Drugs (Cause Hair Loss) – Page 16

May 22, 2009

Predisone Caused Giant Clumps of Hair Loss in Woman – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
I had an allergic reaction about a year ago and they put me on prednisone 50mg. I had to take 8 of those for 3 days and then every 3 days I go down 1 pill. It took about 3 weeks to get off of them and then as soon as I started taking them my hair started to thin. Then eventually it was coming out in giant clumps. It took about 2 months for me to lose all of my hair. Is that normal for that amount of meds I was given? To lose that much hair in that little of time?

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Steroids (like prednisone) are a cause for hair loss. You need a good doctor to analyze you, your general health, and your overall hormone balance. This can not be done over the internet.

May 18, 2009

Spironolactone Caused Melasma So I Stopped — When Will My Hair Fall Out? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female)
I am withdrawing from spironolactone after developing melasma. I have been on it 18 months. How soon should I expect more hair to start falling out again?
Thank you.

Complications of spironolactone treatment includes melasma (skin pigmentation on the face — see here).

Unfortunately, I can not help answer your question because I know absolutely nothing about what is wrong with you, why you were treated with the medication (was it just for hair loss?), age, etc. I’d talk to your prescribing doctor, who has the benefit of knowing your medical history.

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May 14, 2009

My Hair Loss Just Started When I Turned 50 Years Old – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello, I’m male and have just turned 50. There’s no baldness in the family and up until very recently I’ve had a full head of hair.

My hair started falling out considerably in the shower about six months ago (Oct ‘08) and has continued up until now, to the point where I just have to run my fingers through my hair and hairs will fall onto the countertop. Unfortunately I’ve now lost a good amount of hairline and have thinned all over the top of my head.

I went to a dermatologist and supplied eleven vials of blood for testing with everything coming back negative for hair loss – minerals, vitamins, hormones, dhea, thyroid, kidney, liver & bioavailable testosterone were all within range (the last two were slightly elevated, but still in normal range).

There hasn’t been any major stress events in my recent history, nor do I feel depressed. However, I have been taking prednisone since March ‘03 after being diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency (addison’s disease) after a bad bout with food poisoning. According to the medical association hair loss is not a side effect of prednisone, but I’m guessing it is the cause of my hair loss, or possibly an autoimmune disease attacking the hair follicle’s themselves.

I was given a dandruff shampoo (Ducray – Selegel) by the dermatologist but that hasn’t slowed the hair loss down, not sure dandruff could cause this type of hair loss anyway. I’m wondering if you might have any advice that could help as this is very frustrating to say the least.

Thanks

You can guess on the mechanisms for your thinning hair, but hair loss from genetic causes can start late in life (50s). I would need to know much more about your Addison’s disease and the impact of the steroid use before discussing your case further. Prednisone can cause hair loss (see here), but dandruff isn’t a cause of hair loss.

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May 6, 2009

Hair Loss InformationWhy Don’t Studies Discuss Type I or Type II DHT? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

In all of the studies trying to determine whether natural supplements like saw palmetto or green tea block DHT, they never refer to Type I DHT or Type II DHT — just DHT. Why is this? Good question, huh?

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Propecia vs Avodart Good question. Propecia (finasteride 1mg) blocks mainly DHT type II, and Avodart (dutasteride) blocks both DHT type I & II. You would think if you block ALL the DHT it would be better against androgenic alopecia. Dutasteride is three times more potent than finasteride inhibiting the type II enzyme and 100 times more potent than finasteride inhibiting the type I form of the DHT producing enzyme. There are clinical observations that suggest that dutasteride is better than finasteride, but it is not approved for hair loss by the FDA and the long term safety on human reproduction for dutasteride (reports of sterility is a complication) have been suggested in some rare patients. We have received many reports by varying doctors who switch people from finasteride to dutasteride and get a better response. The next logical question should be: If we increase the finasteride dose to 5 mg or so, will it be better to treat hair loss? I don’t know if anyone really knows that answer for sure. Some of the original studies on finasteride suggested that the 1mg dose is the most universal dose, but it may be that a high dose in those who are refractory to finasteride may help. Some doctors are using a higher dose of finasteride on long term users. It’s a prescription drug, so I’m not suggesting you should take a higher dosage. The problems for either finasteride and dutasteride is that side effects rise when increasing dosages.

To get back to your question though — it’s been proven that type II is linked to male pattern baldness, but type I hasn’t been linked yet (though it’s possibly just not been proven yet). I couldn’t tell you why the studies out there don’t provide a breakdown by type, but I have not found scientific evidence that saw palmetto or even green tea actually block DHT anyway. And even if it did block some DHT, there is nothing in the literature that shows saw palmetto or green tea being effective for treating androgenic alopecia. I don’t mean to be a pessimist, but even Propecia does not completely stop androgenic alopecia.

The real quest should be finding other (non- DHT related) mechanism for androgenic alopecia. DHT is not the only solution out there… we just haven’t discovered the other yet.

May 6, 2009

Should I Take Steroids and Propecia Together? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

doc,
i have used steroids and few years ago in my 20s and started to lose hair for a while. i went to a doctor and he told me take propecia, so i did for 8 months but my sex drive dropped. stopped taking propecia and now in my 30s i feel i need to take steroids to get my testosterone level to go back up. plus i am about to hit the gym again. my question to you is should i take propecia and steroids together so my hair doesnt fall out again? what should i do about low level of testosterone to bring it back up?

I am not your doctor and messing around with the steroids and Propecia is not a place where I wish to go, particularly over the internet. There is no doubt that taking steroids causes hair loss and although Propecia may help a bit, I doubt that it will prevent you from going with your genetic hair loss path.

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April 29, 2009

Lost Weight, Taking Antidepressants — Which One Is Causing My Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello,
For the past two weeks or so I have noticed that my hair is falling out a lot more than usual. I recently started using a new acne face wash (it is not prescription) that is very strong. I also am taking Wellbutrin for depression, but I have been on it for a few months already. Also, I had a hairloss phase in the past that I thought was related to high blood sugar and unhealthy eating habits, but I recently have lost 30 lbs. I do not know which of these factors, if any, is causing this hair loss. What do you think?

Thank you

There is no way to separate the various causes for hair loss and blame the one or a combination of them. Weight loss on its own shouldn’t cause hair loss if it’s done in a healthy way, but I don’t have enough info on how fast you lost weight or in what way you did so. Extreme dieting can cause hair loss, though.

Also, Wellbutrin and other antidepressants are known to cause hair loss in some people. A full list of side effects can be found here (it’s listed on that page as alopecia). Stress can also be a cause of hair loss, and dieting and depression will likely involve stress in some form. There’s just too much going on for me to be able to pinpoint a cause of your hair loss. Sorry.

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April 16, 2009

Female Hair Loss in Crown — Is It from Antidepressants? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My hair started to thin around the crown (on the left side) about a year and a half ago. I think it is because of the Antidepressants Lexapro & Celexa that I have been on for the past two years. Prior to that I had no problem. It is only in one area. I do wear braids but have been for the better part of 20 years with absolutely no problem. Can the thinning be resolved if I go off the medication and will my hair grow back? Thank you!

This is a discussion you should clearly be having with your prescribing doctor. These medications can cause hair loss, but that does not mean that the hair loss you are experiencing is from them. You need to be evaluated by a good family doc or dermatologist for finding out the cause for your hair loss.

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March 19, 2009

Cellcept and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Great site! Two questions:

1) Can Cellcept cause hair loss ?

2) What are the physical mechanisms by which emotional stress causes hair loss?

Thanks

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Cellcept (mycophenolate mofetil) can cause hair loss as a side effect of the drug. This drug is used in organ transplantation to prevent rejection of organs like the liver, kidney, or heart. Hair loss is listed as a common side effect of Cellcept on pharmaceutical company Roche’s New Zealand site.

With regard to emotional stress and hair loss, I do not believe that we understand the relationship other than that it does occur. Many times I tell people that much of the science of medicine is observational and that is what we see with regard to stress and hair loss.

March 11, 2009

Xolair (Asthma Medication) and Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doc.

Can the usage of Xolair an expensive asthma injectible cause hair loss. I have read warnings that this is possible. I may be taking this medicine in the near future and wondered if you have any thoughts on this issue with this medicine. It appears that most people take this med for multi years.

Thanks

Yes, Xolair (omalizumab) has been reported to produce hair loss in some patients. I don’t have anything else to add, as I don’t use nor do I prescribe this medication (I do not treat patients for asthma ailments). Sorry.

You can find a list of potential side effects here.

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February 6, 2009

Accutane and DUPA – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Is there a link between past accutane use and DUPA? I took accutane when I was 17 and again at 22 for cystic acne. My hair started thinning at 23 and now at age 30, I was told by a doctor I have DUPA. If not the accutane, then maybe the DUPA is linked to the same reason I have had cystic acne for 15 years?

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Anything is a possibility, but I doubt there are real causation relationships at play here. One may postulate that Accutane produced more diffuse hair loss mimicking DUPA (diffuse unpatterned alopecia), but you are trying to find answers and explanations to a problem and your guess is as good as mine. DUPA is not related to Accutane use to my knowledge, nor, I believe, that acne is related to hair loss.