Minoxidil

Minoxidil
Clinical data
Trade names	Loniten, Rogaine, others
Other names	U-10858; U-10,858; U10858; 2,4-Diamino-6-piperidinopyrimidine 3-oxide
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a682608
License data	US DailyMed: Minoxidil;
Pregnancy; category	AU: C; ;
Routes of; administration	Oral, sublingual, topical (solution, foam, spray)
Drug class	Potassium channel opener; KATP channel opener
ATC code	C02DC01 (WHO) D11AX01 (WHO);
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only) / S2; UK: General sales list (GSL, OTC) / POM; US: OTC / Rx-only;
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	Oral: ≥90% (absorption); Topical: ~1.2–1.4%
Protein binding	Minimal or negligible
Metabolism	Primarily liver via glucuronidation, hydroxylation, and sulfation (SULT1A1, SULT2A1)
Metabolites	• Minoxidil glucuronide; • Minoxidil sulfate
Onset of action	Oral: 30–60 minutes (peak); Sublingual: 30 minutes
Elimination half-life	Oral: 3–4 hours; Topical: 22 hours
Duration of action	Oral: ~72 hours; Topical: 10–12 hours
Excretion	Urine: >97% (10–15% unchanged; within 12–20 hours for oral and 4 days for topical)
Identifiers
	IUPAC name 2,6-diamino-4-(piperidin-1-yl)pyrimidine 1-oxide;
CAS Number	38304-91-5;
PubChem CID	4201;
IUPHAR/BPS	4254;
DrugBank	DB00350;
ChemSpider	10438564;
UNII	5965120SH1;
KEGG	D00418;
ChEBI	CHEBI:6942;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL802;
PDB ligand	MXD (PDBe, RCSB PDB);
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID9040685 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.048.959
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C9H15N5O
Molar mass	209.253 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
Melting point	248 °C (478 °F)
Solubility in water	< 1
	SMILES Nc1cc(nc(N)[n+]1[O-])N2CCCCC2;
	InChI InChI=1S/C9H15N5O/c10-7-6-8(12-9(11)14(7)15)13-4-2-1-3-5-13/h6H,1-5,10H2,(H2,11,12); Key:ZFMITUMMTDLWHR-UHFFFAOYSA-N;

Minoxidil, sold under the brand names Loniten and Rogaine among others, is a medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure and pattern hair loss. It is an antihypertensive and a vasodilator. It is available as a generic medication by prescription in oral tablet form and over-the-counter as a topical liquid or foam.