Comments on: Drugs That Can Cause Hair Loss

By: Lynn C

Lynn C — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:45:27 +0000

Hi- I think many meds cause hair loss/thinning. I was on HRT but crown started thinning, went off that medication. Was on Lipitor and Lotensin at same time, finally dumped the Lipitor but not til 4 yrs later as cholesterol high. Hair kept thinning. Still on Lotensin but in the years from first noticing thinning, mainly on crown area, and today, have had batteries of tests and spent 1 yr with thyroid doc. All normal now. Moved to another city and hair just keeps GOING. Have seen derm and have scheduled scalp biop for next week. Reg doc said Lotensin known to casue hair loss so going to see if it can be switched. Am at wit’s end……….and starting to look like chef Mario Batalli…anyone have any help here or experience Lotensin-related hair loss?????? Derm put me on Loprox shampoo ($148 bucks a bottle!!!) which is nice stuff but certainly cannot afford that much money for shampoo!!! Is a wig the only answer? Anyone in Chicago know of hair loss specialists?

By: Tracy

Tracy — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:35:30 +0000

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!

By: admin

admin — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:10:44 +0000

Hi Barbara,

I looked up wellbutrin and hair loss and noticed a number of sites online where individuals talk about the connection. I think when several people suspect it, there probably is something there. I am not sure if you have seen this link, but here is a site that talks about it: http://www.medications.com/se/wellbutrin/hair-loss

By: Barbara

Barbara — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:00:22 +0000

Does anyone know if Wellbutrin can cause hair loss?

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:37:36 +0000

I take Metoprolol Succ ER (Toporol XL) my hair is thinning by the week. Of course the Dr’s don’t care and act like I’m a bother to them if I bring it up. I was switched from 1 beta-blocker to anoter 2 years ago but it has the exact same side affects. My Dr. must have thought I just wanted to switch beta-blockers but I’d really like to keep my hair. Does any one have any ideas for me?

Thank you,

Rome, GA.

By: Lynn C

Lynn C — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:39:52 +0000

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!!!!!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:59:14 +0000

I am so happy to have found this site! I would like to add that I was on cymbalta and experienced moderate hair loss. I attributed it to stress, but then realized that the hair loss started a few weeks after taking the cymbalta and I was not in a phase of acute stress as I had been 6 months previously when it would have made sense that the stress was the source of the hair loss. I stopped the cymbalta and after 3 months my hair loss has subsided. After doing some online research, I found a few other women had similar complaints. I discussed this with my doctor and he implied that hair loss was not listed under side effects in the PDA so it probably was not the cymbalta. I disagree! It may be a rarer side effect, but I am not the only woman who has experienced it…

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:12:17 +0000

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

By: Kai William

Kai William — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 02:36:53 +0000

I keep reading blog after blog on people experiencing hair loss from thyroid and other drugs, but in the past 5 years I have yet to read about anyone posting about products that may offer solutions or a means to reverse thyroid hair loss from these drugs.
It doesn’t help much to read the same complaints over and over, yet no one has researched enough to hopefully find something that might help. Since this is such a widespread problem, why aren’t people coming together to form class action lawsuit groups against some of these drug manufacturers. Talking about hair loss experienced from these damaging drugs doesn’t stop the hair loss. Why aren’t people petitioning respective authorities who might be in a position to actually be of some help to thousands of hair loss patients.
Why aren’t more people writing to “Oprah Winfrey” who certainly has the financial means and widespread influence to be of some help since recently being diagnosed with a Thyroid condition herself.
What I can tell you personally is that I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Disease 7 years ago. My hair was not falling out until I started taking Synthroid. Let me tell you this, the drug manufacturing label is a lie. The Hair loss stated on thyroid drug labels is not Temporary. I switched from Synthroid to Levothroid to the Unithroid which is supposedly FDA approved. Its been well over 7 years of a regulated thyroid and my hair has never grown back. It has only gotton worse as each year goes by. For a woman, this is one of the worse things to have to live with as a woman’s hair is supposed to be her crown and glory. If your hair is falling out from Thyroid Drugs, It will Not, Repeat not grow back and other than periods of small regrowth, the problem will only get worse!!!!!!
Complaints blogs are of little help. Its time to take Action!! Whats needed is a Class Action Lawsuit!

By: Alicia

Alicia — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:24:31 +0000

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.