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There is no reason for you or anyone else to feel that I need to be convinced. I am not a decision maker in the process. I only know and understand why the rules are what they are - but I had nothing to do with making them. If the OP wants to use a higher percentage blend than 5%, his most reliable means to get it is through his doctor and a compounding pharmacy. Any grey market source he finds will eventually be shut down. Then he will have to find another, then another when that one gets shut down, then yet another when that one gets shut down. This is not going to end anytime soon. So you need do the best you can with what reliable resources are available. The most reliable and hassle free blend of Minoxidil to get is 5%. If you want stronger than that, work with your doctor.
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its impossible for me to use minox twice a day, because my hair is so short and it leaves a visible residue. is 5% once a day not very useful?Comment
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The orthodox advice is: If you experience side effects from 5% minoxidil, you should, of course, discontinue use. In particular, you should not use if you have had a heart attack or have a 'heart condition'. You might also note that the vast majority of scalp allergies to minoxidil are in fact allergies to the propylene glycol included in many minoxidil formulations.
Assuming you experience no side effects from 5% minoxidil, here is Richard Lee's view of higher % minox.
SIDE EFFECTS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS
Q. What is the margin of safety from having systemic effects due to minoxidil when dosing with *******15 daily?
A. Minoxidil requires a serum concentration of 20 ng/mL to have any hemodynamic or other systemic effect in the human body. Allowing for the average 1.4% absorption (range 0.3 - 4.5%) of minoxidil from the topical application of 1 mL of *******15,
there will be a serum concentration of minoxidil of ~4 ng / mL of minoxidil in the serum. So, there is an estimated 5-fold safety margin from any systemic effects of minoxidil due to the use of *******15, when it is used once/day. For optimal results, it is suggested that topical minoxidil be applied twice/day. One dose should be 1mL *******15 and the second dose, at least 8 hours apart, should be 1mL of the lower concentration ******* 5% or 5% Minoxidil . . .
Our incidence of having any systemic side effects with the ******* 12.5% Lotion is less than 1 patient per 1500.
This is the view of an acknowledged expert in the field with extensive experience (who was also a businessman). I would like to have the view of other experts in the field with extensive experience.Comment
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Fussing over this the way you do is never going to do you any good. It is not going to make high percentage blends more available or easier to get. You need to be under a doctors supervision if you are going to use a blend higher than 5%. If you want to use a blend higher than 5%, go to your doctor and ask for a script. Then go to a compounding pharmacy to have it made.Comment
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I think this view is too simplistic. The evidence suggests that compounding 15% minoxidil is problematic. I understand that the Belgravia Clinic and others have said they cannot do it and produce a cream/paste, instead. Other compounding chemists have tried it and cannot solve problems of crystallization. Others say they can do it, but from the research I have done with users of ******* 15, they don't do it so effectively. I would like to know why.
Also, you are, of course, referring to the situation in the USA. My interests are more international/global/scientific.Comment
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