There are numerous types of medications that cause the common problem of hair loss. The best known and most traumatic procedure that causes loss is chemotherapy, but there are also many others.
In this regard, Newsweek creates a list of the most common medications that can cause hair loss, collected from the GoogRX platform.
Additionally, aging and genetic predisposition are well-documented causes of thinning hair in men and women, but here we are dedicated to categorizing the types of drugs.
Medications that can cause hair loss
Various medications can induce hair loss. Among them are:
Retinoids. Mainly used to treat skin conditions, they reduce inflammation and promote cell renewal. They are derived from vitamin A. Isotretinoin, for example, can cause telogen effluvium.
Antidepressants. Although the specific reason is unknown, these types of medications can cause hair loss. Drugs such as bupropion, certain selective inhibitors such as fluvoxamine (Luvox), and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor XR), and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), are among the best known.
Anticoagulants. Drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) may be seen in patients with hair loss. That is precisely one of the side effects. It can appear weeks to years after starting treatment. Also popular are: Heparin, Apixaban (Eliquis) and Rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
Anticonvulsants: Medications such as valproic acid have a potential for hair loss, which is common in users of valproic acid (Depakote) and pregabalin (Lyrica), and less common with levetiracetam (Keppra).
Contraceptives. These can cause thinning hair in some cases, especially with androgenic progestins. It is more likely to occur with birth control pills that contain certain types of progestogens, called androgenic progestins, he says. Newsweek.
Beta blockers. They are a type of medications used to treat high blood pressure and other heart conditions. Among the most common beta blockers are: Propranolol (Inderal), Atenolol (Tenormin), Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) and losartan (Cozaar).
Antithyroids. Some antithyroid medications such as methimazole can cause hair loss. Examples of these medications are methimazole and propylthiouracil.
In addition to these, we can mention, of course, chemotherapy drugs (cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin), to prevent cancer (tamoxifen), for arthritis (methotrexate and
leflunomide), antirheumatic (etanercept and adalimumab); allopurinol (Zyloprim), to treat gout; Sinemet (carbidopa/levodopa) and bromocriptineto treat Parkinson’s disease; azole antifungals, such as fluconazole (Diflucan), clotrimazole, voriconazole (Vfend); and even GLP-1 agonists, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and the tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), for weight loss, can cause hair loss.
Prevention and treatment
There are several options available for those experiencing medication-associated hair loss:
medical consultation. It is recommended to discuss any concerns about hair loss with a doctor, who will be able to suggest alternatives or treatments.
Topical treatments. Products such as minoxidil can help in certain cases, but it is most important to consult before starting any treatment.
Finally, hair loss is a problem that encompasses various causes, many of which are related to the use of medications. Identifying the source is essential to effectively manage this condition. Patients should contact their medical team regarding any significant changes in their hair health.
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