Are you noticing more hair on your brush than usual? One reason might be the medicine you take. This guide discusses what drugs cause hair loss and how to handle it. Keep reading for help.
Key Takeaways
- Some drugs, like chemotherapy, beta blockers, and antidepressants, can cause hair loss. This happens during the hair’s growth cycle.
- Hair loss from medication can sometimes be fixed by changing medicines or doses with a doctor’s help.
- Treatments for drug-induced hair loss include using topical products like Minoxidil and trying hair restoration methods such as low-level laser therapy or PRP therapy.
How Medications Affect Hair Loss
When you take certain medications, they can affect your hair. This can happen during the anagen phase or telogen phase of the hair growth cycle.
Anagen effluvium
Anagen effluvium happens during the anagen phase of hair growth. This is where hair matrix cells usually divide to create new hairs. But some drugs, like chemotherapy treatments, stop these cells from splitting properly.
This type of hair loss can start soon after beginning medication—sometimes in days or weeks.
Chemotherapy drugs are well-known for causing this problem. Patients often lose most, if not all, of their hair quickly after treatment starts. This includes hair on the head and also eyebrows and eyelashes.
Telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium is a common form of hair thinning that happens because some drugs push more hair into the resting phase. This change usually shows up 2 to 4 months after you start taking the medicine.
Drugs can force 30% to 70% more hairs than usual into this phase. Normally, we lose about 100 to 150 hairs a day. But with telogen effluvium, this number jumps higher.
This type of hair loss makes many people feel upset and low in self-worth. Knowing what causes it helps deal with the problem better. If your medicine is behind your hair loss, talking to your doctor might help find another solution.
They can adjust dosages or try different treatments to reduce hair fall and possibly help in regrowth.
Common Medications That Can Cause Hair Loss
Some medications can lead to hair loss. These include chemotherapy drugs, beta blockers, antidepressants, and hormone therapies. It’s important to be aware of these potential side effects when taking these medications.
Chemotherapy drugs
Chemotherapy drugs like Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide are strong medicines that attack fast-growing cancer cells, but they also affect your hair. These drugs can lead to anagen effluvium, a type of hair loss that happens quickly and can cause you to lose a lot of hair not long after treatment starts.
Other chemotherapy medications listed such as Methotrexate and Doxorubicin work in similar ways, leading to significant hair loss.
Hair usually grows back after chemotherapy but it might feel or look different than before. Some people find their new hair is curlier or has changed color. Even though the thought of losing hair can be scary for someone going through cancer treatment, understanding that this side effect is common might help with coping strategies.
It’s also comforting to know that in most cases, this kind of hair loss from medication isn’t permanent.
The courage it takes to face one’s appearance during and after chemotherapy speaks volumes about strength.
Beta blockers
Beta blockers like Propranolol (Inderal), Atenolol (Tenormin), and Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) are known for causing hair loss. If you’re experiencing this side effect, consulting your healthcare provider is essential.
While switching blood thinners may seem like a solution, it’s important not to do so without medical guidance.
Moving on to “Antidepressants”…
Antidepressants
Some antidepressants can result in hair loss. Medications like Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) have been associated with this side effect.
Moreover, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluvoxamine (Luvox) are also linked to hair loss. If you’re experiencing hair loss while taking these medications, it’s vital to consult a healthcare professional for guidance on potential solutions.
It’s crucial to understand that the impact of medications on hair loss can vary from person to person, so consulting your healthcare provider regarding any concerns about medication-related hair loss is crucial.
Hormone therapies
After understanding the effects of antidepressants on hair loss, it’s important to note how hormone therapies can also contribute to this. Hormone replacement therapy and birth control pills are known for their potential to cause hair loss due to hormonal imbalances they can create in the body.
In particular, these therapies can lead to a condition called telogen effluvium where there’s excessive shedding of hairs from all over the scalp.
Diagnosing Drug-Induced Hair Loss
Diagnosing drug-induced hair loss involves recognizing signs and consulting healthcare providers. For more detailed information, please continue reading our comprehensive guide.
Signs to watch for
Here are signs to watch for hair loss caused by medications:
- Increased shedding of 100 to 150 hairs per day.
- Thinning or bald patches on the scalp.
- Loss of hair on the entire body, including eyebrows and eyelashes.
- Sudden and noticeable hair loss that doesn’t follow typical patterns.
- Hair breakage at the root, leading to shorter strands.
These signs may indicate drug-induced hair loss, and consulting a healthcare provider is essential for a proper diagnosis and potential treatment adjustments.
Consulting healthcare providers
Consulting with healthcare providers is essential when experiencing medication-induced hair loss. Here’s how they can assist:
- Thorough Assessment: Healthcare providers can conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your medical history, current medications, and potential triggers for hair loss.
- Exploring Alternatives: They can recommend different medications or treatments that are less likely to cause hair loss while still addressing your health needs.
- Support and Monitoring: Your healthcare provider can monitor your progress and provide ongoing assistance as you manage medication-induced hair loss.
- Access to Educational Materials: They can offer educational materials to help you better comprehend the potential side effects of medications and how to mitigate them.
- Referral to Specialized Professionals: If necessary, healthcare providers may refer you to dermatologists or other specialists who can offer targeted treatment options for medication-induced hair loss.
Seeking guidance from healthcare providers ensures that you receive comprehensive support tailored to your specific needs in addressing medication-induced hair loss.
Treating Hair Loss Caused by Medication
To treat drug-induced hair loss, adjustments to medication can be made alongside utilizing topical treatments and hair restoration techniques. For more on effectively combating this issue, read the full blog post.
Adjusting medication
Hair loss caused by medication can often be reversed by stopping the offending medication. Here are some ways to adjust medication that may help address this issue:
- Consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medication regimen.
- Explore alternative medications that could effectively treat your condition without causing hair loss.
- Consider adjusting the dosage or frequency of your current medication in collaboration with your healthcare provider.
- Be aware of the potential side effects when switching medications and ensure close monitoring by a medical professional.
- Seek support from mental health professionals if adjusting your medication triggers emotional challenges.
Remember, any adjustments to your medication should always be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Topical treatments
Topical treatments for hair loss:
- Minoxidil (Rogaine) is a commonly used topical treatment that can help with hair regrowth over time.
- Dietary supplements such as vitamin A may also aid in addressing hair loss.
- Scalp biopsies can provide essential diagnostic information to determine the cause of your hair loss and guide appropriate treatment.
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is another topical treatment that has shown promise in promoting hair regrowth.
Explore these options with your healthcare provider to find the best solution for your specific situation.
Hair restoration techniques
Hair restoration techniques aim to stimulate hair growth and improve the overall health of the scalp. Here are some effective methods for hair restoration:
- Low-level laser therapy: This technique uses red light to energize and promote hair follicle activity.
- Scalp micropigmentation: A non-invasive treatment that replicates the appearance of a fuller head of shaven hair.
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy: Utilizes the patient’s blood to encourage hair growth by injecting concentrated plasma into the scalp.
- Hair transplant surgery: Involves relocating hair follicles from dense areas of the scalp to areas with thinning or balding hair.
Each method has shown promise in treating various types of hair loss as they work towards regaining natural-looking, healthy hair.
Conclusion
Understanding which medications can lead to hair loss is crucial for individuals experiencing this issue. Medications can impact the hair cycle, causing various types of hair loss.
Chemotherapy drugs, beta blockers, and antidepressants are some common culprits. However, with proper diagnosis and treatment adjustments alongside consultation with healthcare providers, it’s possible to address drug-induced hair loss effectively.
By being aware of the potential effects of medications on hair health and seeking appropriate care when needed, individuals can take proactive steps in managing drug-induced alopecia.
FAQs
1. What drugs are known to cause hair loss?
Drugs such as anticoagulants, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and valproic acid, often used for conditions like high blood pressure or depression, can lead to a condition called drug-induced alopecia.
2. Can certain medications cause permanent hair loss?
While some medications like cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin) may result in nonscarring hair loss which is reversible upon cessation of the drug, other drugs might lead to more persistent forms of alopecia.
3. Are there any mental health issues related with hair loss?
Yes, disorders like trichotillomania – a compulsive hair-pulling disorder often triggered by stress or traumatic experiences – can cause significant hair loss. Additionally, body dysmorphic disorder and attention deficit problems linked with stimulant drug use such as Adderall can also contribute to self-destructive behaviors including skin picking that leads to scalp damage.
4. How does hyperthyroidism relate to hair loss?
Overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism caused by antithyroid medication such as propylthiouracil can disrupt the normal cycle of your hairs leading to diffuse alopecia.
5. Can lifestyle factors influence drug-induced hair loss?
Indeed! Factors like weight-loss regimens involving addictive substances or methamphetamine use may exacerbate the effects of drug-induced alopecia. Also hairstyles that pull on the follicles can worsen this type of non-scarring baldness.
6. Is it possible for anti-seizure medications to cause changes in my hairstyle or color?
Anti-seizure medicines like leflunomide (Arava), Keppra and other antiepileptics have been associated with alterations in texture and even color changes along with potential thinning due to their impact on the hair cycle.