What medical conditions does Loniten treat?
Hypertension
High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as having a systolic blood pressure over 130 mmHg, a diastolic blood pressure over 80 mmHg, or taking at least 1 medication to treat this condition. In 2021, hypertension was at least partially responsible for over 690,000 deaths in the U.S. Almost half of adults (48.1%) in the U.S. have hypertension, which is almost 120 million people.
Loniten is a prescription medication that is manufactured by Pfizer. It is FDA-approved for the treatment of severe hypertension that is causing symptoms or damaging your vital organs. It is only used when your blood pressure is not being controlled with a diuretic plus 2 other blood pressure meds at their maximum daily doses.
What is the active ingredient in Loniten?
Generic equivalent of Loniten: minoxidil
Loniten is an FDA-approved prescription medication that contains the active ingredient minoxidil. It belongs to a drug class called vasodilators, which works by relaxing the blood vessels so the blood passes through them more easily. This helps to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
General Drug Information
What is Loniten and what is it used for?
Loniten is a vasodilator used to treat severely high blood pressure that is causing symptoms or serious complications to your vital organs.
How do you take Loniten?
Always read the patient information leaflet before using this and any other medication.
You should use Loniten exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes it. Do not change your dose or stop using it without discussing it with your healthcare provider first.
You will typically take other blood pressure medications along with Loniten to help remove the extra salt and water from your body and to slow down your heart rate.
When you first start taking this medication, your healthcare provider may need to see you more often to adjust your dose.
If you miss a dose of Loniten, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule.
What is the typical dosage for Loniten?
For patients 12 years of age and older, the starting dose is 5 mg once daily. This dose can be increased to 10 mg, 20 mg, and then 40 mg in a single or divided dose if needed. The maximum recommended daily dose is 100 mg.
For patients under 12 years of age, the starting dose is 0.2 mg/kg once daily. This dose can then be increased by 50% to 100% until you achieve blood pressure control. The maximum recommended daily dose is 50 mg.
Before taking Loniten
You should not use Loniten if you have a known allergy to minoxidil or any other inactive ingredient in this product’s formulation. You should also avoid this medication if you have a type of adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma.
You should be sure your healthcare provider is aware of your medical conditions, including:
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Congestive heart failure (CHF)
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Kidney disease or are on dialysis
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Chest pain or a recent heart attack
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Asthma
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Seizure disorder
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Migraines
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Are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, as it is not known if Loniten will harm your unborn baby
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Are breastfeeding, as this medication can pass into breast milk and should not be used during lactation
What do you do if you miss a dose of Loniten?
If you miss a dose of Loniten, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule.
Loniten drug interactions
When Loniten is taken with other medications, it can change the way they work or increase the frequency and severity of side effects. You should discuss with a healthcare professional whether any of the prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take may interact with this medication. Caution should be taken if Loniten is taken along with guanethidine. Taking these 2 medications together can increase your risk of orthostatic hypotension with symptoms such as dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, and confusion.
Loniten side effects
Some common side effects of Loniten tablets include:
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Hair growth
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Salt and water retention (notify your doctor if you have a rapid weight gain of more than 5 pounds)
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Increased heart rate
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Nausea/vomiting
Loniten can sometimes cause more serious side effects including:
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Severe, life-threatening allergic reactions, including hives, swelling, or shortness of breath
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Fluid build-up around the heart
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New or worsening congestive heart failure
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Orthostatic hypotension (quick drop in blood pressure when sitting up or standing up)
This is not a full list of the side effects of this medication. Contact your healthcare provider for medical advice about any possible side effects you experience while taking Loniten. You can also report your adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
How to store Loniten
Store Loniten at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). As with all medications, keep Loniten out of the reach of children. Do not discard Loniten by flushing it down the toilet or pouring it down the drain. Properly discard it when it is expired or no longer needed, according to your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
How much does Loniten cost?
Loniten is a brand-name medication that has a generic version available. You can get up to a 90-day supply of Loniten or its generic delivered to your doorstep with a valid prescription. We work with a number of Canadian pharmacies and international pharmacies from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Turkey, all licensed by the qualified pharmaceutical regulatory bodies of their respective countries.
Check out Universal Drugstore’s online pharmacy in Canada for the lowest price available on Loniten and many other medications, no coupon needed!
Can you use Loniten to treat hair loss?
While Loniten is only approved to treat severe hypertension, it has been used off-label to help with hair growth. Recently, low-dose minoxidil's popularity has increased because of studies and reviews showing it to be safe and effective. One review included studies where patients received doses of minoxidil between 0.25 mg and 5 mg per day. Patients saw increased scalp hair growth and decreased hair shedding. The patients who were taking the higher doses saw more side effects. Studies also suggest that women require lower doses of minoxidil, from 0.25 mg to 2.5 mg per day, while men require between 2.5 mg to 5 mg per day. Talk with your doctor to see if Loniten may be right for you.
Loniten alternatives
Sources:
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Dermatology Times: https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/low-dose-oral-minoxidil-for-hair-growth
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Loniten Package Insert: https://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=2199
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Loniten Patient Information: https://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=2199&Section=PPI
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Medscape: https://reference.medscape.com/drug/loniten-minodyl-minoxidil-342401
