A lot of people use minoxidil in their fight against hair loss. Chances are that those folks also enjoy working out, and building muscle mass.
That’s why it comes as no surprise that some of them are worried that it will, or can, negatively impact their training regime.
For today’s question, does minoxidil affect muscle growth or not? Let’s find out.
Does minoxidil affect muscle growth or not?
No, minoxidil will in no way, shape, or form affect your ability to grow muscles. Not positively, nor negatively. That’s because minoxidil does not impact our hormones, or testosterone levels.
The ability to grow larger muscles is largely dependent on the amount of androgen receptors you have, and the amount of testosterone you possess in your body. When either one of those is too low, then your capacity to put on muscle mass will be reduced as well.
The only thing that minoxidil might do is cause your body to hold a bit more water weight since it can cause fluid retention. This might ever so slightly influence your ability to look lean, which might make you seem less muscular.
Minoxidil is not intended or approved to be used as a muscle-building supplement. There may be potential risks associated with using it for this purpose.
If you are interested in building muscle, then it is recommended that you follow a proper diet and proven exercise regimen. You should consult with a healthcare professional before taking any medications to build muscle mass.
Does minoxidil affect bodybuilding?
Does minoxidil cause muscle loss?
Minoxidil does affect cardiac tissue and vascular tissue. As such, it might be a hindrance for those looking to gain cardiovascular endurance, and it might be detrimental to those suffering from preexisting heart issues.
However, minoxidil has been reported to cause fluid retention, which can lead to weight gain. This weight gain can include both muscle and fat, but it is difficult to determine the exact amount of muscle gain or loss that may result from minoxidil usage.
Muscle loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including inadequate protein intake, a lack of exercise, and certain medical conditions.
It is recommended that you consult with a healthcare practitioner if you are experiencing muscle loss in order to figure out the underlying cause and to develop an appropriate treatment plan to stave off any further muscle wasting.
Can you use minoxidil with steroids?
Yes, you can technically use minoxidil with steroids without getting more adverse effects than you would get from just using steroids solely.
Even so, steroids are dangerous for your health, as they can negatively impact your cardiovascular health, but also the state of your organs. Thus, it’s not advised that you use steroids.
Minoxidil is a medication that’s primarily used to treat hair loss, and it works by widening blood vessels, which increases blood flow to hair follicles, which in turn stimulates hair growth. Steroids, on the other hand, are a type of hormone that can be used to enhance muscle growth and athletic performance.
While there is no direct evidence to suggest that minoxidil interacts negatively with steroids, the combination of these substances may increase the risk of certain side effects, such as fluid retention, and high blood pressure.
Additionally, the use of steroids can have a number of other potential risks and side effects, such as liver damage and hormonal imbalances.
Conclusion
Minoxidil will not affect your ability to gain, or lose muscle for that matter.
But what it can impact is certain organs like the heart, and potentially the liver. That’s why you shouldn’t use it if you know you’ve got issues with your heart or liver.
Minoxidil and steroids are not known to interact. Still, I wouldn’t advise anyone to use steroids since it’s dangerous, and can lead to unwanted health issues. Using minoxidil as a supplement for bodybuilding is not recommended since it wasn’t designed for that purpose, nor will it have any positive effects on your ability to build muscle mass.