Rogaine worsening POTS?

[green]

Hello All,

I've been posting for a few months about how my POTS has been worse recently. Especially this winter.

Well, I stopped taking my rogaine on Sunday, and I am feeling better! This is nuts. 

Best,

Green

[dancer65]

Rogaine /Minoxidil is a vasodilator so nutrients can reach the hair follicle ,it also affects the calcium channels I believe,  maybe that's why it exasperated your symptons . However it's good you feel better I hope stopping it doesn't affect your hair loss negatively 

[green]

Thanks, dancer65. I own some infrared lights, and I might use them on my head instead of rogaine. 

Interestingly: I bought infrared lights a long time ago because of the research on LLLT and cognitive enhancement. I thought LLLT would help with my brain fog. I would use the lights all over my body too - because of the research suggesting it can enhance your mitochondrial functioning. I had some mixed results, and now I wonder if the reason why is because infrared is a vasodialator. Maybe it was just too much vasodialation.  

The drug that helps me the MOST remains nicotine. And I understand that is a vasocostrictor, so I may have more of a problem with constriction. I also have the worst symptoms in the heat.

I could not find hypotension listed as a side effect of topical rogaine. It may be that I'm hyper-sensitive. I think that I am a slow metabolizer of toxins, since this is common among caucasians and since a small dosage of coffee can keep me awake 8-12 hours later. 

Well, previous to stopping the rogaine, I talked to my doctor about how much worse things have been for me and we made a plan. I'm going to stick with it, since this improvement could be an aberration: I'm still going to get an EKG tomorrow and then try taking time-release mestinon.  My understanding is that mestinon provides some vasoconstriction. I'm mostly hoping it will help me deal with exercise intolerance so I can go back to running and biking, 

Super-cold where I am right now and I'm still having my usual winter blues: hard to get motivated, attention-span is impaired, BUT...it's NOTHING like the general loss of muscle tone and vitality I had a week ago. 

 

[dancer65]

Yes it does lower BP in its generic form minoxodil was used as a blood pressure drug , I think it was in the 80s it was noticed that it prevented further hair loss .

I take midodrine which has definatly helped with the exercise intolerance but it has been a long slow process to see improvements . 

I hear you I hate the winter I just want to hibernate or cuddle up in a blanket with a hot water bottle ! 

Stay warm and good luck tomorrow x

[green]

>Yes it does lower BP in its generic form minoxodil was used as a blood pressure drug , I think it was in the 80s it was noticed that it prevented further hair loss 

But my understanding was that it is a blood pressure drug when administered orally. Topically, one would hope the effects would be local instead of systemic. 

[StayAtHomeMom]

Out of curiosity do you have bald patches or just thinning hair? If it is just thinning try Doo Gro. It is a black hair product that I used to use to help thicken my hair. I used the mega thickening condition once a week. My hair hadn't grew in length for years and in six months it went from the middle of my back to my hips. They have a whole line. 

[green]

Thank you, StayAtHomeMom

I will try Doo Gro. 

I think that I am both losing hair follicles as well as losing thickness in many of the follicles that remain. But, it isn't patchy, just thinning/receding.