Loniten
| Noun | 1. |  Loniten - a vasodilator (trade name Loniten) used to treat severe hypertension; one side effect is hirsutism so it is also sold (trade name Rogaine) as a treatment for male-patterned baldness |
Loniten
minoxidil
Pharmacologic class: Peripheral vasodilator (direct-acting)
Therapeutic class: Antihypertensive, hair growth stimulant
Pregnancy risk category C
FDA Box Warning
• Drug may cause serious adverse effects (such as pericardial effusion occasionally progressing to tamponade) and may exacerbate angina pectoris. Reserve it for hypertensive patients who respond inadequately to maximum therapeutic doses of diuretic and two other antihypertensives.
• Give under close supervision, usually concurrently with therapeutic doses of beta blocker to prevent tachycardia and increased myocardial workload. Usually, drug also must be given with diuretic to prevent serious fluid accumulation. Patients with malignant hypertension and those already receiving guanethidine should be hospitalized when therapy begins so they can be monitored to avoid too rapid, or large orthostatic, blood pressure decreases.
Action
Reduces blood pressure by relaxing vascular smooth muscle, causing vasodilation. Action in hair growth stimulation unclear; vasodilatory action may enhance microcirculation around hair follicles.
Availability
Tablets: 2.5 mg, 10 mg
Topical solution: 2%, 5%
Indications and dosages
➣ Severe symptomatic hypertension; hypertension associated with end-organ damage
Adults and children ages 12 and older: 5 mg/day as a single dose, increased carefully q 3 days. Usual range is 10 to 40 mg/day in single or divided doses. For rapid blood pressure control with careful monitoring, dosage may be adjusted q 6 hr. Maximum dosage is 100 mg/day.
Children younger than age 12: 0.2 mg/kg/day P.O. as a single dose. May increase in increments of 50% to 100% until blood pressure control is optimal. Usual range is 0.25 to 1 mg/kg/day; maximum recommended dosage is 50 mg/day.
➣ Male-pattern baldness; diffuse hair loss or thinning in women; adjunct to hair transplantation
Adults: Apply 1 ml of 2% or 5% topical solution to affected area b.i.d. for 4 months or longer.
➣ Alopecia areata
Adults: Apply 1 ml of 2% or 5% topical solution to scalp b.i.d.
Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to drug or its components
• Dissecting aortic aneurysm
• Pheochromocytoma
Precautions
Use cautiously in:
• recent MI, malignant hypertension, heart failure, angina pectoris, severe renal impairment
• concurrent guanethidine therapy
• pregnant or breastfeeding patients.
Administration
• Give oral form with meals to decrease GI upset.
See If patient is also receiving guanethidine, discontinue that drug 1 to 3 days before starting minoxidil, to avoid severe orthostatic hypotension.
• Know that oral form is usually given with a beta-adrenergic blocker or diuretic to control hypertension.
Adverse reactions
CV: ECG changes (such as T-wave changes), tachycardia, angina, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, heart failure
GI: nausea, vomiting
Respiratory: pulmonary edema
Skin: hypertrichosis
Other: weight gain, edema
Interactions
Drug-drug. Antihypertensives, nitrates: additive hypotension
Guanethidine: severe orthostatic hypotension
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: decreased minoxidil efficacy
Drug-diagnostic tests. Alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, plasma renin activity, sodium: increased levels
Hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells: decreased levels
Patient monitoring
• Monitor vital signs and ECG.
• Assess daily weight and fluid intake and output.
See Monitor cardiovascular status carefully. Stay alert for signs and symptoms of heart failure.
• Watch for hypertrichosis.
• Know that hematologic and renal values usually return to pretreatment levels with continued therapy.
Patient teaching
• Instruct patient to take oral form with meals to decrease GI upset.
• Advise patient to weigh himself daily and report sudden gains.
• Tell patient taking oral form that drug may darken, lengthen, and thicken body hair. Tell him to shave or use depilatory to reduce unwanted hair growth. Reassure him that unwanted growth will disappear 1 to 6 months after he stops taking drug.
See Instruct patient to immediately report difficulty breathing (especially when lying down) or pain in chest, arm, or shoulder.
• Teach patient how to use topical form. Urge him to read package insert carefully.
• Caution patient not to use topical form on other body parts and not to let it contact mucous membranes.
• Tell patient using topical form that new scalp hair will be soft and barely visible. Caution him to use only 1 ml twice daily, regardless of amount of balding. Remind him not to stop using drug suddenly, because new hair growth will be lost.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs and tests mentioned above.
minoxidil (systemic)
(mi-nox-i-dill) minoxidilsystemic,Loniten
(trade name)Classification
Therapeutic: antihypertensivesPharmacologic: vasodilators
Indications
Action
Therapeutic effects
Pharmacokinetics
Time/action profile (antihypertensive effect)
| ROUTE | ONSET | PEAK | DURATION |
| PO | 30 min | 2–3 hr | 2–5 days |
Contraindications/Precautions
Adverse Reactions/Side Effects
Central nervous system
- headache
Respiratory
- pulmonary edema (life-threatening)
Cardiovascular
- HF (life-threatening)
- ECG changes (alteration in T waves) (most frequent)
- tachycardia (most frequent)
- angina
- pericardial effusion
Gastrointestinal
- nausea
Dermatologic
- hypertrichosis (most frequent)
- pigment changes
- rash
Endocrinologic
- gynecomastia
- menstrual irregularities
Fluid and Electrolyte
- sodium and water retention (most frequent)
Miscellaneous
- intermittent claudication
Interactions
Drug-Drug interaction
Additive hypotensive effects with other antihypertensives, acute ingestion of alcohol, or nitrates.NSAIDs may ↓ the antihypertensive effectiveness of minoxidil.Route/Dosage
Availability (generic available)
Nursing implications
Nursing assessment
- Hypertension: Monitor BP and pulse frequently during initial dose adjustment and periodically during therapy. Report significant changes.
- Monitor frequency of prescription refills to determine adherence.
- Monitor intake and output ratios and daily weight and assess for edema daily, especially at beginning of therapy. Report weight gain or edema; sodium and water retention may be treated with diuretics.
- Lab Test Considerations: Monitor renal and hepatic function, CBC, and electrolytes prior to and periodically during therapy.
- May cause ↑ BUN, serum creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, plasma renin activity (PRA), and sodium levels. May also cause ↓ RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit counts. Hematologic and renal values usually return to pretreatment levels with continued therapy.
Potential Nursing Diagnoses
Ineffective tissue perfusion (Indications)Implementation
- Do not confuse Loniten (minoxidil) with Lipitor (atorvastatin).
- Hypertension: Medication may need to be discontinued gradually to prevent rebound hypertension.
- Minoxidil is given concurrently with a diuretic unless patient is on hemodialysis.
- Dose adjustments should not be made more frequently than every 3 days to allow for maximum effectiveness, unless rapid control is necessary.
- Oral: May be administered without regard to meals or food.
Patient/Family Teaching
- Emphasize the importance of continuing to take this medication, even if feeling well. Instruct patient to take medication at the same time each day. Take missed doses as soon as remembered if within a few hours; otherwise, omit dose and return to regular dose schedule. Do not double doses. Advise patient not to discontinue minoxidil or other antihypertensive medications without consulting health care professional. Minoxidil helps control but does not cure hypertension.
- Encourage patient to comply with additional interventions for hypertension (weight reduction, low-sodium diet, smoking cessation, moderation of alcohol consumption, regular exercise, and stress management).
- Instruct patient and family on proper technique for weekly pulse and BP monitoring. Advise them to report significant changes to health care professional, who should also be notified if resting pulse increases more than 20 bpm above baseline.
- Advise patient to check weight daily and to notify health care professional of rapid weight gain of >5 lb or if signs of fluid retention occur.
- Caution patient to change positions slowly to minimize orthostatic hypotension.
- Advise patient to notify health care professional of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and to consult with health care professional before taking other medications, especially cough, cold, or allergy remedies or herbal products.
- Inform patient that depilatory creams may minimize increased hair growth. This is temporary and is reversible within 1–6 mo following discontinuation of minoxidil.
- Advise patient to notify health care professional if unusual swelling of face, extremities, or abdomen; difficulty breathing, especially when lying down; new or aggravated angina; severe indigestion; dizziness or fainting occurs.
Evaluation/Desired Outcomes
- Decrease in BP without appearance of serious side effects.
Loniten
A brand name for MINOXIDIL.Loniten
- noun
Synonyms for Loniten
noun a vasodilator (trade name Loniten) used to treat severe hypertension
Synonyms
- minoxidil
- Rogaine
Related Words
- vasodilative
- vasodilator
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