Women’s Hair Loss Project

I didn’t realize Synthroid could cause hair loss. That’s crazy because if you have hypothyroidism you will probably be experiencing hair loss, which is why you would want to get your thyroid in check. I don’t see Armour on your list, so hopefully that one is safe for hair loss. I have borderline-hypothyroid, but I would be afraid to take medication for it at this point. I’m also on one of the meds on your list for TMJ. I was extremely afraid to take it, but my TMJ is excrutiating. I haven’t noticed a difference in my hair loss, other than it shedding a lot (like always).

Not listed in your “Drugs That Can Cause Hair Loss” are medications that treat Bipolar Disorder. Lithium is the predominately used drug for this disorder. I lost so much hair during the five months that I took it that my doctor had to take me off of it. I hope the hair will grow back - I am very concerned about it. My hair has also lost it’s luster and is dry and brittle.

Is there anything that can be done about the hair loss caused by Vivactil? I take a low dosage to prevent migraines, and it helps immensely, but since I started taking it, I’ve lost a lot of hair. If my hair wasn’t so thick to begin with, I would probably be bald by now, but it is coming dangerously close to that. Is the hair loss temporary? Are there things I can do to prevent losing more hair or reverse the hair loss?

So far, I’ve mentioned it to three doctors, and they’ve all blown it off. All they say is “that can happen,” or “you have to stay on the medication.”

Unfortunately, I’ve been through a battery of preventive medications for the past 4 years that don’t work. Furthermore, they made me gain weight (most of which I’ve gotten off now that I’m off of them), made me fatigued, or made me feel like I was 90-years old. Vivactil, while it does cause dizziness and dry mouth, has been the only medication to reduce the number and severity of the migraines (I would get 11 a month, and now I get 4 or 5 a month- and they are easier to abort or manage).

The hair loss started with the start of Vivactil. I don’t know if there is any information available about whether the hair loss is temporary or not. Maybe the doctors themselves don’t know.

In terms of hair loss, my mother had very thick hair (as mine had always been), and it only fell out when she was on chemotherapy. After she completed chemo, her hair would grow back as thick as before - and she had been through it several times. Her brother (age 85) has a full head of hair, and her sister had a full head of hair till the end (in her 80’s).

My father is balding, but that didn’t start happening to him till he was 67. Some of it is natural, but some of it is also due to medications to treat cancer. His father had a full head of hair all his life. I’m not sure about his mother.

It could be genetic, but I’m 49 and all of the hair loss has only happened this year. While I am at the age where hair loss can be common, none of my relatives lost hair this young or this quickly.

I guess time will tell. I’m sort of half-tempted to shave it all off and start again from scratch.

Thanks for your input!

Citalopram caused my AT. My hair has started to grow back since coming off it, but unfortunately now, even though I am not on that medication I could relapse into my alopecia at any time.

i was put on yasmin because of my hair loss.

Did you find out if Lexapro was what caused your hair loss? I took Lexapro for a few years, and I too have noticed significant har loss. Please let me if you found out anything

Thank you so much for that info! You know it is really frustrating to learn this after the fact! I am really saddened by the fact that I may have caused more damage than good by taking certain medications. I am finally going to an endocrinologist next week to check my “hormonal imbalances” to see if there is anything I can do to reverse the damage. Now, I know I am genetically predispostioned to hairloss, but not at the rate I have recently experienced. I hope I can get some answers.

Kai,

Here’s something about a class action lawsuit. I found it on the web and I really don’t know if it is legitimate or not. It looks like it occurred in the 1990s.

http://www.synthroidclaims.com/notice.html#VII

I, too, have hair loss that I think is caused by my thyroid or my thyroid med. My doctor disagrees with me but he has only checked my TSH. I am planning on seeing another doctor soon. (I live in a small town and their is only 1 endroconologist here.)

Kathy
My email - Daffy11149@aol.com

I started Lipitor 10 mgs and Lotensin 10 mgs about 6 years ago. I was also taking HRT, a plant-based RX the name of which escapes me right now. I noticed the top of my hair thinning out so researched the HRT on Internet. Found it was a soy-based med and could cause hair loss. Long story short, discontinued HRT and had panel of thyroid tests done. Small nodule found but nothing overly bad. Was discharged from thyroid doc’s care after monitoring for 1 year, all TSH levels, etc normal range. Hair seemed to be fuller for a bit. That was not to last. In the past year, hair thinning all over and I have patches of no regrowth at all. Still on Lotensin and Lipitor which was increased to 20 mgs 2006. Ummm. Both, according to Internet research, can cause hair loss, thinning. I also color my hair with L’Oreal and have for 20 years.

Has anyone had hair loss with Lipitor and/or Lotensin? I am back to Square One and going to find a derm- anyone know a good one in Chicago? I am 61 and a gran but trust me, I do not wish to be bald anymore than you younger gals- this is a horrible experience!

Also, male baldness runs in my family but all the females hung onto their locks well into old age. My Mom had thick hair as do sibs………advice? Names of good docs? Help!!!!!

Does anyone know if Wellbutrin can cause hair loss?

Hi There. I was wondering if anafranil causes hair loss. My psychiatrist said that it didn’t, as it was not listed as a side effect, but I totally disagree with him. After one week of being on anafranil, 50 mg., I noticed my hair was falling out; my hair would be everywhere and it has become extremely frustrating. My questions are if anafranil is causing my hair loss, would the hair loss stop over time while taking anafranil; is it possible to see side effects, like my hair loss, one week after being on anafranil? My hair loss is definitely from anafranil as that is the only recent medication that I have been put on. I am on wellbutrin and risperdal, and have been on for a few months and did not experience any hair loss/shedding until I started anafranil. Any answers to this dilemma would be greatly greatly appreciated. As I am sure you can imagine, I am sick about this. Which is more important, my mental health, or thinning and shedding hair? It is a hard decision.

Thank you very much!

can Humilin for diabetics cause hair loss?

I am taking Naturethroid for hypothyroid and I am 100% sure it causes my hair to come out en masse! It is so depressing — i was fighting back the tears tonight as I actually counted 153 hairs that came out in my comb after a shower. I think I will just have to suffer feeling tired w/ a slow thyroid rather than be bald.
I just started some viatamins specifically for hair growth (available at GNC) and I had also heard that Evening Primerose Oil is supposed to help. I am hopeful that it will come back. By all reasonable means, it really should, so here’s hope for all of us! I am thinking we don’t hear about people who are getting their hair back b/c they don’t come to this site after things are better. I will remember to let you all know!

Brandi,

I’m on the ‘grow back’ for TE and was given Lexapro for scalp burning and numbness about a month ago. But I’ve noticed short hairs falling out about 2″ long. I have long hair and believe those short ones are hairs that were growing back! I NEED those little guys!
I can’t be positive but since the Lexapro is NOT doing anything for my scalp pain, I’m not taking them any more.
TE can be a one time thing and I believe mine was 100% stress that caused a ten pound weight loss in the same a month (and I do have an anxiety problem). It wasn’t smart of me to take an antidepressent since my system was trying to ‘normalize’ itself and new hair was filling in all over, slowly but surely. I should have left well enough, alone.
If all the hair is growing back, why does my scalp still feel so sensitive with burning like it did when the hair fell out in March? It keeps me from being happy about hair growing back.
PS. I’m glad I found the post by Alicia about Lexapro.
Brandi, I wish you the best and hope Primrose works for you.
~

anyone have a hair loss problem with serequel,

hi! this is my first time here. I have been diagnosed with alopecia areata, at first I was not worried because its located at the back below my head but now its as big as apple and becoming noticeable. Just today, I have found another bald patch forming on top of my head. This really frustrates me.I couldnt think of any reason why I had this BUT the drug I took last year, METATHIONE (reduced GLUTATHIONE), I didnt actually consumed all the 30 capsules because I get stomach upset after I take the medicine. Has anyone of you there taken any drugs with glutathione and now has alopecia? If I found out that this drug caused my alopecia, they will surely face me in court! HELP! ANYONE? (hu hu hu, sniff!)

Brandi, I also am hypo. I am on Synthroid because Armour didn’t work for me. Too much T3. I might suggest looking into your other hormones. Are you having any other symptoms for possible hormone issues? I have also been taking Spironolactone. I started at just 50mg per day and now I am at 200mg. It has not stopped my hair loss. But it did clear up my skin. And I guess it works well for alot of women. I also got alot of information out of Dr. Geoffrey Redmond’s book It’s Your Hormones. I have to say. I went to see him in NY and we could not afford to, but I did (we live in kansas). The book gave me the same info he did at the visit. I am also seeing a Naturopath who is also a DO. My hair loss started after starting birth control two years ago and has never stopped completely.
Good luck.

Doctors don’t seem to give a rap about this problem, but it is a major one for us women. About a month ago my hair started to fall out. I have always had a thick head of hair so this was very noticeable. I have been taking the same drugs for years so I can’t figure out what is different now. I am on blood pressure and cholesterol meds: Metotoprol, lisinopril, and lovastatin. Which would cause hair loss? And is the loss permanent?

I thought I would let you know blue 1 that taking a simple hair and nail sup. helped my nails become stronger. I don’t think it helped my hair much but who knows. I also have had help with natural estrogen for the scalp pain. I got to a DO that is also into natural medicine. She had also mentioned the ridges being linked to needing estrogen. I think birth control may have started my hair loss so I might stay away from it. I use a compounded bio-identical form. You might talk to a Endo. about your hormonal levels. And also, everyone is different when it comes to what a normal test result number is for you. Especially your thyroid. good luck. By the way, keep the hair loss in perspective. I have been sad for two years. And then my husband was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer. My hair no longer seems quite so important. Although it would still be nice to no longer worry about it also.

I have been on Synthroid for the better art of 40 years. I was recently switched to Levothyroxine the generic form and have had quite a bit of hair loss. I was told that this drug has caused other problens as well. I am thinking this could be the cause of my hair loss.

That’ s interesting about Effexor because I just looked at this site this morning, searching for answers. I wondered if it could be the Effexor because that’s a newer med I’ve been taking…although I’ve been on it for several months now and my hair just recently started falling out?? I also have had body aches (especially at night) and they seemed to start around the time I got on it…but who really knows. I hate to get off it as well because it really helps with my PTSD (anxiety/panic attacks).

The only other med I started (for the body aches!!) just a couple weeks ago was Lyrica. Somewhat of a new medication and I know not a lot of people take it. They prescribe it mostly for fibromylgia I believe. Has anyone taken that and had hair loss problems?

I have been on citalopram for over a year and have been on some form of SSRI for the last 10 years. I have been on adderall for the last 6 months. In the last month I have lost a ton of hair and it seems to be getting worse. For those of you who have taken medications known to cause hair loss, did it happen immediately after the start of the medication? If not, when did you notice?

Ok, so I am a new gal here.I am absolutely crushed , scared to death its like every time I shower, or brush my hair it just gets thinner and thinner.I am on atenolol,lisinopril,levothroid, and alprazolam….I’m reading above stories and it seems like the first three that I mentioned are of grave concern to others as well. I had repeatedly told my doc…I’m losing hair, geez I thought I was dying no lie. He checks my thyroid and says well its only off such a minor amount I cannot believe its even causing a problem. But even he should have checked the side affects as my primary care doctor, knowing the problem that I was having.When I asked the well known drug store why hair loss was not mentioned as a side affect on the paper print out that comes with each medicine I was told ‘well we’re not sure’…..not sure — I’m going bald here and you didn’t think it was a problem?That hair loss listed as a side affect was not important enough to list? I’m getting ahold of a personal injury attorney this week.This is gross negligence. If I had not looked this problem up on the interent myself I’d never have known. Its a very big company, I hope the attorney can add enough zeros to make this company aware of the fact that their oversite has caused me great anxiety and stress beyond belief. By the way does anyone know if I stop these meds if my hair will grow back?Right now I’m praying for a ‘yes’ on that question. There does need to be something done , in this fast paced world we live in we have enough to worry about without having to research the side affects of drugs that are being prescribed all over the place every day. This is ridiculous.When I found this site by accident , I almost cried…..the first thing I thought was answers, others who are going through the same thing….someone to talk to.I feel your stress , I love my hair….as I know we all do,maybe I’ll write to Oprah , maybe we all should. I will include this websire address so she can see how we are all being affected by this. Good luck to all and thanks in advance for any answers to my questions.

i finally resorted to calling my Dr.’s office , I was told he was just too busy right now and they tried to put me off for a few weeks.(Whats a few more weeks of hair loss….)jerks.So I told the receptionist that while I waited to see my busy Dr. I would be going cold turkey …off all medications while I awaited this important only to me obviously appointment, and that since I am the only living parent that if I ended up in the hospital, I was sure that my children could easily find a good attorney.Like magic I was given an appointment for the next day.Interesting to say the least.I go in and my Dr. basically chewed me out telling me that if I was more worried about the way my hair looked and would like to trade that off for a heart attack or death then he was unsure of what mt problem was. I said so I can have a healthy heart , but I have to be bald to do it? Well he says that is the trade offs in life , and they aren’t always fair. You are getting older and that is part of aging, we go bald.Sp get used to it.He really blew me off basically, I feel very alone right now.What the hell gives these drug companies the right to be allowed to do these types of things? And how are they getting away with it?Obviously nobody is listening to us. Can we not have our heath in a safe way with out the odd ball side effects. Oh and I also got yelled at for the state not paying Doctors for the services they provide, saying he’s going broke because of it. What a waste of time, I left crying of course.I did more research on the internet to see if I can help my hypothyroid by eating certain foods and avoiding others same for my high blood pressure, I’ll try to eat better lets see if this helps.Here’s to all the women out there suffering with no place to turn because , the only people who care are the women that are suffering with us.Conferences in all the major cities so we can all get to them would be great, we may be able to get a more accurate accounting of how many women are actually having this problem,there is after all strength in numbers? Just an idea.Maybe we could sign a petition to have this problem officially researched.Well I came and vented again.Sorry , but I am so glad to have someplace to talk about this. Peace to all.

56 yrs. been on variety of beta blockers(and 1 channel blocker) to control high blood pressure since age 45. Noticeable hair loss began around age 48 and has continued consistently. Is there an “alternatvive” approach to controling BP other than using drugs?
Lori

I take Lotensin (generic: Benazepril-HCTZ) one tablet daily. It wasn’t until my insurance company demanded that I take a generic, then, a generic of that generic that I started noticing my hair thinning. PANIC took over, and l, like the rest of you, have been doing research to see if my medication is causing my thinning hair. I do believe it is and I am considering getting off medicaiton all together and trying a more holistic method….diet and suppliments. Has anyone out there had good results by using holistic methods for BP and hair loss?

Ms M

I too hate washing my hair and have to do it every 2 days, not sure how it will be in the summer, may be more often. I am so stressed over my hair and am ready to start anti-depressants, but hate the thought of putting that into my body where something is not right at the moment because I am experiencing hair loss.

I have been on a variety of thyroid medications for hypo-thyroid for 25 years. I love the weight gain, that I can’t seem to shed, and now the hair loss, which I shed very well! Not!
I am still researching options to get my hair back, because traditional things like hair replacement seem silly-if I’m losing hair because of my meds and I still have to take them for the rest of my life…well, won’t it just all fall out again?
Anyway, while I have not found anything to grow new hair (women’s Rogaine just made the hairs I do have brittle and break) I have been trying something my hairdresser recommended: Davines hair products. I have been using the EAL serum along with some of their shampoo and conditioner…I have noticed a dramatic lessening of the hair loss. Seriously. She told me some people do have regrowth of hair, but I have not experienced that so far. I have been using it for about 2 months. I’m just grateful to keep the hair I do have, at this point. If anyone has other suggestions, at this point I will try almost anything.

I am 26 years old and have started experiencing rapid hair loss I do not know what brought this on I am scared to wash my hair or brush it I used to straighten my hair evry 3rd day but I have stopped doing that, does any one know what I can take to help stop my hair from falling, I am currently taking multi vitamens,kelp and brewers yeast,I am desperate please help.

Listen, Synthroid medication nearly took all of my hair out…I just took a blood test and the doctor’s office called stating that I have a mild case of hypothyroidism and he wants to start me on synthroid…I told them forget it..I took that medication before and it nearly took all of my hair out…I have been off the medication for about 3 years and all of my hair came back…They try to tell you that it is because of hypothyroidism that you lose hair but I started to lose my hair after taking that medication…It was heartbreaking. What else works? The endocrinologist tried to tell me maybe it was because of menopause..Yea right… I am going to look for some herbs for relief.

Wow!
I feel totally amazed by problems experienced by so many of us who need to take perscription drugs.
I’m a youthful 73; have survived anal cancer and the side effect of treatment.
Anxiety and depression have been a concern since my 40s. I have just tried the 3rd anti depression drug recommended, Lexapro. God! One tablet and I was in for 12 hours of non-stop diarrhea: finally passsed out. That damn tablet should be taken off the market! Don’t know if it would have caused hair loss :).
Relate to all of you who have heard…you are just aging, trade off stuff, etc.
Now am taking clonazepam to control anxiety. Hair loss is at the end of side effects, but I think it would be unwise to discontinue before I have another fix in place.
Was hair loss the only thing noticed by those of you on effexor? I broke out in horrible disfiguring red acne-like bumps…so bad I hated going to Starbucks with daughter.
Bottom line: I think my cancer is in remission and am seeing a therapist and nutritionist @ M.D. Anderson here in Orlando. Will ease into the vitamin regimine she suggested.
Oprah is the best solution I’ve heard. She has the power and visability to take on the docs and drug companies who think we don’t care if we go bald if drug helps whatever disorder you have.
BTW: I put on 50 lbs on antidepressant therapy. Another small side effect that docs don’t like to discuss. Finally, how many of you have heard “that is a very rare side effect” when you call doc to complain :)?
Ann

I find that male doctors are not as empathetic as female doctors. My dermatologist who treats my hair loss just tells me “nobody will notice”. Yeah, right. They already have! My female gynechologist, though, is totally empathetic about this situation. She’s the one who originally told me that if I start taking spirolactone, this can help - especially around the frontal bang area. I do believe it helps, but my doctor only prescribes 100 mg a day, while I see others on this site all take 200 mg. a day. I’m going to inquire about that with my doctor.

Oh, I have written to Oprah a couple of times already, with no response. I do think if they hear from lots of women about hair loss problems, they will look into this for all of us! I also wrote to “The View”. I love that show, and I know Sherri wears wigs, and also Joy has a hairpiece supposedly she wears as a topper, I believe. I don’t know if she has any hair loss, but it may just be for added fullness. Either way, I’m interesed. I’ll write agains today.

I totally sympathize with all the others on this site who share this common and HUGE problem. It needs to be addressed by some high profile celebrities and I’ll bet we see some progress.

Take care everybody. We are not alone.