severe blisters and bleeding in lips, mouth, nose and genitals
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Loniten should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Loniten
Do not take Loniten if you are allergic to minoxidil or any ingredients, have phaeochromocytoma (rare tumour of the adrenal gland), have pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the vessels of the lung), are pregnant, or are not using contraception and could fall pregnant.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have unstable or mild hypertension, symptoms of heart failure, heart attack history, fast heart rate, chest pain, kidney failure, regular dialysis, or liver disease.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Loniten is not recommended for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Loniten passes into breast milk and it is not known whether this will have any effect on the baby.
Serious Warning: Do not stop taking Loniten or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Loniten and affect how it works.
Important: Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including vitamins or supplements bought without a prescription.
- guanethidine (a type of medicine used to treat high blood pressure)
Alcohol & Driving
Be careful when driving or operating machinery as Loniten may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Loniten affects you. As with some other blood pressure lowering medicines, Loniten may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Loniten before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed.
Storage
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Store away from moisture, heat or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car or on window sills. Keep where young children cannot reach it.
Overdose Information
If you think that you have taken too much Loniten, you may need urgent medical attention. You should immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (by calling 13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Loniten helps control your high blood pressure, but dosage adjustments are usually made at intervals of 3 days or longer as your doctor monitors your response to the medication.
The medication guide indicates to swallow Loniten tablets with a glass of water, but does not specify whether it needs to be taken with or without food. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for specific instructions.
Do not stop taking Loniten or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor. You must take Loniten every day as it helps control your high blood pressure but does not cure it.
Yes, unusual growth, thickening and darkening of fine body hair is a common side effect. This is usually first noticed on or around your face about 3 to 6 weeks after starting Loniten. This effect may slow after long-term use and will be reversed approximately 1 to 3 months after stopping Loniten therapy.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
No, do not take Loniten if you are pregnant or not using contraception and could fall pregnant. Loniten is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
Remind any doctor, pharmacist or dentist you visit that you are using Loniten. If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Loniten.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.