What Medications Cause Hair Loss In Females & Treatments

Almost 40% of women experience noticeable hair loss, especially by age 50 or even earlier. For some, the cause is not genetics or age but medication. 

But “What medications cause hair loss in females?” is a question that pops up in the mind when women find that drugs are the leading cause of their hair fall.

Well, research by the American Academy of Dermatology Association revealed that alopecia can result from hormonal imbalances, hair hygiene, and medication use.

Women using certain medications may lose over 125 hairs per day and notice signs like thinning hair, bald spots, and shedding. Scary, I know!

In this article, you’ll learn what medications lead to hair damage, so you can avoid using them. We will also cover the possible signs of medicine induced hair loss, the diagnosis and who’s susceptible to this condition. 

How Do Drugs Cause Hair Loss?

Some medicines interfere with the hair growth cycle and disturb it. The effects depend on how a particular drug affects hormonal balance or hair follicles. 

Here’s a quick overview for you to understand the causes:

Cause	How It Affects Hair
Disruption of Hair Cycle	Forces hair into the telogen (resting) phase, and causes shedding.
Hormonal Imbalance	Derange hormone levels, like estrogen or DHT, which weakens the hair.
Nutrient Deficiency	Affects the absorption of nutrients that are essential for hair growth.
Immune Reaction	Triggers inflammation & auto-immune response that targets follicles.

Note:- Drug-related hair loss is often reversible and temporary. Your hair can regrow naturally if you treat the underlying cause.

Who Is More Susceptible to Medication-Relevant Hair Loss?

The development of hair loss in women and its severity depend on both individual predisposition and the drug. 

Some medicines can cause hair loss even at prescribed doses, while others may only do so in rare cases. 

There are two types of drug-induced hair loss:

1. Telogen Effluvium: Shedding of bulb or resting hair.
2. Anagen Effluvium: Shedding of growing hair.

Drugs that are responsible for telogen effluvium generally include, anti-hypertensives, anticonvulsants, anti-coagulants, and certain antidepressants.

In contrast, medicines like antimicrotubule agents, topoisomerase inhibitors, alkylating agents, and antimetabolites come under the anagen effluvium category.

Telogen effluvium is mainly associated with alopecia, though it causes baldness or notable hair loss within 2-4 months of usage.

Women with PCOS or hormonal issues, or those taking birth control pills, are also at higher risk for related hair loss.

List of Medications That Cause Hair Loss (Top 10)

“What are the most common medications that cause hair loss?” is a common concern among females. Here’s the list: 

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers belong to the anti-hypertensive class of medicines, used to treat circulatory system and heart related problems.

Some of the most common examples are:

• Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
• Propranolol (Inderal)
• Atenolol (Tenormin)

If you are using them, they can push your hair into telogen (resting phase), causing temporary hair fall or shedding.

However, this effect is reversible, because the thinning happens mainly on the scalp. 

Retinoids

Retinoids are drugs made from vitamin A. Doctors usually recommend retinoids to treat different skin conditions like skin discoloration, acne, and more.

Common examples are: 

• Tazarotene
• Tretinoin
• Isotretinoin
• Adapalene

If you take high doses, it can disrupt your hair growth cycle and result in shedding in clumps, especially during showers.

Anticoagulants

These are also referred to as “blood thinners,” doctors prescribe them to prevent or treat blood clots.

That said, these drugs help mitigate heart attacks or strokes by reducing the formation of clots. 

Common examples include: 

• Heparin
• Apixaban
• Warfarin
• Rivaroxaban 

But here’s a catch: Using this medicine can cause telogen effluvium, which disturbs the overall hair cycle, and gradually thinning the scalp.

Antidepressants

In this modern era, the ratio of people taking antidepressants due to stress is constantly increasing. But unfortunately, they can lead to hair loss.

A 2022 review also supports that particular Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are able to cause major hair loss after 8-9 weeks of usage.

Wondering, which SSRIs are associated with hair problems? Well, the list of antidepressants that cause hair loss include: 

• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Fluvoxamine

Health experts are of the opinion that there is over a 60% chance that people can recover from this condition, once they stop taking antidepressant pills.

Monoclonal Antibodies

These are biologic drugs that specifically target the immune system to treat chronic diseases.

While antibodies are really helpful to boost immunity, one has to compromise on hair health. This is because using drugs makes your hair fall out after just a few weeks.

Common antibodies that lead to alopecia areata (patchy baldness) include:

• Rituximab
• Bevacizumab
• Adalimumab (Humira, Amjevita)

Steroids

Steroids mimic male hormones like testosterone and also lessen inflammation by affecting natural hormones like cortisol.

Patients susceptible to hair loss usually experience the side effects after taking steroids. It’s because this drug increases DHT levels and damages hair follicles.

Anabolic steroids and some corticosteroids are more likely to cause this problem. As a result, hair becomes frizzy, weak, and thin, especially around the temples and crown.

Antithyroids

Drugs that treat overactive thyroid conditions (hyperthyroidism) are known as antithyroids. They reduce hormone production in patients but can also contribute to hair loss.

Propylthiouracil and methimazole come under this category. The result? Scalp hair thinning due to alterations in hormone levels.

If you are experiencing this situation, try adjusting the dose with the consultation of your healthcare provider right away.

Anti-Seizures

As the name suggests, these medicines help control epilepsy and seizures. Belonging to the anticonvulsant class of medicine, it may have some side effects.

Simply put, it can disrupt your hair growth phases and even interfere with specific nutrient absorption, contributing to slow scalp thinning.

A 2023 NCBI research shows that anticonvulsants including lamotrigine, carbamazepine, or valproate can negatively impact hair health.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is another great factor to significant hair loss. It is a cancer treatment that kills cancer cells. But you know what? It even kills other beneficial cells in your body, especially hair.

This type of hairfall is known as anagen effluvium. Once you begin to receive chemotherapy, hair loss can start to happen after just a few days or weeks.

Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) are examples of chemo drugs that cause hair loss. 

However, hair can grow back after 3 months of finishing the treatment.

Tamoxifen

Lastly, tamoxifen also comes with side effects for hair health. It’s a drug that prevents or treats breast cancer. But let’s be honest; it can thin hair because of its estrogen-blocking effect.

It falls under the category of Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs). When you complete your treatment and stop using them, hair will likely regrow. 

But unfortunately, patients typically need to take it for many years in most cases. Therefore, make sure you talk to your doctor about other treatment options if possible.

Now that you’re aware of what medications cause hair loss in females, you may think about how to identify whether the hair loss is due to drugs or not. 

Keep reading to discover the signs.

Signs of Drug-Induced Hair Loss 

Drug-induced alopecia effects are usually noticeable after 2-3 months of taking a specific medicine. If you’re confused about whether you have this condition or not, look for these signs:

• Hair Thinning on the Head’s Top: This is the most common form of medication related hair loss in women, leading to widening of the scalp with time. 
• Sudden Hair Loosening: If you take antidepressants or are stressed while being on other medications for any reason, you may notice sudden hair loss. This can temporarily thin hair and makes it frizzy, too.
• Patchy or Circular Bald Spots: Some women lose eyebrows or scalp hair in patchy or circular bald spots. The skin in these areas may become painful and itchy before the hair loss occurs.
• Full-body Hair Loss: In some medical treatments, like chemotherapy for cancer, hair loss is likely to happen all over your body..

Other signs of alopecia involve increased hair shedding in hairbrushes, on pillows, and in shower drains. 

How to Diagnose Medication-Induced Hair Loss?

Individuals who think they might have drug-induced alopecia should consult a doctor without wasting any time. During the diagnosis, your doctor will review your medical history and ask about:

• Any changes in medication doses.
• Any new drugs you’ve started.
• Your general health & nutrition status.
• Whether you have had any surgeries.
• If there’s a family history of alopecia.

This will help your physician come to the actual cause. 

They may also conduct the following tests for confirmation:

• Scalp Analysis: In this approach, doctors examine the scalp for possible signs of skin discolouration, flaking, and hair loss.
• Hair Pull Examination: This technique includes pulling on a little section of hair to examine how many strands fall off from the scalp.
• Blood Tests: These tests can reveal hormonal or nutritional imbalances that can lead to hair loss.
• Scalp Biopsy: This process involves taking samples of skin from scalp areas where hair loss is occurring to analyse them. The result can tell the exact cause of alopecia.

Effective Treatment For Drug-Induced Hair Loss

Effective treatments for drug-induced hair loss can help reverse or treat the condition. Here are the possible solutions:

Take Supplements With Proper Diet

Evidence shows that mineral and vitamin supplements can improve the symptoms of medicine-induced hair fall.

Both minerals and vitamins are essential for normal cell function and growth. People can also go for blood tests to know about the possible deficiencies that may have contributed to their baldness.

Make sure you increase the intake of:

• Iron
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D

In addition, it’s beneficial to eat foods that are super rich in iron or vitamins C & D as a part of a dietary plan.

Over-the-Counter Medication

If a disease causes hair loss, it’s important to treat the issue. If a particular medication is leading to hair problems, your doctor can also advise you to stop it for some time.

The cherry on top is that medicines are widely available to treat hereditary baldness or even drug-induced hair issues. Common options are:

• Minoxidil (Rogaine): It comes in a liquid or foam that you apply directly to your scalp skin daily to get the most effective results. It will help hair regrow and even slow down the rate of hair loss. Side effects include unwanted hair growth and scalp irritation.
• Finasteride (Propecia): This drug is most suitable for men, but women can also take it after a doctor’s prescription. It mostly slows hair loss, and you need to use it for a longer time to maintain the benefits. Some rare drawbacks include diminished sexual function and libido.
• Other Medications: Some other oral options you can consider are:
  • Oral dutasteride (Avodart) 
  • Spironolactone (Aldactone, Carospir)

Hair Transplant Surgery

In case of permanent hair loss, the area on the top of the head is usually affected. Restoration surgery or hair transplants can make the most of the hair left on the scalp.

During this procedure, the cosmetic surgeons or dermatologists remove hair from other parts of your head (occipital region) and then transplant it to the specific bald spots.

The possible side effects you may experience are swelling, infection, bleeding, and bruising. You may need one or more surgeries to achieve the desired outcomes.

Laser Therapy

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved specific low-laser devices as a suitable treatment for hair loss in women and men. 

A few other studies also revealed that it increases hair density. However, more research is required to prove its long-term effects.

What is the number one cause of female hair loss?

Conditions like anemia, thyroid abnormalities, or vitamin deficiency can cause hair loss in females. Besides, you may have to face this problem in the case of hormonal changes and due to certain medications, such as those for gout, increased doses of vitamin A, and blood pressure pills.

Which blood pressure pills cause hair loss?

Certain beta blockers that are associated with hair loss include:

• Atenolol (Tenormin)
• Timolol (Blocadren)
• Metoprolol (Lopressor)
• Nadolol (Corgard)
• Propranolol (Inderal and Inderal LA)

What does thyroid hair loss look like?

Prolonged and severe hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause hair loss. This loss is diffuse and includes the whole scalp instead of some particular discrete areas. Also, the hair looks uniformly sparse.

Is hair loss from medication temporary or permanent?

Hair loss due to medications is usually temporary, and hair regrows when you stop taking the drugs. But sometimes, even stopping medication doesn’t help. 

How long after starting a medication can hair loss begin?

Hair loss can occur as either anagen effluvium or telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium typically appears within two to four months of starting the medication.