Does Protonix cause hair loss? I have been taking protonix (pantoprazole generic brand) for about two months and my hair is falling out by the hand full.
Many patients all over the world with acid reflux that take Protonix (pantoprazole) still have hair, but with that being said, hair loss is a known side effect of this drug. It is rare, however. See WebMD for a complete list of potential side effects.
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Hey doctor,
Thanks so much for your time. This would be very helpful for me if you could answer this question! My question is, does miniaturization for sure mean that one has male pattern baldness or can miniaturization be a result of other causes of hair loss (i.e. meds). I’ve been taking minocycline for 4 years because of acne prescribed by a doctor and I also have A LOT of miniaturization. Is this just coincidence or could there be other reasons for miniaturization/baldingThanks for your time!
There could be other reasons besides genetic male pattern baldness. Get a good examination by a doctor who knows about this. Miniaturization could be drug induced along with a variety of other diseases.
Minocycline is not known to cause hair loss, but I suppose it could be a rare side effect (I’ve read conflicting reports online about it being a side effect at all). The official documentation does not mention it.
Snippet from the article:
Over the years, a Woodstock company’s fruit-flavored vitamin supplement gained a loyal following. Customers swore it made them healthier and their testimonials persuaded friends and family to take it, too.
They never imagined it would be the cause of bizarre and frightening symptoms that stumped their doctors.
At least 197 people in a dozen states — 53 of them in Georgia — were sickened earlier this year after taking the liquid supplement Total Body Formula. Their hair fell out in clumps, their fingernails fell off. They suffered nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Some had disabling joint pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health officials.
Full article at Atlanta Journal-Constitution — Customers say company’s vitamins made them sick
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(female)
I have noticed that my hair is breaking off. There are several pieces of hair that are only two inches long on the top of my head. I color my hair to cover the gray, but I am also on several medications. I was diagnosed with MS in 2003. Do you have any thoughts on what could be causing this?
Thank you.
Look at the medications that you are using for the cause of your hair loss. Some medications used in treatment of multiple sclerosis (like mitoxantrone) can cause mild hair loss. Speak with your doctor about them.
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Hi I am 26 years old and I recently moved to a new country for the 6 months but I noticed that I have been gradually losing hair for the past year or so(even while I was still in my home country). I’ve seen a local dermatologist here in Taiwan but I am having some reservations about him. He did a hasty (literally) 2 min. check-up, where he just casually looked over my scalp and he didn’t bother to ask me any questions about my family history or my lifestyle hair. He just immediately related my condition to the stress of moving to a new country. Afterwards, he sprayed nitrogen of some sort into my hair, he told me to come back once a week and then gave me a prescription for betamethasone (apply 4 times a day) and polytar liquid to wash my hair once a day. I am wondering if it’s time to find a new doctor? What kinds of procedures should I expect in my first meeting with my doctor? How should I go about finding a good one? Thanks in advance
I believe that you are right to consider getting another doctor. You actually know what to look for in a doctor by your description:
Sounds like his treatments are everything (including the kitchen sink), but I think that you know that the kitchen sink will not bring your hair back. If you were my patient, I would advise you to stay away from betamethasone, as it is a steroid which might hurt you with regard to producing even more hair loss. Good luck.
Hello, I have a couple of questions:
- Is hair supposed to be the same thickness all over the head or are there zones in which thinner/thicker?
- How important is shredding to the process of balding? I’ve heard from balding friends that they see a ton of hair in the pillow and specially in the shower or while they comb their hair. Does a substantial increase in shredding from your usual mean that you’re going bald?
- I used an acne cream on my face when I was younger, I used it on my forehead and I noticed that my hair turned blond. Two years later I read the package and it said to avoid the hair. Do you think I could have lost the hair that turned blond or did it grow back eventually?
Thank you.
I recently took a 4 week cycle of steroids and now my hair is falling out and thinning really bad and I’m scared I will go bald. I purchased some DHT blocker from a local drug store along with some hair regrowth vitamins in hope that it doesn’t cause permanent damage. My question is just that. Will the hair loss and thinning be permanent and how long does it usually take to stop the cycle of hair loss once started? Please any suggestions would help. Oh and don’t worry I’ve learned my lesson not to mess with steroids! Thanks.
You went from one bad thing to another. Buying an over-the-counter DHT blocker is like buying a sugar pill. Your worst scenario comes from you wasting time with this stuff when you could be doing the right thing. See a professional (a doctor) to make the diagnosis and treat it correctly.
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(female) My hair loss is due to a 5 month regimen of Isotretinoin. My last treatment was Dec. of 2006. I am still experiencing persistent hair loss. I realize the medicine has significantly reduced my sebaceous glands. Is there any possible way to enlarge, inflat, manipulate, or to boost or increase my sebaceous glands so that I may began producing sebum again? I would much rather battle acne than hair loss.
With Kind Regards
You are in a predicament that many patients run into with regards to medication usage and adverse effects. Hair loss is a known adverse effect of using Accutane (isotretinoin). Often times these effects are increased as the dosage of this medication increases and can persist even after the medication is discontinued.
I am assuming that in your battle with acne, your doctor has exhausted other treatment options prior to putting you on isotretinoin. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any medication or procedure that would allow the sebaceous glands to be manipulated in the ways that you mentioned.
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Doc,
Is there a possibility that a Hepatitis B vaccine may cause hairloss? I am due this jab very soon (actually it will be 3 shots over 6 months) and i’m worried as i’ve read about some people who have started balding after having this vaccine. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Yes, though it is very rare. The Center for Disease Control says, “For example, recent studies suggest that alopecia (hair loss) may rarely occur in persons who have received hepatitis B vaccine. While the mechanisms responsible for alopecia following vaccination are not certain, it could be immune-mediated.”
The most common cause in men is genes, and I don’t think you should be worried about losing hair from the vaccine.
This site is a great resource! I see that you have answered questions before about Ortho Evra and hair loss, and depression and hair loss. I wanted to know if Yaz (another birth control pill, but with a lower dose of estrogen) can also cause hair loss – and depression/mood swings? My doctor already ruled out thyroid or other conditions as a possible cause. I´m trying to figure out what is causing what.
Thank you!
I would suspect that regardless of the dose of the oral contraceptive, if a woman has a genetic predisposition for hair loss, then the medication would serve to increase the loss. Some medications may have more of an effect than others. On the other hand, Yaz claims to help with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), thus decreasing the chance of emotional and/or physical stress which can exacerbate hair loss. As with many medications, there needs to be a balancing act with regards to intended use and benefits versus side effects. With that being said, Yaz (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) is known to cause scalp hair loss as a rare side effect — see Drugs.com.
