Millions of people around the nation are prescribed medications to help sustain their lives and health. From daily vitamins to pharmaceutical drugs sometimes the body needs help from the genius of medication. What is not often shared are the many medications that cause hair loss as a side effect.
The adverse effects of some medications include the disruption of the hair growth cycle and destruction of hair follicles leading to hair thinning and loss over time. While for some the benefits of the medication may outweigh the cons of losing hair, sometimes it’s best to consult with your physician about the side effects and dosage to help curb the hair loss. Extensions and wigs are options as treatments are administered and hair loss is repaired.
According to the American Hair Loss Association, the treatments for the following conditions can lead to hair loss:
Acne
Drugs derived from vitamin A as a treatment for acne or other conditions, including:
- Accutane (isotretinoin)
Blood
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), including:
- Panwarfin (warfarin sodium)
- Sofarin (warfarin sodium)
- Coumadin (warfarin sodium)
- Heparin injections
Cholesterol
Cholesterol-lowing drugs, including:
- Atronid-S (clofibrate)
- Lopid (gemfibrozil)
Convulsions/Epilepsy
- Tridone (trimethadione)
Depression
- Antidepression drugs, including:
- Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride)
- Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride)
- Paxil (paroxetine)
- Anafranil (clomipramine)
- Janimine (imipramine)
- Tofranil (imipramine)
- Tofranil PM (imipramine)
- Adapin (doxepin)
- Sinequan (doxepin)
- Surmontil (trimipramine)
- Pamelor (nortriptyline)
- Ventyl (nortriptyline)
- Elavin (amitriptyline)
- Endep (amitriptyline)
- Norpramin (desipramine)
- Pertofrane (desipramine)
- Vivactil (protriptyline hydrochloride)
- Asendin (amoxapine)
Diet
- Amphetamines
Fungus
- Antifungals
Glaucoma
The beta-blocker drugs, including:
- Timoptic Eye Drops (timolol)
- Timoptic Ocudose (timolol)
- Timoptic XC (timolol)
Gout
- Lopurin (allopurinol)
- Zyloprim (allopurinol)
Heart
Many drugs prescribed for the heart, including those known as beta-blockers, which are also used to treat high blood pressure, include:
- Tenormin (atenolol)
- Lopressor (metoprolol)
- Corgard (nadolol)
- Inderal and Inderal LA (propanolol)
- Blocadren (timolol)
High Blood Pressure
See the above list of beta blockers under “Heart”
Hormonal Conditions
All hormone-containing drugs and drugs prescribed for hormone-related, reproductive, male-specific, and female-specific conditions and situations have the potential to cause hair loss, including:
- Birth Control Pills
- Hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) for women (estrogen or progesterone)
- Male androgenic hormones and all forms of testosterone
- Anabolic steroids
- Prednisone and other steroids
Inflammation
Many anti-inflammatory drugs, including those prescribed for localized pain, swelling and injury.
- Arthritis drugs
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs include:
- Naprosyn (naproxen)
- Anaprox (naproxen)
- Anaprox DS (naproxen)
- Indocin (indomethacin)
- Indocin SR (indomethacin)
- Clinoril (sulindac)
An anti-inflammatory that is also used as a chemotherapy drug:
- Methotrexate (MTX)
- Rheumatex (methotrexate)
- Folex (methotrexate)
Parkinson’s Disease
- Levadopa / L-dopa (dopar, larodopa)
Thyroid Disorders
- Many of the drugs used to treat the thyroid
Ulcer
Many of the drugs used to treat indigestion, stomach difficulties, and ulcers, including over-the-counter dosages and prescription dosages:
- Tagamet (cimetidine)
- Zantac (ranitidine)
- Pepcid (famotidine)