This list is currently under development and is nowhere near complete. Note: This is not a list of products, but active agents and substances known or purported to cause hair loss as a side effect.
Drug induced hair loss varies by drug. Some drugs you would have to be one in 1 million to experience hair loss. Others you are almost guaranteed to experience hair loss. It is impossible to list the degree for all drugs listed.
Also, regrowth of induced hair loss varies in the time it takes and whether all hair regrows. This is also impossible to list. Most drugs that induce hair loss will take at least several months after stopping treatment to regrow hair. I do not have any information on whether hair will regrow or when for any of these drugs.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs
- Clofibrate (Atromin-S)
- Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
Parkinson medications
- Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)
Ulcer drugs
- Cimetidine (Tagamet)
- Ranitidine (Zantac)
- Famotidine (Pepcid)
Cimetidine can act as an antiandrogen and promote hair growth. Hair loss is a problem experienced by a small percentage of people. See the reference below for information about Cimetidine and hair loss.
Anticoagulents
- Coumarin
- Heparin
Agents for Gout
- Allopurinol (loporin, Zyploprim)
Antiarthritics
- Penicillamine
- Auranofin (Ridaura)
- Indomethacin (i/Indocin)
- Naproxen (Naprosyn)
- Sulindac (Clinorilo)
- Methotrexate (Folexo)
Drugs derived from vitamin-A
- Isotretinoin (Accutane)
- Etretinate (Tegison)
Anticonvulsants for epilepsy
- Trimethadione (Tridione)
Antidepressants
- Tricyclics
- Amphetamines
Beta blocker drugs for high blood pressure
- Atenolol (Tenormin)
- Metoprolol (Lopressor)
- Nadolol (Corgard)
- Propranolol (Inderal)
- Timolol (Blocadren)
Antithyroid agents
- Carbimazole
- Iodine
- Thiocyanate
- Thiouracil
Calcium Channel Blockers
- Calan 240 mg
Others
- Blood thinners
- Some male hormones (anabolic steroids)
- Valproic Acid
- Lithium
- Octreocide
- Warfarin
- Fluoxetine
- Fluroxamine
- Fluconazole (in large doses)
- Norplant
- Lamivudine
- Almost any cytotoxic (Cytoxan, Docetaxel (Taxotere),Paclitaxel (Taxol)) drug used for treatment of cancerous tumors.
Source:
Health Review Magazine, January 1996. All rights reserved.
References:
- Mareth TR; Hairloss associated with fluoxetine use in two family members [letter] (J Clin Psychiatry 1994 Apr) [MEDLINE]
- Ogilvie AD; Hairloss during fluoxetine treatment [letter] (Lancet 1993 Dec 4) [MEDLINE]
- Fatemi SH, et al; Treatment of valproate-induced alopecia [letter] (Ann Pharmacother 1995 Dec) [MEDLINE]
- Nagao T, et al; Treatment of warfarin-induced hairloss with ubidecareNone [letter] (Lancet 1995 Oct 21) [MEDLINE]
- Jimenez JJ, et al; Pretreatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 protects from Cytoxan-induced alopecia without protecting the leukemic cells from Cytoxan. (Am J Med Sci 1995 Aug, Abstract available) [MEDLINE]
- Fong IW; Hairloss associated with lamivudine [letter] (Lancet 1994 Dec 17) [MEDLINE]
- Dorevitch A, et al; [Lithium-associated alopecia] (Harefuah 1994 Sep, Abstract available) [MEDLINE]
- Despland PA; [Tolerance to and unwanted effects of valproate sodium] (Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax 1994 Oct 4, Abstract available) [MEDLINE]
- Maceyko RF, et al; Vasopressin-associated cutaneous infarcts, alopecia, and neuropathy. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1994 Jul) [MEDLINE]
- Weinroth SE, et al; Alopecia associated with fluconazole treatment [letter] (Ann Intern Med 1993 Oct 1) [MEDLINE]
- Parameshwar E; Hairloss associated with fluvoxamine use [letter] (Am J Psychiatry 1996 Apr) [MEDLINE]
- Seifritz E, et al; Hairloss associated with fluoxetine but not with citalopram [letter] (Can J Psychiatry 1995 Aug) [MEDLINE]
- Tullio CJ;Roberts MA;Cimetidine-induced alopecia [letter] (Clinical Pharmacology, 1985 Mar-Apr) [MedLine]
