There are many medications that may cause as a side effect temporary or permanent hair loss. This is why it is important to know which medications have those effects. Some people have mild side effects but some might experience very severe hair loss called telogen effluvium.
Here is a list of some of the most relevant medications associated with hair loss:
- anticoagulants (blood thinners)
- cholesterol lowering drugs
- anticonvulsants
- anti-depressants
- amphetamines
- antifungals
- beta blockers
- birth control pills
- hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) for women (estrogen or progesterone)
- male androgenic hormones and all forms of testosterone
- anabolic steroids
- prednisone and other steroids
- anti-inflammatories
- thyroid medications
- medications for gout, acne, Parkinson’s disease, and ulcers
Did you know?
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy cause a different condition called “anagen effluvium” – a diffuse type of hair loss, which is also a reversible but the hair does not always return to its pre-treatment density and thickness.
