Medications that Can Cause Alopecia / Hair Loss

Alopecia, also commonly known as hair loss, can sometimes occur as a result of taking certain medications. The effects typically become evident within several days or weeks of initiating or increasing the dose of a medication.

The risk of drug-induced alopecia depends both on the type of medications taken and the individual's response to it. Some drugs are strongly linked to causing alopecia and result in hair loss for most patients who take the drug, while other drugs may cause hair loss in some patients but not in others.

Image Credit: ShotPrime Studio / Shutterstock.com

Signs and symptoms of drug-induced alopecia

The hair loss that occurs as a result of medication use can affect all hair growing on the body. The scalp is the most commonly affected area, although patients commonly report the loss of hair from their eyebrows and eyelashes, particularly for those who are being treated with chemotherapy.

The effects typically begin several weeks after the initiation of the therapy that causes hair loss. Research on women who have been treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer has found that alopecia could begin as early as two weeks after the first treatment for some women. On average, hair loss began 4-5 weeks after treatment initiation.

Types of drug-induced alopecia

There are two main types of drug-induced hair loss, which include anagen effluvium and telogen effluvium. Anagen effluvium is the loss of actively growing hair, which usually occurs due to chemotherapy medications or as a result of an overdose of arsenic, bismuth, thallium, boric acid, gold, or colchicine.

Comparatively, telogen effluvium is the loss of resting or bulb hair, which is more common and can occur due to many different medications. Anagen effluvium typically occurs more quickly after the initiation of the medication, whereas telogen effluvium can take several months for the effects to become evident.

Medications

There are many medications that can cause hair loss in some individuals, without causing any problems in other people.

Anticoagulant medications such as heparin and warfarin have rare side effects of causing hair loss. Additionally, antihypertensive medications such as beta-blocker drugs (e.g., atenolol, metoprolol) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., perindopril, lisinopril) may also occasionally lead to hair loss in some patients.

Medications that alter the levels of hormones in the body may also be linked to hair loss in some patients. This includes the oral contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy, and androgen therapy.

There are also some anticonvulsant medications, such as valproic acid, carbamazepine, and phenytoin, as well as certain antidepressant drugs, such as lithium, that may be linked alopecia.

Other drugs that can sometimes cause hair loss include:

  • Cimetidine
  • Retinoids (e.g., acitretin)
  • Antithyroid drugs
  • Amphetamines
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Bromocriptine
  • Levodopa
  • Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline)

Other causes of alopecia

It is important to realize that medication use is not the only possible cause of hair loss and some individuals may experience symptoms for a different reason. Other possible causes include a recent illness or surgery, poor diet, or patterned androgenetic hair loss.

Diagnosis of drug-induced alopecia

There are several steps to make a diagnosis of drug-induced alopecia and decide on the appropriate course of action.

Firstly, a comprehensive medical history should be taken, including all medication doses and changes. This should be observed alongside the reported symptoms and the date that the hair loss began. Most medications that cause hair loss are initiated or the dose is increased within 3 months of the symptoms.

If there is a suspected case of hair loss due to medication use, the best way to confirm the diagnosis is to cease the possible offender for 3 months or more and observe any regrowth of the hair.

However, in some cases, such as chemotherapy for cancer treatment, the benefits of therapy usually outweigh the negative effects associated with alopecia. In this instance, it is recommended to continue the therapy and wait for the conclusion of treatment for the hair to grow back. The therapeutic decision will depend on the individual case.

References

Further Reading

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2023

Yolanda Smith

Written by

Yolanda Smith

Yolanda graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of South Australia and has experience working in both Australia and Italy. She is passionate about how medicine, diet and lifestyle affect our health and enjoys helping people understand this. In her spare time she loves to explore the world and learn about new cultures and languages.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Smith, Yolanda. (2023, June 06). Medications that Can Cause Alopecia / Hair Loss. News-Medical. Retrieved on November 04, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Medications-that-Can-Cause-Alopecia-Hair-Loss.aspx.

  • MLA

    Smith, Yolanda. "Medications that Can Cause Alopecia / Hair Loss". News-Medical. 04 November 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/Medications-that-Can-Cause-Alopecia-Hair-Loss.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Smith, Yolanda. "Medications that Can Cause Alopecia / Hair Loss". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Medications-that-Can-Cause-Alopecia-Hair-Loss.aspx. (accessed November 04, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Smith, Yolanda. 2023. Medications that Can Cause Alopecia / Hair Loss. News-Medical, viewed 04 November 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Medications-that-Can-Cause-Alopecia-Hair-Loss.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Gut health and diet: Keys to treating acne, alopecia, and dermatitis