Category: Drugs (Cause Hair Loss)

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Hair Loss InformationHerbs, Vitamins, Potions, Fava Beans, & Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

After going through this web site and reading your blog comments, I have come to believe that you are closed minded and inflexible when it comes to using homeopathic, natural herbs and other natural remidies for treating hair loss. Are you just unwilling to show flexibility and open mindedness?

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Natural supplements and homeopathic medicine may be a great alternative means to treat a condition or an ailment. Unfortunately, these supplements are not well regulated by the FDA, so claims that are made can not be often substantiated, except by rumor mills and word of mouth communications that tend to praise the remedies more than criticize them. You can’t truly know what chemicals are included in the supplements that may have been used to process the product that you are buying. What the FDA calls Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) may not be adhered to with food, naturopathic herbs, or potions and lotions sold over the counter in natural food stores. Furthermore, these products may not be covered in the regulatory process that confirms the dosages and the purity of such product, including the safety and efficacy of them. The research and studies that show efficacy are often funded by the manufacturers of the supplements which may bias the reported results. Finally the proper dosage for such products seem arbitrary. Just because the friendly neighborhood natural food outlet, their sales rep, or a salesman in a white lab coat can attest to its efficacy, does not mean that these are safe and/or effective.

For example, Vitamin A is one of the few vitamins that when taken in high doses, can cause hair loss. I have read that this vitamin is recommended for hair loss, so many people think that if a little is good, more may be better. In the case of Vitamin A, excess doses (overdoses) can cause death, so who cares about hair loss when you overdosed on this vitamin? Vitamin C, when taken in low doses is an antioxidant that theoretically prevents heart disease, but when taken in high doses (according to a UCLA published study) it accelerates coronary atherosclerosis (heart disease). Saw Palmetto, which is believed to be a DHT blocker for the treatment of hair loss, may compete with Propecia for the enzyme block that stops DHT production, making it less effective. What is not commonly known, however, is that Saw Palmetto was used by the military in WWII as a sex drive reducer for our troops. It was added to our soldier’s food supply. In studies performed by an independent agency, the dose of Saw Palmetto varied widely by the manufacturers. As such, some people get poor response from the drug as a DHT blocker (it is a weak blocker) while others get sexual side effects, reducing a man’s sex drive as the dose is possibly too high.

Kava is a widely used herb root in Polynesia that can be used to treat anxiety. There are case reports that this herbal supplement has caused liver failure that eventually led to a liver transplant as a life saving procedure, when used on someone who could not tolerate it. Did she lose hair? Possibly so. As part of our medical education, doctors learn that fava beans are harmless, yet they can cause death in very small quantities in those people who carry a rare genetic defect . People who carry a defect in the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, can not process the fava bean toxin. This toxin then poisons the red blood cells of the body. This is a genetic defect passed from mother to child. In the Mediterranean, where fava beans long have been a dietary staple and where the genetic mutation is more common than in the U.S., physicians frequently test children for the enzyme deficiency. The fava bean’s effect on hair loss is not as well known but on a positive side, look at the statement made by Hannibal Lecter in the movie “Silence of the Lambs” who recommended it by saying: “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.” I guess that Hannibal Lecter did not have the enzyme defect I just discussed and it made his meal memorable.

The question I am posing here in answer to your somewhat caustic challenge to me, is that I tend to protect my patients from the unknown. When I do not know something as a fact, I might ask myself: “How many undocumented side effects or enzyme defects float around that are either caused by natural herbs that could threaten a person’s health or life that are not researched or understood?” Arsenic is a natural substance used historically to treat syphilis, but as I have said before, I would not recommend arsenic as an alternative to penicillin, which is safe and well tested (also FDA regulated through GMP standards) and accepted world-wide.

The answer to this blog entry was partly written by Jae Pak, M.D., an emergency room physician with great interests in hair loss and hair surgery. He has worked with me for almost 9 years.

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Hair Loss InformationSignificant Hair Loss on Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,

About two years ago, I started taking Propecia for my hair loss and stopped after three months because at that point i noticed a drastically increased rate of hair loss, and assumed that I was reacting negatively to the drug(one hair loss specialist suggested that it is possible that my tissue became hyper sensitive to DHT because of the drug, but I did not experience any increased acne or libido, which he said would also be indicative of that rare kind of reaction to Propecia). Eventually I decided to try Propecia again, and now I have once again reached the three month mark, and once again, like clockwork, I am seeing significantly more hair on my pillows, in the shower, etc, than what I had when I was off the drug, but no acne or increased libido. I am wondering if you think this means the drug wont work for me or if it is just a temporary phenomenon that I should wait out, and that I will probabely still benefit from Propecia. I understand that some people experience sheds while on Propecia that are a sign the drug is working, but have heard that this should happen within the first two weeks of using the drug, not so long as three months into it. Thanks very much for your time.

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I believe you must stay on Propecia for 8-12 months. Stopping and starting your taking of the drug is not a good idea. There have been some reports that hair cycling changes in a small number of people with Propecia, such that more of the effluvium (loss) side occurs at the beginning but the anogen (building stage for hair loss) will follow in 6+ months. It does not sound like you have given it enough time. This is a most unusual complaint, one that I have personally not seen in my practice but one that has been reported by some of my colleagues.

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Hair Loss InformationKidney Stone Medication and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had saline breast implants in June of 2004. Six weeks later, I went through a terribly stressful period (unrelated to the surgery). Four months later, I began to lose my head hair AND the hair on my legs stopped growing. I went to a dermatologist and was told I had Telogen Effluvium and it would resolve itself in a few months. It has been over a year since the initial loss began and still I am losing the hair on my head in greater volumes (still a diffuse spread though). The leg hair began to regrow four months ago. I do take Urocit-K for kidney stone prevention and I had 3 surgeries this year for stones. Is that the reason? Will my hair ever get back to normal? And, could the implants be responsible for the hair loss? Thank you.

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Dr. Moldwin is Assistant Professor of Urology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and is Director of The Interstitial Cystitis Center at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY. He is actively involved in IC research and is a member of the ICA’s Medical Advisory Board. During the December 1998 meeting at the Southeast Florida ICA Support Group, Dr. Moldwin addressed a similar question to yours. He stated: “Most of the side effects that patients encounter occur about 3% of the time. One problem people often worry about is hair loss. It is not a generalized hair loss. It tends to be in spots. Keep in mind that everybody has some daily hair loss. It’s probably a wise idea to monitor your ‘normal’ hair loss on your hairbrush for about a week prior to starting Elmiron. Significant increases in hair loss beyond your ‘baseline’ might be due to the medication. I think that in the past many people had stopped their Elmiron needlessly since they looked at their hairbrush for the first time 2-3 weeks into therapy. They saw hair in their brush (which was, of course normal hair loss) and immediately related this finding to their medication. By the way, in the unlikely event that hair loss occurs, it’s recovered with stopping the medication.”

I think that he said what you needed to hear. You should have your scalp hair examined by a competent hair specialist to determine the degree of miniaturization that is present through the various areas. This is an important baseline to establish for long term planning purposes.

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Hair Loss InformationDepo-Provera Caused Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I took a shot of deproprovera 2 1/2 years ago, and 3 months after I decided not to get another shot (b/c of weight gain and shoulder/neck aches) may hair started falling out like crazy, now it is 2 1/2 years later and it is still falling out, about 30-50 in the shower/combing out every morning. I’m down to about 1/2 the hair I had 2 years ago. Any advice? It is so frustrating. My 3 sisters have not hair loss issues (in fact 2 of them complain about too thick of hair). My mother’s hair has thinned the last 5 years because she is on strong cancer/rheumatoid arthritis drugs, but no problems before that (all my male/female relatives have hair also-my dad’s is thick at 68 years old-no bald men in my family, and woman all have hair too. Help. 2 dermatologists say I have TE and to ride it out.

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Depo-Provera is a contraceptive and has hair loss as a known side effect (between 1-5% of women), as do many birth control pills. Female genetic hair loss does not follow the patterns of genetic inheritance that run on the male side of the family, but it is not unusual for women who have genetic hair loss to have other women (mothers, aunts, sisters, grandmothers) with similar histories and findings.

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Hair Loss InformationTestosterone Causing Female Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have noticed this last year that my hair has receded DRASTICALLY.I am a 47 year old woman and have been taking hormone replacement for the last 8 years…Could the testosterone that I take monthly play a part in the hair loss because the testosterone makes hair grow in other places…several other places. I am so shocked and embarresed by my hair loss….the only place that it is recedeing is at the hairline on both sides and it is so so noticeable…please advise me as to ANYTHING that I could possible do to stop this or correct it. I am in a very desperate need for some help.I am a healthy, active, and am told a attractive woman and I run 2 Communictation’s business that demand that I deal with the public & I can’t stand this. I have plenty of hair everywhere else. Please advise me. I will await a reply from you. I am sending some picturs that were taking about 6 months ago…it wasn’t as bad then but it is now.
Thank You

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Testosterone is a known cause for female hair loss in women with a genetic predisposition to genetic balding. Testosterone is broken down to DHT, and DHT is the other male hormone that promotes genetic hair loss in those patients. You also sound stressed, and stress in these predisposed people adds to the hair loss problem. I always tell men that there are 4 causes of male pattern loss: (1) genetics, (2) male hormones, (3) stress and (4) time. If you are genetically predisposed, you have then all four of these. The use of DHT blockers may have value, but this medication is not cleared for safety by the FDA for use in women. Effectiveness is still an open issue here. Other causes of hair loss include: crash diets, tight ponytails/braids/weaves/extension (more common in African young girls), thyroid disorders, pregnancy, going on or off birth control and even a surgical procedure of any time which may include a general anesthesia. Get a knowledgeable doctor and talk to him/her about this answer.

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Prednisone and Hair Loss in Women, Follow Up – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I am currently on prednisone and have been taking 40 mg for many months now on 30mg. I was told by my doctor that my hair loss, since July, is due to the meds. But, it is stated here in the site that this drug only impacts men w/hair loss and women. Please clarify this for me. Is there a small percentage that lose hair on this drug ?? I may be on it for a few more months and need to know this. Also if I am correct , if it’s the drug than once off it than hair would grow back and be back fully in a yr or so ??
thanks

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Steroids, as you said, do precipitate hair loss in men. Women also have some male hormones, so I would suspect that there could be some association with hair loss in your situation. The reality is that you need them for medical purposes. Women rarely have permanent hair loss and usually reverse once the offending problem that created it is gone. That goes for stress, cancer drugs, and other types of processes that precipitate hair loss in women.

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Hair Loss InformationAnother Steroids and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I took a steroid and my hair is falling out. I stopped it in about a month, but it is still falling out. I have been on Propecia for a few years so I thought that would protect me. What will happen to me? Have I messed up my hair?

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You probably precipitated what we call a telogen effluvium, which can be caused by steroid use. Once this begins there is nothing that will reverse it until it goes its course. I always tell my patients that although Propecia may protect you somewhat, it is not a sure thing when you take steroids. I would strongly suggest that you continue with the Propecia. As the hair loss may take months to go its course, stay on the Propecia and wait it out. See your hair doctor as well, so that good baselines can be taken to compare with what will evolve over time. By having measurements to compare, at least you will know when the process has stopped, when it reverses, and what to expect. Advise your friends not to do what you did, so that you can help someone else avoid the problem you had.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Loss from Cancer Drugs – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. I am currently in the Star study and taking either tamoxofin or reloxofin and a placebo. I am having ample hair loss every time I brush or wash my hair. One of the questions on the form that I am to answer every year (this is my second in the program) is regarding hair loss. Within the past few months I have also started taking Glucosamine and Condroitin. I think the hair loss has increased in this time. Is this a conincidence or which drug, if any is causing the hair loss and is there anything I can do about it other then stopping the meds?

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Many drugs that attack potential cancer cells because of their high metabolism, will also impact other cells with a high metabolism such as hair (one of the highest metabolic organs in the body) and the lining of the intestine (these cells have a high turn-over) with symptoms of loose stools and general ‘stomach’ troubles. Also, some of the other sensitive cells to anti-cancer drugs are the blood cells in our body, some of which live only a short time, even under normal circumstances. That is why many cancer patients have frequent blood tests and are monitored for side effects so closely. Hair loss is not one of the points that have become the focus of anti-cancer drug treatment by doctors, yet hair loss is often the most worrysome side effect from the patient’s perspective.

Unfortunately, there have been no effective medications that have been shown to protect against hair loss. That is the bad news. The good news, however, is that the hair in women that falls out from the impact of these anti-cancer drugs, always comes back within a year or so in most women, that is, unless they have genetic hair loss. Those with female genetic hair loss and hair loss from anti-cancer drugs in combination, find that although the hair usually returns, it does not come back as strong hair. Show patience, and the hair will probably return to its pre-treatment quality, again as long there was not genetic hair loss prior to the commencement of treatment.

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Hair Loss InformationFat Burner Causing Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

For about 3 weeks, I used a “fat burner” that contained 75 mgs of 7-oxo DHEA (7-Oxo-Dehydroepiandrosterone) @ 225 mgs per day. I noticed hair loss after the third week, and stopped use. But hair loss continued and was rapid.

I have been off it for about three weeks, but hair loss seems to continue. It seems to be a bit slower now.

I asked to have tests done, but my doctor simply recommended Rogaine. Rogaine doesn’t seem to do anything.

Is it possible that it is “too late”? That once this hair loss has started, it will simply continue on its course — even though I no longer take this fat burner? Not sure what else I can do at this point.

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A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (September 13, 2005 issue) stated that short term weight loss of as little as 8-9 pounds, could cause hair loss. Whether it is reversible or not, only a proper diet will tell you. We have long known that malnutrition is a major cause of hair loss in the history of man and hsi hair problems. For those with the genetic balding process, stress can precipitate the process. A weight loss program that is associated with a good diet is not a problem for most people, but acute or chronic malnutrition in men and women can cause hair loss.

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Hair Loss InformationProcerin – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doc,

I’ve wrote once before. I appreciate your reply. My question is I now have been using propecia for 1 1/2 months now. Sincerely, my hair thickness has degraded significantly. It has shed to a point where my scalp is visable in many areas. Maybe I am one of the small % of the crowd, but definate loss is more since AFTER initiation of treatment. Also, with reading in many different sites and encyclopedias, prostate cancer % is decreased in men, but tumors or certain cancers are more agressive. Also toying with testosterone and estrogen levels is not recommended. There are tons of products out there, I think most are scams fishing for suckers. I found this product called Procerin. It sounds safer to me. I value your professional feedback. If you don’t recommend this product, and I feel propecia isn’t the answer for me, please tell me the best product to use without scary sounding side effects? Thank you for helping…

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I originally commented on Procerin a few months ago (found here).

I have read various articles about Procerin on the web, and there is an unsubstantiated claim that it is a DHT blocker. It might be right, but I can’t say for sure, as it is not FDA approved for that claim and good science for Procerin is just not there to give me comfort that claims can be substantiated. Your problems may not be related to Propecia, but you can always stop the drug and see what happens. I suggest that you take (whatever you do), one step at a time. Stop the Propecia if you want to see what happens. I would hope that any ill effects will be reversible in a month or two if you go back on it. Do not bind yourself to a medication you are not comfortable with. If you believe in Procerin, then try it after being off Propecia 6 weeks or so. Then see what happens. There may be competitive inhibitors to the DHT production sites that Procerin might impact (if it is a DHT blocker, that is), competing with the likes of saw palmetto and other DHT blockers at the actual active site in the body. I have written much about Propecia in this blog, so you can find out other things I have said about it by clicking here. I frankly do not know and do not know how to find out the answers to your questions, however.

Good luck.