Hair loss can be a side effect of many medications, causing patients and those undergoing treatment a lot of stress. Telogen effluvium is the most common type of drug-induced hair loss [1]. It’s a type of hair loss that can also be caused by stress, trauma, and illness.
Telogen effluvium is characterised by thinning hair and bald patches that aren’t patterned like androgenetic alopecia. You may find large amounts of hair on your pillow after waking up, in the shower, and when running your hands through your hair.
Though telogen effluvium is the most common type of hair loss associated with medication, it’s not the only one. Androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and anagen effluvium can also be caused by starting a course of treatment.
There are several ways in which medications can lead to loss of hair or hair thinning. Of course, this will depend on the individual and their prescribed medication. Some medication-related hair loss conditions are listed below.
Anagen effluvium is a type of non-scarring alopecia. It’s usually caused by the powerful medications used in chemotherapy. Hairs that are in the anagen growth phase are damaged by the toxic nature of the chemotherapy drugs that treat cancer [2]. This causes a fracture in the hair shaft, usually beginning within 14 days of starting treatment.
Considered one of the most severe forms of drug-induced alopecia, hair loss from chemotherapy can have severe emotional effects on those undergoing treatment. 47% of female patients in one study considered hair loss to be one of the most traumatising factors of chemotherapy [2].
Drug-induced telogen effluvium usually manifests itself 2 to 4 months after starting a particular course of treatment [3]. It’s also a little unclear as to whether it’s the medications that cause the loss of hair, as there are only a few medications with proven links to the loss of hair [4].
Telogen effluvium hair loss isn’t just caused by starting medication – it can also be caused by stopping medication such as oral contraceptives, and hair loss treatment Minoxidil.
Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male-pattern baldness and female-pattern hair loss, is linked to hormones. So hormonal treatments like the contraceptive pill may lead to hair loss. Other treatments that adjust hormone levels in the body like testosterone replacement therapy can also exacerbate hair loss [5, 6].
Alopecia areata can be triggered by high cortisol levels [19]. Weight loss drugs and ADHD medication such as Adderall which contain amphetamine, which can lead to high cortisol levels.
Here’s a list of 15 medications that can lead to the loss of hair.
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient, that supports the maintenance of healthy bones, skin, teeth, and hair. It also supports the correct functioning of the body’s immune and reproductive systems. However, excessive vitamin A can cause hair loss.
This is because vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it’s stored in the liver. Unlike water-soluble vitamins which are excreted by the body, excess vitamin A will build up in the body. This causes vitamin A toxicity, which has a host of negative side effects including the loss of hair.
If you’re taking acne medication that contains vitamin A (retinoid medications like Accutane, for example) high levels of it could build up in your body and cause you to lose hair.
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. These drugs can cause hair loss by creating stress, which then causes hair to go into the telogen stage prematurely. Hair loss may be noted about 2 months after starting the medication [17].
One study measured iron and zinc levels in rats after ibuprofen was administered for 60 days. Iron and zinc are important metals in regard to hair growth. Researchers found the rat’s iron and zinc levels were significantly depleted, and 70% of the rats studied had alopecia [18].
If you undergo a hair transplant procedure, it’s not advised to take NSAIDs as they may interfere with the success of the treatment.
Antibiotics can lead to hair loss by depleting the body’s vitamin B and haemoglobin levels. Deficiencies in biotin (vitamin B7) are linked to hair loss, but this is usually due to an underlying condition.
There are no direct studies that prove a link between antibiotics and the loss of hair. Antibiotics also have a negative effect on gut bacteria, causing microbiome imbalances [7]. Recent research has suggested a link between poor gut microflora and poor hair growth, but more conclusive research is needed.
There is a wealth of anecdotal evidence that stopping taking the pill results in the loss of hair. The scientific literature out there remains a subject of debate. One study suggests that hair loss from taking oral contraceptives is dependent on the type of contraceptive medication. It states that contraceptive medications with high androgenic indexes such as levonorgestrel can cause alopecia in women who are already susceptible to hair loss [5].
Why would this be? Genetic susceptibility is one factor. Also, women who have already experienced alopecia or female pattern hair loss are more likely to experience it again.
As we’ve already established, the strong medications prescribed as treatment for cancer cause hair loss. Designed to attack the cancer-causing cells within your body, they don’t just cause hair loss from your head but are also responsible for the loss of body hair. Chemotherapy drugs can also make hair fall out from your eyelashes, eyebrows, and whole body. It’s estimated that 65% of chemotherapy patients suffer from the loss of hair [6].
Used to treat fungal infections, antifungal medications such as voriconazole can cause alopecia. In one study, 82% of patients reported hair loss [8]. 96% of those patients experienced hair loss from the scalp, with other participants reporting hair loss from their arms and legs. A smaller number of patients also found their eyelashes and eyebrows were falling out.
Statins are medications that treat high levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood. Hair loss has been reported when taking these medications, though it only tends to occur in about 1% of patients [9].
Anticonvulsants are mainly used in the treatment of epilepsy. One study looked at the medication levetiracetam and its effect on patients with epilepsy. They found hair loss was reported by the 5 patients studied within two months of starting treatment [10]. However, the hair loss was believed to resolve itself after stopping treatment.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin and heparin help to prevent blood clots in people who are at a high risk of blood clotting. This can be dangerous, as it can lead to strokes and heart attacks.
Heparin and warfarin are medications that are known to cause hair loss. This hair loss is defined as alopecia but could also be linked to telogen effluvium [11]. It’s not fully understood why these medications cause hair loss. Other studies state that telogen effluvium occurs in up to 50% of patients taking anticoagulants [1].
Hair loss from taking beta-blockers for high blood pressure is a rare but upsetting side effect. It’s been associated with the medication Propranolol and is likely to be caused by toxicity affecting hair follicles [12].
A comparative study compared different selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), medications that increase levels of serotonin in the brain. They found some SSRI medications caused more hair loss than others, with bupropion having the highest risk of hair loss [13].
The evidence for testosterone therapy and the loss of hair is more anecdotal. The increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels from testosterone treatment may cause hair loss. DHT is a byproduct of testosterone. It can cause hair follicles to diminish and eventually stop producing hair.
Some amphetamine-derived medications for weight loss can cause alopecia areata. While the exact mechanism linking the two hasn’t yet been established, it may be related to high cortisol levels caused by amphetamines. High cortisol levels may be a trigger for alopecia areata.
However, hair loss can also be caused by rapid weight loss [15]. This usually manifests as telogen effluvium rather than alopecia areata, so it’s important to get a diagnosis of your hair loss to establish the true cause.
Learn more about the impact weight loss drugs have on hair health:
Anabolic steroids have been linked with hair loss. These synthetic versions of testosterone can cause the body to produce excessive DHT, causing progressive male pattern baldness.
If you are concerned about medication-induced hair loss, the good news is that it can be easily treated. Here are 5 ways you can restore your lost hair.
One treatment for chemotherapy-related hair loss is scalp cooling. Chemotherapy patients wear a cooling cap filled with a cold gel or other liquid while they are undergoing treatment.
Though the research is limited, some studies do suggest scalp cooling helps to prevent the loss of hair from the scalp, and patients will be less likely to wear a wig after treatment. (14) Scalp cooling works by reducing blood flow to the hair follicles, meaning the harsh medications won’t damage the hair follicles.
Usually, hair grows back after stopping the course of treatment or medication. Never stop taking prescription medication without discussing it with your doctor or specialist, as there can be dangerous side effects.
If you stop treatment or finish your course of medication but the rate of hair falling out doesn’t slow down, you may need to look at other treatments. It’s good to wait at least 3 months, as medications can stay in your system due to their half-life. If you’re feeling self-conscious during that time, we’ve put together a list of solutions to hide thinning hair.
Eating a healthier diet can help prevent hair loss. If you or your doctor aren’t entirely sure if the medication is the root cause, adapting your diet could be an excellent way to make sure nutritional deficiencies aren’t causing hair loss. More extreme dieting practices like intermittent fasting have been linked with hair loss [16].
It’s always worth including healthy hair growth foods in your diet. Foods like avocado, chili oil, eggs, and oily fish can help hair regrowth, and assist in managing hair loss from medications.
Also, the chemicals found in cigarette smoke can cause hair loss, as they damage hair follicles and stop hair from growing. Smoking more than doubles the likelihood of hair loss, so it’s always worth considering trying to quit.
Topical treatments like Minoxidil and Finasteride are used to treat medication-induced hair loss by stimulating new hair growth. These topical applications are proven to help treat the loss of hair from a number of sources, including medications. Always ensure that any treatments don’t interfere with the medications you’re already taking. Learn more about medications that work as an alternative to a hair transplant.
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