Few things can affect your self-image and self-confidence as much as hair loss. And it’s even more frustrating when a medication that you’re taking to prevent or control pain or illness causes you to lose your luscious locks.
Drug-Induced Alopecia
Drug-induced alopecia may cause you to lose a few scattered strands or even become completely bald. It can also cause the hair on any area of your body, including your armpits, eyebrows, and eyelashes, to fall out. The good news is that it’s usually reversible, with hair growth resuming in the affected areas when you stop taking the offending medication.
It’s important to note that some medications cause hair loss in many or most patients, while others only cause alopecia in some people who take them. For example, many chemotherapy medications cause extensive hair loss. But other medications such as antibiotics, antidepressants, and birth control pills, only cause alopecia in a few patients.
Two Stages of Hair Growth
Understanding the two stages of hair growth ― the anagen effluvium phase and the telogen effluvium phase ― will help you understand how some medications can cause hair loss.
During the first phase, the anagen effluvium phase, hair grows for two to seven years. After that, hair “rests” for about three months during the telogen effluvium phase before falling out and being replaced by new hair.
Losing hair during the anagen effluvium phase can occur quickly after beginning any of a variety of medications, including those used for chemotherapy, some anticoagulants, and interferons.
Drug-induced alopecia occurs far more frequently during the telogen effluvium phase. It may take months before you notice this type of hair loss. An extensive range of medications from some angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to sertraline (Zoloft) can trigger drug-induced alopecia during the telogen effluvium phase.
Medications That Can Cause Hair Loss During the Anagen Effluvium Phase
Chemotherapy medications, including adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, fluorouracil, ifosfamide, irinotecan, methotrexate, nitrosoureas, paclitaxel, tamoxifen, topotecan, and vinorelbine
Toxic levels of arsenic, bismuth, boric acid, colchicine (Colcrys), lead, thallium, and warfarin
Medications That Can Cause Hair Loss During the Telogen Effluvium Phase
amphetamines
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
antidepressants
antifungal medications
antiseizure medications
beta-blockers
birth control pills
blood thinners
cholesterol-lowering drugs
drugs to treat thyroid problems
famotidine (Pepcid) and other stomach medications
hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
isotretinoin (Accutane) and other vitamin A-based medications
levodopa (Atamet) and other Parkinson’s disease medications
non-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
steroids
What to Do if You Suspect Drug-Induced Alopecia
If you suspect that your hair loss is because of the medication that you’re taking, don’t stop taking them without consulting your doctor or medical health professional. If they decide to take you off the medication, you may see regrowth within three to six months. But don’t lose hope if you don’t notice regrowth quickly. It may take as long as a year or more for your hair to grow back.
Contact the Hair Loss Experts
Regardless of its cause, hair loss is extremely stressful, and you don’t need to go through it alone. If you’re experiencing hair loss, contact Genesis II today by clicking here.
Photo credit @ Paul Siewert
