If Minoxidil Has A 22 Hour Half Life, Why Do Studies Show Superior Results With 2x Day Use?

[kj6723]

Currently I use minoxidil 2x day, foam in the morning and liquid at night, however, I find I much prefer the aesthetic of my hair when I sleep on it and then don't really f*** with it in the morning, as it has a thicker appearance throughout the day. As such I'm considering dropping my morning minoxidil application and only applying liquid 1x daily before bed.

In theory, the 22 hour half life would indicate that results of 1x day application should be identical/nearly identical to 2x day, but I believe the studies don't indicate this, although while making this thread and googling studies I couldn't find any other than the 5% 1x daily compared to 2% 2x daily for female hair loss. I do believe I've seen other studies indicating 2x daily is better

 

[abba]

This is just conjecture, but 22 is not the same as 24, so by applying Minoxidil again you're guaranteeing it'll have an effect for the whole day, not just for 22 hours. The superior results in that case would be down to the 2 extra hours of effect, but there might be something else to this.

 

[kj6723]

This is just conjecture, but 22 is not the same as 24, so by applying Minoxidil again you're guaranteeing it'll have an effect for the whole day, not just for 22 hours. The superior results in that case would be down to the 2 extra hours of effect, but there might be something else to this.

Man maybe that 2 hours add up over time, that could be the case.

I wish I could find a study showing how much more superior 2x a day is so that I could see how much gains I'd potentially be risking

 

[bridgeburn]

you could try 10% once a day?

 

[kj6723]

you could try 10% once a day?

Does 10% have a longer half life? I feel like I see more negative than positive experiences about high percentage minoxidil's, although it's all anecdotal. Have there been any actual legit studies done on 10% minoxidil?

 

[bridgeburn]

Does 10% have a longer half life? I feel like I see more negative than positive experiences about high percentage minoxidil's, although it's all anecdotal. Have there been any actual legit studies done on 10% minoxidil?

no, its just a higher amount so more goes into the system. a problem with minoxidil is that the effectiveness depends on the individuals sulfotransferase levels. but I use 15% minoxidil every other day and have a positive experience.

 

[g.i joey]

If i finish my minoxidil bottles in 2-3 weeks and only use it once a day, is it safe to say im already using more than 5%?

 

[DKC]

2x a day will provide your body with more minoxidil in serum, if the half life is 22 hrs then the amount you accumulate in 1 day is not that much compared to applying twice a day.

Its more effective because the goal is to build up the substance in your body to the point where it can help with hair growth. But continued use over long term then starts to over accumulate and thats when side effects like bloating and high blood pressure can come in. Thats why its always good over long term use to take the occasional day off treatment just to taper down the accumulation.

In my case I take finasteride and use minoxidil, in a month there will be at least 2-3 days where I don't take my treatment just to taper off slightly.

 

[DKC]

If i finish my minoxidil bottles in 2-3 weeks and only use it once a day, is it safe to say im already using more than 5%?

In theory yes but it would mean more fluctuation of the minoxidil in your body, which might not be as good as providing a consistent 2x a day regime where the dose is more spread out, these things can matter more for drugs with a lower half life.

Imo, foam is not as effective as liquid anyway. I used foam for 3 years with no results but recently switched to liquid and noticing things happening on my scalp.

Also, the aesthetic look you describe, I bet a lot of it comes from the foam, the foam has always had an massive styling quality. So if you got rid of the foam it probably wouldn't look as good. So t

 

[CapiLarry]

The half life is the point at which 50% of the original concentration remains. At 22 hrs half of the minoxidil conc. remains. At 24 - slightly less. If the relationship is linear - the min decreases around 4% per hour. But usually the relationship is not linear and the concentration drops faster at first then tapers off towards zero over time

Applying once a day would keep you at 46% or better throughout the day.

Applying twice a day keeps the concentration at around 75% or better throughout the day.

I guess from there it depends on how well you respond.

 

[abovedagame]

Where is this study you refer to that shows twice a day is superior? I believe twice is a day is how Rogaine was tested in FDA trials.

Dr. Bernstein recommends his patients only use it once a day and he has many good results posted on his site.

Dr. Lee used to recommend twice daily application for the first couple years to maximinze regrowth then bump down to once a day to maintain.

 

[resu]

I believe is to guarantee that all areas receive the minoxidil because it may get stuff in the hairs and not on the scalp.

 

[DKC]

Not referring to any specific study but simple pharmacokinetics would tell you that 2x is better then 1x.

If you are applying 2x 2ml (12 hour interval) a day against 1x 4ml a day (24 hour interval), the fluctuation of the minoxidil in the 1x 4ml regime is much more.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

OP if you were to start minoxidil once daily then i would agree with the statistics but for someone like me who has just started oral minoxidil then i would disagree. Ofcourse overtime medication effectiveness depletes overtime so why would halving your minoxidil dosage yield the same results? Likely less than half but we cant know that unless you try. Worst case you lose ground but recover upon upkeep, best case you maintain. Goodluck OP we pray for your success.

 

[yetti]

Not referring to any specific study but simple pharmacokinetics would tell you that 2x is better then 1x.

If you are applying 2x 2ml (12 hour interval) a day against 1x 4ml a day (24 hour interval), the fluctuation of the minoxidil in the 1x 4ml regime is much more.

what do you mean?

 

[g.i joey]

Imo, foam is not as effective as liquid anyway. I used foam for 3 years with no results but recently switched to liquid and noticing things happening on my scalp.

Also, the aesthetic look you describe, I bet a lot of it comes from the foam, the foam has always had an massive styling quality. So if you got rid of the foam it probably wouldn't look as good. So t

Man I'm dealing with the same thing right now, it's a solid 2-3 years I'm On foam and never really got any results whatsoever, but to scared to stop it altogether lol. So now do you think it would be worth it to switch over to liquid and give it a shot? I just hate the fact that thenliquid takes time to dry, with the foam, I can get home apply it and hop into bed after like 10 minutes with no worries. I feel like the liquid will take a little more time to dry.

Btw I actually hate the aesthetic look the foam offers and that's why I stopped using it in the morning. Although at night when I apply I can sometimes style my hair decently even with it in my hair, I just don't like the idea of going about my day, sweating on and off with minoxidil just chilling on my hair and scalp.

I only have about 1 and a half bottles left of foam, really debating on trying 6 months of liquid, does anyone think I'd be doing more harm than good by temporarily trying the liquid?

 

[DKC]

what do you mean?

Its difficult to explain without drawing out a graph and all that, but if you study some basic pharmacokinetics (probably wouldn't take long) then it would help to explain what I mean by the fluctuation of concentration. (I have a degree in this).

Man I'm dealing with the same thing right now, it's a solid 2-3 years I'm On foam and never really got any results whatsoever, but to scared to stop it altogether lol. So now do you think it would be worth it to switch over to liquid and give it a shot? I just hate the fact that thenliquid takes time to dry, with the foam, I can get home apply it and hop into bed after like 10 minutes with no worries. I feel like the liquid will take a little more time to dry.

I only have about 1 and a half bottles left of foam, really debating on trying 6 months of liquid, does anyone think I'd be doing more harm than good by temporarily trying the liquid?

Yeah, I basically got into the routine of applying the foam, but not really consciously thinking about if the method of delivery was working, my attitude was basically, apply, its working, end of story. It took me 3 years to think that the foam was not working and from that moment of thought, I analysed my years of application and decided that the foam was not working because it was drying fast, it didn't absorb fully etc.

Liquid for me has definitely made some changes and i'm 5 weeks in, I still have alot of itchiness and flakiness that people say, but I do seem to see new hairs growing in, I've been taking pictures regularly and will upload them once i've got a good 6-9 months under my belt. The liquid does take longer to try but personally its a benefit, I go to sleep with it still kind of wet, but its fine as I do it on my frontal zone and it doesn't get anywhere. One thing to mention is I had a insane shed the first 2-3 weeks, but basically, the key is to ride it out and I'm really opportunistic about the liquid.

For you, if you are willing to ride out the sheds, the flakiness, the itchiness, I would say definitely give the liquid a go.

 

[yetti]

Its difficult to explain without drawing out a graph and all that, but if you study some basic pharmacokinetics (probably wouldn't take long) then it would help to explain what I mean by the fluctuation of concentration. (I have a degree in this).



Yeah, I basically got into the routine of applying the foam, but not really consciously thinking about if the method of delivery was working, my attitude was basically, apply, its working, end of story. It took me 3 years to think that the foam was not working and from that moment of thought, I analysed my years of application and decided that the foam was not working because it was drying fast, it didn't absorb fully etc.

Liquid for me has definitely made some changes and i'm 5 weeks in, I still have alot of itchiness and flakiness that people say, but I do seem to see new hairs growing in, I've been taking pictures regularly and will upload them once i've got a good 6-9 months under my belt. The liquid does take longer to try but personally its a benefit, I go to sleep with it still kind of wet, but its fine as I do it on my frontal zone and it doesn't get anywhere. One thing to mention is I had a insane shed the first 2-3 weeks, but basically, the key is to ride it out and I'm really opportunistic about the liquid.

For you, if you are willing to ride out the sheds, the flakiness, the itchiness, I would say definitely give the liquid a go.

do you mean the fluctuation of concentration of the liquid itself, or in the application of it? no need for a graph

 

[kj6723]

Its difficult to explain without drawing out a graph and all that, but if you study some basic pharmacokinetics (probably wouldn't take long) then it would help to explain what I mean by the fluctuation of concentration. (I have a degree in this).



Yeah, I basically got into the routine of applying the foam, but not really consciously thinking about if the method of delivery was working, my attitude was basically, apply, its working, end of story. It took me 3 years to think that the foam was not working and from that moment of thought, I analysed my years of application and decided that the foam was not working because it was drying fast, it didn't absorb fully etc.

Liquid for me has definitely made some changes and i'm 5 weeks in, I still have alot of itchiness and flakiness that people say, but I do seem to see new hairs growing in, I've been taking pictures regularly and will upload them once i've got a good 6-9 months under my belt. The liquid does take longer to try but personally its a benefit, I go to sleep with it still kind of wet, but its fine as I do it on my frontal zone and it doesn't get anywhere. One thing to mention is I had a insane shed the first 2-3 weeks, but basically, the key is to ride it out and I'm really opportunistic about the liquid.

For you, if you are willing to ride out the sheds, the flakiness, the itchiness, I would say definitely give the liquid a go.

Man I'm dealing with the same thing right now, it's a solid 2-3 years I'm On foam and never really got any results whatsoever, but to scared to stop it altogether lol. So now do you think it would be worth it to switch over to liquid and give it a shot? I just hate the fact that thenliquid takes time to dry, with the foam, I can get home apply it and hop into bed after like 10 minutes with no worries. I feel like the liquid will take a little more time to dry.

Btw I actually hate the aesthetic look the foam offers and that's why I stopped using it in the morning. Although at night when I apply I can sometimes style my hair decently even with it in my hair, I just don't like the idea of going about my day, sweating on and off with minoxidil just chilling on my hair and scalp.

I only have about 1 and a half bottles left of foam, really debating on trying 6 months of liquid, does anyone think I'd be doing more harm than good by temporarily trying the liquid?

I'm coming more and more to the conclusion that liquid is where it's at, given the the vehicle as well as that if you have any length to your hair at all it can be kind of difficult to tell if a sufficient amount of the foam is even reaching the scalp.

Despite this, I will continue foam in the morning, as I simply cannot leave the house with freshly applied liquid in my hair.

Also @g.i joey , I often go to bed with the liquid still wet in my hair and it doesn't really cause any problems as far as I can tell

 

[DKC]

do you mean the fluctuation of concentration of the liquid itself, or in the application of it? no need for a graph

Fluctuation of concentration of minoxidil