Yes, several cholesterol-lowering drugs, primarily statins like simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and pravastatin, have been reported to cause hair loss (alopecia) as a rare side effect, though it's often temporary and may not occur with all statins or individuals, with some like rosuvastatin sometimes considered lower risk but still linked in some reports. Other cholesterol drugs like ezetimibe have also seen case reports of hair loss.
Although usually well tolerated, some persons may experience alopecia due to atorvastatin. Our patient's hair loss occurred within 6 weeks of her initial exposure to atorvastatin, abated when the drug was discontinued, and recurred within 2 weeks of a second exposure to the drug.
For example, pravastatin and rosuvastatin are often mentioned as having a lower risk of hair loss. However, everyone reacts differently to medications, so what works well for one person might not be the same for you.
While you are having this treatment, your hair may become thinner, drier and more brittle. This is usually mild. If you are worried about this, ask your nurse for advice on hair care.
Simvastatin (Zocor) may be more likely to cause muscle pain as a side effect than other statins when it's taken at high doses. Change your dose. A lower dose may reduce some of your side effects, but it also may reduce some of the cholesterol-lowering benefits.
Studies have shown that simvastatin and pravastatin seem to have the fewest side effects and are better tolerated than the other statins. Patients with mild liver enzyme abnormalities can take a low-dose statin like atorvastatin.
Our findings indicate that both drugs significantly reduced LDL cholesterol, with Rosuvastatin showing a superior effect compared to Atorvastatin. Additionally, the safety profiles of both medications were similar, with no serious adverse events reported in either group.
It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness.
The "Big 3" for thinning hair, especially male/female pattern baldness, are typically Minoxidil (Rogaine), Finasteride (Propecia), and sometimes Ketoconazole shampoo, or even Microneedling, forming a multimodal approach to stimulate growth and block hormones (DHT) causing hair loss, with Minoxidil boosting circulation, Finasteride inhibiting DHT, and Ketoconazole reducing inflammation and acting as a mild anti-androgen.
The most common options include: Minoxidil (Rogaine). Over-the-counter (nonprescription) minoxidil comes in liquid, foam and shampoo forms. To be most effective, apply the product to the scalp skin once daily for women and twice daily for men.
Signs of drug-induced alopecia
The effects of drug-induced alopecia often appear within 3 months of an individual starting on a particular medication. A person who experiences drug-induced alopecia may notice thinning hair. The hair loss may be more apparent on the top of the scalp.
Common side effects
Some studies have shown that statins decrease the concentration of CoQ10 in both muscle tissue and in the bloodstream. The hypothesis is that, if you decrease the CoQ10 levels, you reduce the production of energy in muscle cells and they won't function as well, leading to muscle aches, weakness or inflammation.
The good news is that hair loss caused by statins may be reversible. If statins are the primary cause of the problem, stopping or switching medications under medical supervision often allows the hair to regrow.
Several other studies were subsequently carried out on men and then on women. They all came to the same conclusions: the hair loss is strongly associated with hypercholesterolaemia.
No dose limitation has been suggested for patients taking atorvastatin while they are also taking amlodipine [2]. However, the risk of statin-induced myopathy due to cytochrome p450 inhibitors appears considerably greater when taking lovastatin and simvastatin compared to atorvastatin.
Vitamin deficiencies, particularly iron, Vitamin D, Biotin (B7), B12, and Zinc, can cause hair loss by disrupting hair follicle function, keratin production, or oxygen supply, leading to thinning, shedding, or brittle strands; though rare, deficiencies in Folic Acid, Niacin (B3), and Vitamin A (excess is also harmful) can also contribute.
Matthew McConaughey attributes his hair regrowth to a non-surgical, topical treatment called Regenix, which he applied daily for ten minutes, calling it "manual labor" for his scalp, and continues to use, denying any hair transplants despite rumors. He found a bald spot around 1999, started using the Regenix ointment, and saw his hair come back fuller, claiming he has more hair now than before.
For heartburn, the drug can be used for a period of two weeks as self-medication and is available in pharmacies up to 20 mg without a prescription. This can lead to effects like sleep disorders or diarrhea, and rarely sweating, hair loss or skin rashes.
Good hair health starts from the inside – so build up your hair's strength with protein-rich foods like eggs, oily fish, beans, nuts, whole grains and lean meats, like chicken. Protein is important because each strand of your hair is made of keratin, a tough protein that's also used to create fingernails and skin.
Whether it's gradual or sudden, scalp visibility can feel alarming—especially if you once had thicker hair or never thought about hair density before. This kind of hair thinning can happen for many reasons: age, hormones, stress, nutrient deficiencies, or underlying health issues.
Rosuvastatin, the newest agent in the armamentarium, are often called super-statin due to its highest potency and efficacy in terms of lipid-lowering ability. But it can have a serious side effect in the form of myopathy and renal injury.
Although all medications can have side effects, research indicates that certain statins may have fewer side effects than others. Pravastatin and fluvastatin are associated with fewer muscle-related discomfort, while simvastatin may cause fewer gastrointestinal issues.
Grundy, SM ∙ Cleeman, JI ∙ Bairey, CN ∙ et al. of a 30–40% reduction in LDL-cholesterol for high-risk patients. Indeed, the lowest dose of rosuvastatin that is marketed, 5 mg, reduces LDL-cholesterol by 45% on average, still more than initially necessary for many patients.