Hair loss is a relatively rare side effect, but a variety of medications may cause it: beta-blockers, blood thinners, antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs, certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hormone-related drugs like thyroid meds, hormone replacement therapies or steroids.
A person who experiences drug-induced alopecia will usually notice thinning hair as opposed to patchy hair loss. However, the hair loss may be more apparent on the top of the scalp. Other early signs of alopecia include a noticeable increase in the number of shed hairs in hairbrushes and shower drains and on pillows.
Minoxidil (Rogaine).
Products with minoxidil help many people regrow their hair or slow the rate of hair loss or both. It'll take at least six months of treatment to prevent further hair loss and to start hair regrowth.
“Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and may help in preventing hair shedding and thinning,” says Michele Green, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York. “The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Medications are the most common treatment for hair loss in women. They include the following: Minoxidil (Rogaine, generic versions). This drug was initially introduced as a treatment for high blood pressure, but people who took it noticed that they were growing hair in places where they had lost it.
Luckily, there are ways to combat hair loss and not just through treatments administered at the doctor's office. The FDA has approved three medications for hair loss: Rogaine (minoxidil), Propecia (finasteride), and Olumiant (baricitinib).
Finasteride (Propecia): Finasteride is a daily oral medication that requires a prescription. Studies show that it can significantly improve hair loss and reverse some hair thinning in men.
Hair loss, or alopecia, is a very rare side effect of all statin drugs. Widely prescribed in the treatment of high cholesterol, statins work by blocking the action of an enzyme the liver uses to make cholesterol. About 1% of people taking statins report hair loss.
Hair loss from medication usually ceases once people stop taking the medication. However, it is vital to speak to a doctor before stopping a drug, even if it is causing hair loss. Once a person has ceased the medication, hair can take up to 6 months to grow back.
The final word: Amlodipine is not known to cause the loss of hair. This blood pressure medication has other side effects, but it does not seem to impact your hair growth cycle or lead to hair thinning.
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.
Major surgery, major illness, sudden blood loss. Severe emotional stress. Crash diets, especially those that do not contain enough protein. Drugs, including retinoids, birth control pills, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, certain antidepressants, NSAIDs (including ibuprofen)
The only medicine approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat female pattern baldness is minoxidil: It is applied to the scalp. For women, the 2% solution or 5% foam is recommended. Minoxidil may help hair grow in about 1 in 4 or 5 of women.
In general, Medicare covers services that are “medically necessary.” Medicare coverage may not include dermatology services that are cosmetic (intended to improve the appearance). Some cosmetic procedures that Medicare generally doesn't cover include hair loss treatment and cosmetic surgery.
Calcium Build-up: Magnesium is important for regulating calcium levels in the body. A deficiency in magnesium can lead to excess calcium build-up in the hair follicles, which can cause hair breakage and hair loss.
Seeing a visible scalp is often a sign of fine hair, and genetics can be the primary cause for this type of hair loss. However, other common causes of thinning hair include stress, hormone imbalances, certain medications, illness or infections and malnutrition.
Vitamin D can indeed cause hair loss, but it's rare. Although the precise role of vitamin D in hair growth isn't well understood, research shows that vitamin D receptors play an important role in the anagen phase of the hair follicle cycle — the phase in which new hairs grow from the follicle to their full length.