Drugs (Cause Hair Loss) – Page 43

March 28, 2006

Medicines and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Can my high blood pressure medicine (Triamt/HCTZ tab 37.5-25) cause my hair to have breakage?

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Yes. Blood pressure medicines (and many other medicines) can cause hair loss. However, you should consider other sources of hair loss before focusing on a medication.

You should first be evaluated by your primary care doctor, because hair loss may be a symptom of an underlying medical problem.

A less than exclusive list of medications that cause hair loss are: allopurinol, arsenic, apirin, l-asparaginase, bismuth, bleomycin, boric acid, bromocriptine, carbamazepine, carbon monoxide, chlorambucil, chloramphenicol, cimetidine, colchicine, clofibrate, clomiphene citrate, coumarin anticoagulant, cyclophosphamide, cyproterone acetate, dactinomycin, danazol, diethyl carbamazepine, dipyridamole, doxorubicin, ethionamide, etoposide, etretinate, fenifibrate, gentamycin sulphate, guanethidine, heparin (telogen effluvium after 6-16 weeks ), hydroxychloroquine, ibuprofen, idoxuridine, indandione, indomethacin, interferon, iodine, isophosphamide, levamisole, levodopa, lithium, mepacrine, mercury, mesalazine, methisazone, methotrexate, methyl CCNU, methysurgide, metoprolol, mitomycin, mitrexantrone, morphine, nadolol, nafoxidine, nicotinic acid, nicotinyl alcohol, nitrofurantoin sodium, norethisterone, estrogens, oral contraceptives, para aminosalicylate, phenindione, phenprocoumon, potassium thiocyanate, procainamide, propanolol, selenium sulphide, sodium aurothiomalate, sodium valproate, spironolactone, sulphasalazine, tamoxifen, thalium acetate, thiamphenicol, terfenadine, trimethadione, troxidone, vasopressin, vincristine, vindesine, vitamin A, warfarin.

Sometimes I wonder if the hair loss side effect really occurs or if it is just verbiage that the drug companies put into their warnings to cover their legal ‘derriere’ in the event that it occurs. I so rarely see most of these drugs in action, so I am not really in a position to agree or disagree with what is published in the warnings posted on these medications.

March 24, 2006

Warfarin and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

will warfarin cause my hair to come out ?

Warfarin is one of many drugs that may cause hair loss. The important point is that you are most likely on warfarin for a very serious medical condition and you should not stop taking warfarin because of a possible hair loss. You should first seek out other causes of hair loss. Follow up with your doctor or follow up with a hair transplant surgeon to map your scalp hair for miniaturization and pattern of hair loss.

March 23, 2006

Hair Loss InformationScalpMed Causing Shedding? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 38 year old mail in good health and good physical condition, however like most men my hair has begun to thin. I saw the infomercial for “ScalpMed” and it looked promising, so I thought…what the heck, i’ll give it a try. Now, my question is this, it appears that I shed more hairs in the morning when I wash my hair (using a a ph balanced DHT reducing shampoo) after using this product. Can minoxidil cause one to shed more hair since I know this product contains this? If I don’t use scalpmed at night, the next morning when I wash my hair I have fewer hairs in the tub- about 14 without Scalpmed, and 20-40 with Scalpmed).

I also would like to make a comment to the medical industry. If one wants to try and find a cure for baldness, maybe they should research the italians or greek bloodline and see why the majority of those men have their hair way into their 40’s, 50’s, if not later years. Maybe they should research those genetics???

Thanks for your time and insight.

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It is normal for one to lose 100 to 150 hairs a day. It is also normal for one to be concerned about hair loss and be proactive as you to try with products such as “ScalpMed”. Unfortunately there is no way to tell if these products actually work. That is why most are not sold as medications or FDA approved products. If ScalpMed is causing you to lose hair, I can not comment on it for there is no real information on the issues of safety or effectiveness.

Minoxidil has been studied as a topical treatment and shows good promise of hair growth in some individuals. To date, there are only two medically proven ways to treat male pattern baldness where it is not really ‘hit or miss’.

Hair transplant, which works 99.9% of the time
Propecia drug regimen (which may or may not work for you but it met strict FDA requirements) is more reliable, the earlier the hair loss is seen. In men under 30 with thinning and not recession, the reversal in my experience is significant. Reversal of a receding hairline, however, is highly unusual (even in the young man). The key to this drug is to start on it early if you have genetic balding and get to the hair while it is miniaturizing and before it falls out.

To more specifically answer your question, counting 14 vs 20 hairs lost per day seems insignificant (at least from a medical perspective). As stated, we normally lose on the average 100 to 150 hairs a day. ScalpMed may be contributing to the extra 6 hairs that you are losing, but there is no way to really tell.

Finally, the hair loss gene spans all races and cultures. The study of Italians and Greeks has already been done and there it still almost 50% of men in these ethnic patterns that have hair loss.

March 21, 2006

Hair Loss with Bald Spot Above Ear – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

This is a follow-up to Hair Loss from Propecia:

Well i also moved a couple of months before this happened. Also about two months before i moved, i dyed my hair. So im wondering if this could be telogen effluvium? Ive dyed my hair alot in my lifetime and it has seemed to make it thinner but never any hairloss of the front. And if it did it grew back and I just didnt pay my hairline much atttention back then. My Mom’s dad was bald. But thats about it. My dad has a receding hairline but he is 57, and he still has plenty of hair and i dont think he will ever go complety bald. No one else in my family is bald. I also have an almost bald spot on the side of the right ear and my hair is thinner on the sides and the top than the back. I have no good hair doctor in my area so please help.

Please send me photographs. With a bald spot now above your ear, it is possible that you have other causes for your hair loss, rather than pure genetic causes with MPB. Singular bald spots may indicate a series of other etiologies, including infectious or autoimmune causes. Any good dermatologist can address this and even with pictures, there is no substitute for a direct examination by a doctor. Dermatologist are all over the US. See the American Academy of Dermatology to find a dermatologist in your area.

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March 15, 2006

Is Brittle, Dry Hair a Condition of Genetic Hair Loss in Women? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi I read the post about tamoxifen and hair loss. I’ve been on it almost 4 years and over time my hair has become dry, brittle, and thin. It seems to be noticeable only to me. My fingernails are also cracked and flaky. (I’ve read about many many other women having this problem on tamoxifen). Some women seem to have improvement when they go off tamoxifen and/or switch over to one of the newer hormonal therapies like Arimidex or Femara. But in your opinion, is this side effect just an exacerbation of a genetic condition (no females in my family have thinned hair) or potentially the result of some undiscovered effect of the drug, like impaired thyroid function? (I’ve heard that tamoxifen may heighten the body’s level of retinoic acid?) Thanks for any help.

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You seem to be well aware. Many drugs, such as Tamoxifen, can cause hair loss or even change hair/skin conditions. Judging from your limited history (and without the benefit of seeing you in person), it is difficult to judge the exact nature of your hair loss/ condition. You should be evaluated by a qualified dermatogist or internist/family doctor for a full medical work up.

March 15, 2006

Excessive Shedding with Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I started taking propecia 3 weeks ago but i’m still seeing excessive shedding. I think i am losing more than 200 hairs a day. I think i have lost around 50% of hair density in 1 year. Strange thing is if i lightly pull on my hair in “usually non balding areas” (near the ears, or back of neck) hair
is coming out massively. Today from those areas i probably pulled out 200 hairs (they come out with the white part at the end). Can this mean my hair loss is medical (since traditionally non balding areas are losing the most hair) I am 23. Thanks.

Some people have reported increased shedding after starting Propecia. One medical explanation for this reflects accelerated hair cycling. Hair goes into various phases, producing growth (anagen) or regression (catagen). If cycling is accelerated to bring in more anagen hairs, then regression may be seen to cycle into more anagen hairs. You must stay on the course you have started on. This accelerated cycling may last 3-4 months (rare) but if you do not keep to the pill regimen, then you will lose the value of what you started. Alternatively, you could be going through an accelerated cycling from the balding process. In either case, stay the course. For information on hair cycling, see DermNet NZ.

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March 8, 2006

Homeopathic Medicine, Birth Control, and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman – I am a female and have just turned 40yrs. Last year, some time in May of 2005, I stopped taking the birth control pill, Yasmin. I initially started the pill about 5 years ago with Orthotricyclin, then changed to Levlin (due to insurance no longer covering Ortho) and then Yasmin (as I was told was not as potent and wouldn’t cause the nausea) Anyhow, I am Mexican/American and always had a thick set of hair. In the past, my hair would always fall out but still always remained thick; however, after I stopped taking the pill (for which I never consulted my doctor before stopping) I realized my hair was still falling out but after seven months later, realized that the thickness and volume were gone. I’ve always had thicker hair than my older sisters (now 41 and 43) but now theirs still has thickenss & weight whereas mine is literally thinner & has a featherlike feel to it. I’ve been a Kaiser dermatologist who says it’s just part of aging and that my hormones are normal (blood testing was done) however, after seeing a homopathic doctor (without me mentioning my symtoms) she advised that my hormones are not balanced. I have not yet been treated for this imbalance thus far.

My question to you is if I go back on the pill — Yasmin — will my hair slowly come back? As you can see, I’m still off the pill but very tempted to start up again. Had I known the side affects, I would never have discontinued use.

Please reply at your earliest opportunity.

P.S. In the meantime, I am using Nioxin Cleanser and Scalp treatment for thinning hair. Also, I do have lots of fine baby regrowth around my temple area & some wiring hair coming down the center of my head. Does this mean my hair is coming back and will it ever be as thick again?

First off, I am not a homeopathic doctor. We here are allopathic medical doctors. So, if your homeopathic doctor says your hormones are not in balance, I cannot comment on the homeopathic doctor’s opinion or diagnosis. I can only comment on the fact that if your medical doctor has done all the appropriate blood work and states that your hormone levels are “normal”, the cause of your hair loss may be coming from other sources such as age. Having said that, you may be going through early menopause and other hormonal changes which are “normal” parts of the aging process. I cannot tell you that starting Yasmin will help your hair grow back. More importantly, starting and stopping any hormone treatment (such as birth control pills) should be discussed with a medical doctor that has been following your health.

As far as your question on Nioxin, it is a popular shampoo and the company sells other products that are talked up by my readers. We still put forth a buyer beware position, and if you are asking if such products do what they claim to do, I do not have the answer (as you have read many times in this blog). Minoxidil (Rogaine) is the only FDA approved topical treatment for hair loss.

Finally if your homeopathic doctor has a solution to grow hair then he/she will be a rich man/woman if the treatment actually works. Please let us know the results if you take the olive branch and try to get into the balance that your homeopathic doctor recommends (particularly if it succeeds).

March 7, 2006

Accutane Caused My Hair Loss — Will a Transplant Fix This? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

First, let me tell you how wonderful and informational your website is. Never have I seen such an informative site that so clearly tells a customer what they might be getting themselves into if they undergo such a surgery. You should be commended!

Here is my situation…

When I was 22 years old (I’m 31 now), I took the Acne drug Accutane to clear up a moderate problem with Acne. My little brother took it and had no permanent side effects, so I figured it was safe enough. One of the rare side effects listed on the container of the drug is hair loss. Well, as you can imagine, I experienced this side effect. Within 3 weeks of taking the drug, the hair on front part of my head, the “juvenile” hairline, started to rapidly fallout to the point where it was clogging the shower everday. I didn’t realize how bad it was and kept taking the drug for a couple more weeks. After it became apparent that the hair was falling out and not growing back, I stopped taking the drug. The hairloss stopped within a couple of days of stopping the medication. I went to several dermatologists complaining of this because the hair never grew back! They all told me I was crazy and that I had plenty of hair and that they saw nothing wrong. Basically, they were defending their drug!

So to make a long story short, it never grew back but I still have plenty of hair left and have not lost any more hair since. So I do not have the typical male pattern baldness (at least not yet) but would like to fix the minor loss and restore it back to the way it was. I am concerned about the success of the procedure due to the fact that the Accutane changed my skin such that occassionally, the skin in the area where I experienced the Telogen Effluviam is dry. I am in Miami Beach now, so the humidity keeps it pretty healthy, but I am hoping that if I go through this procedure that there is not something else that might cause the newly transplanted hair to not grow there. For example, what if the Accutane changed the skin such that the blood flow is lessened there and hence, the transplanted hair would experience the same event?

I see this as the only risk for me right now and would like your comment on it. If I come in for an evaluation and it is determined that this should not be a problem, I will do the procedure without looking back.

Please advise.

Accutane may have had the side effect you describe. It is difficult to say that it only caused your frontal hair loss, as I would have expected a more diffuse hair loss pattern. It may have been just coincidence, but either way you should be evaluated by a good hair transplant surgeon to map out your hair loss pattern for miniaturization and then develop a Master Plan to ascertain what and when you can address this surgically with a hair transplant. At 22, the mapping I am talking about is critical, for if you do not know what you might look like when you are 30, 40, and 50, then starting before that evidence is in may not be in your best interest. Generally, I can see the pattern emerging on most men by the time that they are 25 with good mapping performed.

By Dr. Jae Pak

[Note: This blog entry has been answered by Dr. Jae Pak, who has been working with Dr. Rassman for the past 9 years developing new surgical instruments and hair transplant procedures.]

February 28, 2006

Brevinor and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi, I am 35 years old and started losing my hair about a year ago. I had been taking Prozac for over 6 years and after some research discovered that this could be the reason for my hair thinning so much. I have managed to come off Prozac now (about 3 months ago) but haven’t seen much of an improvement in my hair. Then I started to think about the possible effects of coming off the contraceptive pill ‘Brevinor’ which I had been taking since I was 19. I came off the pill last May. Could this also be the cause of my hair loss? If so, is there anything I can do? perhaps some sort of oestrogen supplement? Do you think my hair could re-grow? Any information would be greatly appreciated since my GP does not seem to have a clue. Thank you

Both Prosac and Brevinor can contribute to hair loss. In some women with genetic hair loss tendencies (often evident in the female side of your family) these drugs may induce or precipitate the hair loss and it may not reverse. If the genetic tendency is not there, then it should return over a 6-18 month period with the drugs stopped. Of course, these drugs offer you value, so stopping them may cause you more problems; these are not easy decisions to make.

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February 27, 2006

Prednisone and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I recently read that prednisone is usually not related with hair loss in women, but I am a 35 year old female who has ulcerative colitis. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital where they gave me prednisone intraveniously as well. I have been on oral doses starting at 55mg and over a course of about 5 months, have gone down to 5mg and will soon be off. I am also taking Asacol which may also be contributing to my hair loss. I have also been losing A LOT of my hair and it is really starting to affect my confidence. I have been hospitalized 3 other times for this condition where I also lost hair due to the meds and it did return. I just don’t remember it being as extreme. Is there a product I can take to help me grow it back and is it the Prednisone that has caused this hair loss? Thank you for your time.

Your hair loss can be attributed to multiple causes, such as malnutrition from Ulcerative Colitis, the medication in Asacol, and stress from your recent hospitalization. Steroids have androgenic properties and can also be the cause of your hair loss. I do not know if the hair loss is reversible, certainly as long as you are on many of these medications. If the medications have precipitated genetic hair loss, you may not get benefits even if you are off of the medications.

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