Switching from 2% to 5% Minoxidil

[Dannie]

I know this may sound stupid but should I switch immediately or use them both for first month or two like 2% in the mornings and 5% evenings? If I have had good results with 2% will I benefit from 5%?

 

[Bryan]

They're essentially the same thing, in my opinion. Just slightly different vehicles.

Bryan

 

[The Gardener]

But people typically get used to applying a certain amount with each dosage, and I thought that follicles were dosage-sensitive. 2ml of 5% a day gives you more than twice the minoxidil as 2ml of 2% a day.

 

[Bryan]

Sure, but there's nothing stopping anybody from applying a larger quantity of either one. Applying a smaller amount of 5% might be more convenient for most people than applying a larger amount of 2%, but I have in fact seen people post occasionally that the state of their balding was such that they needed to apply MORE of a given solution, and they wondered if it was ok to do so.

What's interesting is that standard 2% Rogaine could conceivably be more effective than 5% Rogaine, because of the higher alcohol content in the vehicle (assuming, of course, that you apply enough to get the same amount of minoxidil).

Bryan

 

[Dannie]

They're essentially the same thing, in my opinion. Just slightly different vehicles.

Bryan

What might differ in the vehicles, percentage of ethanol?

 

[Bryan]

Percentages of both alcohol and propylene glycol. The 2% version has more alcohol and less PPG. The 5% has more PPG and less alcohol.

Bryan

 

[Dannie]

I wonder if my pharmacist knows that Is minoxidil without PGP uselless or just has less absorption level?