Q. After reading about low-dose minoxidil a few years ago, I got a prescription from my general practitioner and have been taking it ever since. My fine hair began to thin with menopause, and I could barely make a ponytail.
I estimate its quantity has increased by 30% to 40% without any apparent side effects. For the first time in years, the hairline around my face has filled in and I’m not obliged to have a short fringe. Having more hair has been a great improvement and I will continue to take 2.5 milligrams of minoxidil daily.
A. A recent systematic review of 27 studies of this off-label use of the blood pressure pill minoxidil found that 35% to 47% of participants noticed improved hair growth (Frontiers in Pharmacology, June 3, 2025). Most side effects were minor, although some people had unwanted hair growth and a few reported swollen ankles. The dose you are taking appears to be in line with the effective dose in these studies.
Minoxidil was originally approved to treat high blood pressure in 1979. The oral dose ranges from 5 to 100 milligrams daily. At those doses, though, side effects can be severe. Low-dose minoxidil (0.25 milligrams to 5 milligrams) is considered much safer but still requires medical supervision.
Q. I was prescribed omeprazole for 25 years. Out of the blue, with no other risk factors, I was diagnosed four years ago with stage 3 kidney disease.
I was treated for the kidney disease with immunosuppressant drugs and have been in remission for three years. When I mentioned that proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole have been linked to kidney problems, my nephrologist rolled his eyes. I still believe it was the cause of my condition.
A. A systematic review of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole concluded: “PPIs are associated with the development of CKD” [chronic kidney disease] (Cureus, Dec. 3, 2023).
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”
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