Minoxidil is a drug of choice which is used worldwide for androgenetic alopecia. It's a US FDA approved medicine for this condition. US FDA approves a medicine only after years of research and when it is safe to use. Having said that there are also other options available instead of minoxidil in case you wish to discontinue it. You can ask your doctor about them.
Next Steps
In case of any doubts, your dermatologist is the best guide to clear them rather than randomly reading it on Internet.