Working Out With Weights And Minoxidil

[brevardo]

This is going to sound weird but does anybody here work out in the gym and currently taking minoxidil? Do you think that minoxidil makes it harder to build muscle? I have been on minoxidil on two separate occasions and I feel like the minoxidil makes it harder to get gains and muscle mass. This could just be in my head. Has anybody else noticed this?

 

[thiningattop]

I lift everyday. minoxidil has no bad effects for me. I dont see how it possibly could.

 

[brevardo]

I'm sure that it doesn't. I just feel that my body fat seems higher when on Minoxidil? I seem to retain water when I have a high metabolism. I think that if I went off the Minoxidil and worked out hard that I would look more vascular?

 

[thiningattop]

How long ave you been on minoxidil for?

Ive been on it for around 3 -4 months now. The past month i started a cutting diet, so i cant really tell if im retaining water or not. I would kinda think i am since im drinking it like crazy right now. Maybe without using the minoxidil my cutting diet might be progessing a little faster, but so far im satisfied.

 

[messmorph]

I am on Propecia and minoxidil...

No difference at all my friend to my workouts

 

[brevardo]

I've been on it for about 3 years and the only reason that I'm thinking that it affects me is because I was also on it in 1998 for 1 year and noticed less hardness at that time. I went off for a couple of years and then during that 2 year period I would always have people tell me how thick and cut I looked. Although, I also was hearing a lot of "man, your hair is getting thin!" I have been back on minoxidil with The Big Three for 3 years and thank god I never hear "Man, your hair is getting thin" but I also don't hear, "dude! You look like a genetic freak!" Maybe I'm just getting old? Hey, do you ever listen to http://www.ReGrowNow.com hair loss show? That guy that hosts the show also said that he thinks minoxidil affects his workouts and he looks pretty big. That's what made me really think hard about it. I'm kind of scared to drop it as I would rather have my hair look good opposed to looking like a "genetic freak" again? I don't know, I'll figure it out eventually?

 

[random32]

it may have a miniscule effect...

if anything i think finasteride affects my lifting POSITIVELY

 

[Primex]

Wow, I really hope that it doesn't effect it in a bad way. I've been lifting for over a year now.

 

[Lessofarockstar]

I've been using minoxidil for 1,5 year and my lifting has progressed the same way it always has. Has anybody got some scientific reasoning for these claims? I'm inclined to believe that finasteride might have an effect on lifting but I seriously doubt that minoxidil can do anything. At least not for strength or gaining mass. Maybe for cutting. But I still doubt it.

 

[-cj-]

How old are you?

I doubt that any of this has anything to do with minoxidil.

It could be more of the depression some people experience while fighting hairloss, less vigorous workouts, change in diets, change in lifestyle activity. It could also be that you are simply getting older and your testosterone levels are slowly declining making it increasingly harder to maintain/gain muscle mass.

I'd tell you to re-evaluate how dedicated you are to lifting, that there will more than likely be the answer to why you are not getting the results that you once may have.

 

[lukedorian]

This is going to sound weird but does anybody here work out in the gym and currently taking minoxidil? Do you think that minoxidil makes it harder to build muscle? I have been on minoxidil on two separate occasions and I feel like the minoxidil makes it harder to get gains and muscle mass. This could just be in my head. Has anybody else noticed this?

Yes, i've always experienced this, it's when i lower the dose and i begin to notice how i get more from my workouts, gives me some kind of chubby look

 

[Zoolandertelansky]

Yes, i've always experienced this, it's when i lower the dose and i begin to notice how i get more from my workouts, gives me some kind of chubby look

Lukedorian I know this post is old, but can you describe a little more? I’m a competitive men’s physique competitor and started minoxidil topically about 8 months ago. Since then my workouts have progressively gotten worse. I couldn’t get quite as lean this year for show prep and the last 2 months I get almost no pump in the gym. I thought that no way it could be related to minoxidil because it’s topical, but now I’m thinking it could!

 

[Norwoody]

Lukedorian I know this post is old, but can you describe a little more? I’m a competitive men’s physique competitor and started minoxidil topically about 8 months ago. Since then my workouts have progressively gotten worse. I couldn’t get quite as lean this year for show prep and the last 2 months I get almost no pump in the gym. I thought that no way it could be related to minoxidil because it’s topical, but now I’m thinking it could!

Minoxidil retains water, so it could prevent you from looking leaner, but it's not going to have a negative impact on your ability to train. That part might be the RU.

 

[Zoolandertelansky]

Minoxidil retains water, so it could prevent you from looking leaner, but it's not going to have a negative impact on your ability to train. That part might be the RU.

I actually cut out the RU a month ago. All that’s left is really the minoxidil. Or I’m getting older lol.
I’ll post if I figure it out, but this lack of a pump at the gym is similar to going on blood pressure meds a year ago. We found a natural solution to that. The more I read on minoxidil and it being a vasodilator it can work in a similar fashion to a BP med.

 

[Zoolandertelansky]

Minoxidil retains water, so it could prevent you from looking leaner, but it's not going to have a negative impact on your ability to train. That part might be the RU.

Also, good note on the water retention, that really makes sense to what I was dealing with last year.

 

[Doingitright]

I have noticed water retention on min I am susceptible to it unfortunately in an extreme way, I take ostarine every now and then for muscle hardness probably do 2 x 7 week cycles per year.

 

[Norwoody]

Makes sense. You can probably try the 2% version (which is the women's) if you don't want to completely get off of it.

 

[Zoolandertelansky]

Thanks for the input guys. That water retention I never thought could be minoxidil! 2% is a great idea. It got much worse when I switched over to the Kirkland brand now that I think about it. I’ll look to find different strengths. Much appreciated!

 

[Norwoody]

Another consideration - if you are dermarolling then that will cause more systemic absorption.

 

[Zoolandertelansky]

Another consideration - if you are dermarolling then that will cause more systemic absorption.

Good thought.... I have not been doing dermarolling. I didn’t notice much difference from minoxidil over 8 months, so I think I will just stop all together for now. Then if I do end up really needing it I will ease into a weaker strength like you suggested.
I’ve been racking my brain and trying all sorts of things to fix the issue, but I’m hopeful this has been the culprit!