Category: Drugs (Cause Hair Loss)

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Hair Loss from Xyrem – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been using GHB (Xyrem) to treat insomnia. Nothing in the Xyrem literature mentions hair loss as a possible side effect. However, Xyrem induces deep – stage sleep in which larger amounts of growth hormone are released naturally by the pituitary gland. Synthetic HGH supplements list hair loss as a possible side effect. My hair loss had been well controlled by Avodart and Rogaine prior to using Xyren. Now, however, I am noticing some mild hair loss. Could this be caused by the Xyrem?

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Xyrem may cause alopecia, acne, and rash. However, there is no known specific mechanism explaining how Xyrem causes hair loss.

What pattern of hair loss do you have? You may want to give Propecia a try to help stop your hair loss. Although Avodart is in the same class as Propecia, the data for this medication is ‘officially’ limited. Switching from Avodart to Propecia is a very long shot in helping you out here, particularly if the relationship with Xyrem is as direct as you suggest. You will want to evaluate other causes of your hair loss. You need a good doctor and a good mapping of your scalp for miniaturization to get a proper diagnosis. A thorough endocrine work up must be updated and complete. Talk to your doctor about Xyrem and the possibility of switching to another medication.

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Hair Loss InformationTamoxifen and Hair Loss in Women – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctor,
I have been taking Tamoxifen for 2 years after Breast Cancer treatment in 2003. I have noticed that my hair is thinner lately and am wondering if the drug is the cause? Any suggestions? Thanks!

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When hair is lost secondary to a drug like Tamoxifen, it is not unusual for it to come back with a different texture. You may not know the entire story until you undergo an entire hair cycle (2-6 years) or have the drug impact completely gone (2-6 months after stopping the Tamoxifen). No real suggestions, other than to get a good baseline on miniaturization and the distribution of miniaturized hair to, at the least, command the diagnosis of female genetic hair loss (just in case you are in that category of women with thinning hair).

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Hair Loss InformationThinning Pubic Hair from Finasteride? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,

I am experiencing what I think may be a finasteride side effect that is really alarming and embarrassing.effect My pubic hair has been thinning for over a year. I am a 48 year old male and have been using finasteride (1/4 proscar) for a about 7 years with decent maintenance results, and also I have been using minoxidil 5% for the same time period.

I told my GP of my concern at my annual physical this past spring and he had no answer, but included testosterone in my blood work and it came back as in the normal range at 575. I have noticed some reduced body over the past 7 years on the finasteride and attributed it to the reduced DHT. I thought reduced DHT increased testerone which is responsible for axillary hair growth? Could the reduced DHT actually be thinning my pubic hair as well? I don’t want to quit finasteride, but should I do so?

Thanks for your advice

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DHT does historically cause the appearance of pubic, underarm, beard, ear and nose hair. The pseudo-hermaphrodites that were studied in the original research who were devoid of DHT from very high doses of finasteride in their diet since birth and therefore largely absent of DHT, had very little facial or body hair. I would expect, therefore, that some people may see reversal of some of the things that DHT causes with DHT blocking drugs, but prior to your email, I have not seen or heard of any patient who complained about it. There is logical reasons to see this side effect, although clearly not common in my experience. If you stop the drug, then the benefits may be lost as the pubic hair returns (if it does do that at all).

If finasteride actually reversed nose, ear, beard, and ear hair, I am sure that most men who have too much hair in these places would rush to take finasteride, but alas, the stampede did not happen. That says a great deal about this type of a hair ‘removal’ phenomenon.

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Hair Loss InformationSevere Hair Loss from Ortho Evra? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Use Ortho Evra for approximately one year and I am experiencing severe scalp hair loss. Will my hair ever stop falling out? I can barely touch my hair without losing a very large amount. I am very worried.

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Hormones and birth control pills are one of the causes of hair loss in women for those who have the genetic predisposition for hair loss. It may reverse by stopping the hormone/birth control pills or it may just stop the progressive loss you are experiencing and hold it at its present status. Ortho Evra has had recent publicity (it has 60% more estrogen) which points to causes of the problems you are having. For details about the new safety information, please read New Important Labeling Information at the official Ortho Evra website.

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Prozac and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m 38, just had an HT and plan to have at least one more. Propecia gave me the beginnings of gynecomastia, so I stopped it. Currently I’m using minoxidil and shampooing 2x a week with nizoral, also using a laser comb 2x a week. First of all, is there anything I can add that will help, secondly, you mentioned that lexapro causes hair loss, does prozac also? Are there any SSRI’s that don’t? Will hair grow back once you’re off them? Thanks.

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I think that all SSRI’s can cause hair loss; Prozac can. For men that lose hair from drugs like SSRI’s, the loss is rarely reversible if the patient has genetic hair loss. I would not count on it regrowing. I do not believe that the laser comb really works, but I do not see any negative from using it. the rest of your routine is reasonable and I can’t see any negatives with these either.

My best advice is that you need to see a good doctor who can manage your hair loss with you. I can understand that Propecia is not working for you and the breast side effects are rare, but they do happen. Breast enlargement or painful lumps in a male breast of any size are good reasons to consider stopping Propecia.

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Hair Loss from Finasteride – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr.Rassman,
Like one of your readers I too am experiencing a drastic increase in the hair fall. I am on finesteride since last 3 months and I am shedding heavily. I am significantly more bald then I was 3 months ago and the rate of shedding is noticeably higher then any at other point in time in history. Should I stop or continue. I am in double mind. I tried minoxidil and there was exceptional growth in my frontline( like I had in my teen age) but the hair were fuzzy and not cosmetically elegant. No more than 3mm in length but pigmented. The side effects of itching and red skin and dark circle around eyes were too much for me to handle so I stopped it. Can you please do some research tell me please if I should continue with finesteride.? Thanks

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It is possible that you are going through hair loss that would have happened anyway. Hair loss has not been a reported side effect of Propecia. I would suggest that you stay the course for at least 8-12 months. If you elect to stop it, then do so carefully and consider restarting the Propecia within 1-2 months if the hair loss continues. I’ve answered a similar question a couple of weeks ago: Significant Hair Loss on Propecia.

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Lexapro and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Do any anti-depressants such as lexapro cause hair loss?

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Antidepressants do cause hair loss (see Lexapro information on drugs.com). Stress is also a cause of hair loss on those who are impacted with the genetic balding defect. There is a chicken and egg scenario here; which comes first? Speak with your doctor about switching medications or in helping you deal with the stress of life that may be accelerating your hair loss if you are genetically prone.

Update: This link was brought to my attention — ultimate-cosmetics.com.

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Hair Loss InformationPrednisone Stopped My Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 38 (female) and have had thinning hair for a while. I was prescribed Prednisone for a different problem (poison oak) and went through the treatment process. I noticed while on the drug for awhile that my hair stopped falling out. Have you ever heard of this? It seems that every other time prednisone is mentioned, it causes hair to fall out rather than stopping it. I’m wondering if a low level dosage is ever prescribed as a treatment for hair loss. Once I finished the prednisone, my hair started falling out again.

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There are many causes of hair loss other than classic genetic female hair loss (alopecia areata, various autoimmune processes, etc..) that might be helped with steroids, while the genetic process might be harmed by these same drugs. You need to have a good working diagnosis made by a competent dermatologist to ascertain what you have. Steroids can be dangerous when used long term, so be sure you are properly managed by a good doctor.

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Hair Loss InformationIs My Hair Loss Normal? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, i been taking propecia for a month and 1 week, this last 2 week i notice that i lose over 150 a day ( Each morring i lose around 50 hair on my pillow and around 80 in the shower). It been going on over 2 week.
Will this stop and Is this normal for taking propecia? if yes how long will this hair lost last? Do propecia cause initial hair lost?

thanks

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A typical person does lose 100-150 hairs per day. If what you see more recently reflects a change in your norm, you may be experiencing an acceleration of your hair loss. The relationship with your taking Propecia may be circumstantial and I would believe that the two are not related, but you can stop taking the drug and see what happens. The drug is out of your system usually in a day or two. If it stops the loss, then maybe there is a connection, but I have never seen that connection in others. If the loss continues, then I would go right back on the Propecia because that is the best hope for you.

There are some doctors who believe that some shedding after starting Propecia or Avodart is due to an acceleration of the hair cycling. See my previous posting on this subject here.

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Hair Loss InformationBirth Control Pills Causing Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi! I’m 21 years old and female. In feb 2004 I started taking birth control pills, and 3 months after starting them, i started losing hair. Then after 7 months of using them i stopped, because my hair was falling out in clumps. No I have been off more than a year and i still dont see any improvement. Doctors have made bloodtests, and they were OK! Hair loss is diffuse all over and they have a little white tip at the end. In my family no one has hair problems, not even my two grandfathers or my father! Is it normal to lose hair for such a long time ? i truly believe i am going to bald soon :(
Thank you for your time!

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Please see my previous post about Depo-Provera which answers the question about birth control pills and hair loss. Unfortunately, some women with hormone changes can precipitate female genetic hair loss and once it has started, it may not be reversed ‘if it was to be in her cards’. About 30% of women over 50 are affected by this genetic process. Although we can reasonably accept hair loss as normal in men, women have a unique type of suffering because it is another ‘attack’ on their feminity in a society that is heavily hair conscious and weighted to beauty and youth. When a young women get genetic hair loss prematurely (I fully realize that it is always premature for a woman of any age), then it is the worst type of insult that flaunts aging very painfully. What the male and female genetic hair loss is, is the ‘miniaturization’ of the hair (the thin hair that becomes even thinner as the process advances), but the location of this miniaturization is different in women than in men. Men have it develop in patterns (front to back) while women generally have it all over the head: front, top, back and sides. Some women will retain the frontal 1/2 inch of hair as healthy, even with the process of miniaturization everywhere else.

When you discussed that your tests are completely normal, I would raise the issues of Thyroid and pituitary function, as well as the absence of circulating angrogens, amongst other causes. Some doctors talk about chronic effluviums or the presence of diffuse alopecia areata (you need to have a dermatologist evaluate this).

Minoxidil does work on some women, often better than men. Some men have a diffuse patterned hair loss like women (about 1-2% of men) but some of these men are helped by Propecia (about half) while that drug has not been determined to be safe for women and even when experimentally given to women by a handful of doctors, few if any benefits were observed.