Author: John Carter

Medications & Drugs That Cause Hair Loss

If you notice hair thinning or hair loss after starting a new medication or modified dosage, speak with a doctor. They could help modify your current treatment plan, such as by modifying the dosage or suggesting an alternative drug. Drugs cause hair loss by interfering with the normal cycle of scalp hair growth. During the anagen phase, which lasts for two to seven years, the hair grows. During the telogen phase, which lasts about three months, the hair rests. At the end of the telogen phase, the hair falls out and is replaced by new hair.

Male-pattern hair loss occurs on the top and front of the head. By contrast, female-pattern hair loss is seen on the top of the head. When this occurs, it is often known as drug-induced hair loss. This means typically, normal hair growth will resume when people stop taking the drug. In rare cases, however, people can experience permanent hair loss.

How do drugs cause hair loss?

Some blood pressure medications have been known to cause hair loss. Hair loss with SSRIs and bupropion, although possible, is not as common. If you experience hair loss, your healthcare provider will evaluate the potential benefits of switching to another medication versus the risks of stopping the medication. Fortunately, hair loss caused by antifungals is reversible, and complete regrowth can be expected within three to six months after stopping or reducing the dosage. The extent and severity of hair loss usually depend on the dosage and duration of the treatment.

Hair loss in the telogen phase

Colchicine (Colcrys), which doctors use to treat gout, can also sometimes cause the loss of hairs in the growing stage. Some medications may trigger hormone imbalances and changes, which may lead to hair loss. Interestingly, however, a combination of topical tretinoin and minoxidil may cause hair growth, but more research is needed. Excess doses of vitamin A and medications derived from it may cause telogen effluvium.

Signs of drug-induced alopecia

Female-pattern baldness typically starts with scalp hairs becoming progressively less dense. Many women first experience hair thinning and hair loss where they part their hair and on the top-central portion of the head. Genetics, hormonal changes, inflammation and even certain diseases can trigger temporary or permanent hair loss. Prescription drugs may also trigger excessive and sudden shedding. It’s called scalp hypothermia, and it involves placing ice packs on the scalp a few minutes before — and for about a half-hour after — chemotherapy treatment. Cooling the scalp reduces blood flow to the hair follicles, making it harder for the chemotherapy drugs to get into the follicular cells.

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Anti-clotting drugs

Anagen effluvium is hair loss that occurs during the anagen phase of the hair cycle, when the hairs are actively growing. It prevents the matrix cells, which produce new hairs, from dividing normally. This type of hair loss usually occurs within a few days to weeks after taking the medication. Chemotherapy drugs often lead to the anagen effluvium type of hair loss.

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Certain medications can cause hair loss during different phases of the hair growth cycle. Where possible, the best way to treat drug-induced alopecia is to stop taking the medication responsible for the hair loss. However, people should not stop taking a medication without their doctor’s agreement. Read on to discover which medications can cause drug-induced alopecia and learn how to stop or reverse hair loss.

If you experience hair loss while taking retinoids, your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage or advise you to stop taking the medication. With telogen effluvium, hair loss may not be severe and may not affect much hair. Usually, the hair loss goes away on its own without any treatment. Most of the time, the hair loss is reversible, with hair growing back a few months after stopping or reducing the medication. It may not always be possible to prevent hair loss from drugs. A person may wish to discuss if other other medication options are available with their doctor.

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1. Most of the time, the hair loss is reversible, with hair resuming growth a few months after stopping or reducing the medication.
2. The growth phase is called anagen and can last from a few months to a few years.
3. The medications may also trigger the onset of male- or female-pattern baldness.
4. This type of hair loss may affect all hair, including that on the scalp, face, and body.
5. Other mood stabilizers, such as lithium, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and bupropion may also cause hair loss.

Cooling also reduces biochemical activity, making the hair follicles less susceptible to damage from chemotherapy drugs. One concern with this technique is the risk of cancer recurrence in the scalp, as perhaps this area did not receive the full dose of medication due to cooling vasoconstriction. The type of drug, type of hair loss, dosage, and your sensitivity to the drug are all important factors in how severe the side effects will be. It’s important to talk to your doctor before stopping, as the medication is certainly a necessary one for whatever medical condition it’s treating. Medication-related hair loss is typically a form of telogen effluvium, which occurs after physical or emotional stress, including illness or major life upheaval.

People may be able to help hair growth with at-home treatments. If your hair loss is caused by an underlying disease, treatment for that disease will be necessary. If a certain medication is causing the hair loss, your doctor may advise you to stop using it for a few months.