Loniten is indicated for the treatment hypertension, or high blood pressure. The generic name of this drug is Minoxidil and it comes under a category of drugs referred as vasodilator. Like other drug of its class, Loniten relaxes blood vessels to improve the circulation of blood.
Loniten is available for oral administration only. You can buy Loniten in form of oral tablets which come in following strengths, Loniten 2.5 mg and Loniten 10 mg.
Loniten may cause serious, even life-threatening, side effects. That is why it is necessary that you use this drug only if it has been prescribed by your doctor. Also, you must use Loniten only for the condition for which it has been prescribed.
Side effects of Loniten
Loniten is contraindicated in patients with a known allergy to any ingredient used in its preparation. To ensure that this blood pressure medication is safe for you, inform your doctor about your medical history, especially of: angina, kidney disease, epilepsy, or heart failure.
During treatment you may experience the following side effects: vomitting, nausea, changes in the length, thickness, or color of facial or body hair, or breast tenderness or pain. Usually, these side effects are temporary and mild in severity. In case any of these side effects increase in intensity or if they continue for a long time, you should consult your doctor.
Loniten, in some cases, may also cause the following serious side effects: swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs, pounding or fast heartbeats, easy bruising, easy or unusual bleeding, sudden numbness, confusion, headache, speech, vision, or balance problems, sore throat, fever, chest pain, or dry cough. If you experience any of these side effects during your treatment, you must immediately consult your doctor.
In rare cases, patients may experience an allergic reaction to Loniten. Stop taking this drug and seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following symptoms after taking Loniten, facial flushness, hives, wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, throat, or tongue, or closing of the throat.
Loniten is listed as a pregnancy category C drug. What this means is that this drug may have the potential to cause harm to an unborn baby. You should use this drug during pregnancy only if your doctor approves its use.
If you become pregnant during treatment, inform your doctor about it. Your doctor will decide if it is safe for you to continue using Loniten.
The safety of this anti-hypertension drug in lactating women has not been studied. If you breastfeeding a baby, consult your doctor if you can use Loniten.
Dosage of Loniten
The recommended dosage is Loniten 5 mg daily. However, the actual dosage may vary from patient to patient.
Your doctor is also likely to ask you to take certain other drugs, such as a diuretic and/or a beta-blocker, along with Loniten. Both, diuretics and beta-blockers help in reducing the risk of serious conditions due to Loniten. It is important that you take all your medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Interactions
Certain drugs, such as guanethidine, may interact with Loniten. Before you buy Loniten, inform your doctor about all other drugs that you are taking.