Common prescription and over-the-counter drugs could be secretly fueling your hair loss, a doctor has warned.
Anti-depressants, blood thinners and anti-acne creams taken by tens of millions can cause alopecia, the medical term for hair loss, or cause hair follicles to shut down.
Scientists suggest that Accutane and similar drugs may cause hair loss because they can cause hair to shed prematurely.
Doctors suggest these drugs cause hair loss because they can trigger hair follicles to enter the ‘resting phase’ of their growth cycle, arresting hair growth.
Dr Hasan also mentioned other drugs that anecdotal reports have linked to hair loss, including drugs like Ozempic.
A doctor has warned that common prescription and over-the-counter medications may be behind your hair loss.
Tens of millions of people use blood thinners, antidepressants, and anti-acne creams, which can cause alopecia, the medical term for hair loss, or cause hair follicles to shut down.
As people age, especially men, hair loss is normal. However, according to Los Angeles-based anesthetist Dr. Zain Hasan, five common medications may be accelerating this process.
On social media, Dr. Hasan cautioned his 636,000 followers: “You should be aware of these five drugs if you wish to preserve your hair.”. “…
“If you don’t know yourself, I know you know someone who’s taking these five medications,” he added in a TikTok video. “…
First on his list was Wellbutrin, a prescription antidepressant that elevates mood by increasing feel-good hormones in the brain.
Dr. Zain Hasan of Los Angeles, who made the list, is shown in the picture above.
After using Wellbutrin, a mother of four claimed that her hair began to fall out, and she posted these pictures to TikTok.
However, studies have revealed that the medication can also result in hair loss in both male and female patients.
According to a 2018 study that compared one million new users of nine popular antidepressants, people taking bupropion (also known as Wellbutrin) had the highest risk of experiencing hair loss.
Additionally, there have been anecdotal online reports of the side effect, with some describing it as “terrifying” and saying that it made them “not even want to leave my apartment.”.
About 1 in 1,000 patients experience the side effect, which translates to 29,000 of the 29 million people who take the medication each year.
According to doctors, the drug’s dopamine spike may also cause hair follicles to enter the resting phase of their growth cycle, which would eventually stop new hair growth and result in hair loss.
Dr. Hasan then went on to discuss some retinoid medications used to treat acne, including isotretinoin and Accutane.
Dr. Hasan stated that although hair loss was uncommon with these medications, it could occur to those taking larger dosages. These medications are prescribed to over a million people annually in the United States.
According to a 2022 study of 565 patients using isotretinoin for acne, approximately 6% of those on a high dosage experienced hair loss, while 3–2% of those on a low dose did the same. On average, the patients were 22 years old.
ACCUTANE: While taking the anti-acne medication, the woman mentioned above experienced hair loss, which she shared on Reddit. Three months into her drug use (left) and ten months after quitting the drug, she is depicted.
In August of 2021, the woman posted this photo as well, claiming that she was using the drug at the time of her worst hair loss.
A different study from 2022 cautioned that individuals taking isotretinoin who were older, took higher dosages, or had been on the medication for a long time were more likely to experience hair loss.
Both prescription and over-the-counter retinol creams, which are used to treat acne and slow down the aging process, may induce hair loss in certain people, according to medical professionals.
In the past, New York City dermatologist Dr. Michele Green told InStyle: “You may feel sensitive, red, and irritated.”. leading to thinning or hair loss. “.”.
Additionally, she stated: “You should avoid applying any kind of retinol to your scalp if you have a sensitive scalp.”. “.”.
You are not using an iframe in your browser.
Because Accutane and similar medications can cause premature hair loss, scientists hypothesize that they may be the cause of hair loss. Drug-induced hair loss is typically reversible by quitting the medication.
Their most frequent adverse effects include skin redness, peeling or chapped skin, and an itching, burning, or stinging feeling on the scalp.
Dr. Hasan’s list then included anticoagulants, or blood thinners, like Heparin, Warfarin, and Eliquis, which are taken by up to 18 million people annually.
Usually, two to four months after starting the medication, hair loss begins.
AFTER ACCUTANE: This person claimed that hair loss was a result of Accutane. He claimed it “ruined my hair” and “made me depressed” in an online post.
His hair before he started taking Accutane is seen in the picture above.
A 2016 study found that people taking Eliquis or other anticoagulants experienced 4.4 events for every 100 patient years.
Researchers noted in a different 2021 study on Warfarin that although it is an uncommon cause of alopecia, patients on long-term anticoagulation should be evaluated for Warfarin therapy after all other possible causes have been ruled out.
“Hair loss has a significant detrimental effect on a patient’s quality of life and should be investigated to find the cause.”. “.”.
By inhibiting an enzyme that the blood uses to produce clotting factors, the medications lower the chance that a blood clot will form.
These medications may cause hair follicles to enter the “resting phase” of their growth cycle, which stops hair growth, according to doctors, which is why they are thought to cause hair loss. Usually, hair loss caused by these medications is temporary.
Dr. Hasan listed beta blockers, such as metoprolol, a prescription drug used to treat high blood pressure under the brand name Lopressor, as the fourth drug on his list.
Each year, over 26 million Americans take prescription medications that lower blood pressure and slow the heartbeat by blocking the effects of hormones like adrenaline.
However, there have been a few reports of patients experiencing hair loss while taking the medication; this usually begins two to five months after starting the medication.
A California pharmacist named Dr. Kristianne Hannemann previously stated on Drugs.com that hair loss was not a frequently reported side effect during metoprolol clinical trials.
WARFARIN AND BUPROPION: Following her use of the blood-thinning and antidepressant medication, this woman disclosed that she was experiencing hair loss. June 2023 is on the left, and January 2024 is on the right. Wellbutrin’s active ingredient is bupropion.
However, patients taking it have occasionally reported experiencing reversible hair loss. Hair grows back after the medication is stopped. “…
According to doctors, the drug’s common side effects include fatigue, lightheadedness, depression, and dyspnea. This medication probably disrupts the hair growth cycle, which results in hair loss.
The cancer treatment tamoxifen, also known as Nolvadex, was the last medication on Dr. Hasan’s list. It is used to treat breast cancer in both men and women.
Doctors say that the drug interferes with the hair cycle by lowering estrogen levels in the body, which is why about one in three users experience hair loss.
According to the non-profit Breastcancer . org, the hair loss becomes apparent six months to two years after beginning the medication.
Each year, approximately 900,000 prescriptions are written for the medication, which slows the progression of breast cancer.
Hair loss has also been connected to chemotherapy medications, such as those used to treat breast cancer. According to statistics, hair loss affects roughly 65% of patients receiving chemotherapy.
Additionally, Dr. Hasan mentioned other medications, such as Ozempic, that have been anecdotally linked to hair loss.
Before thinking about stopping the use of a prescription medication, he advised patients to speak with their physician.
