Pills That Cause Hair Loss

You may be feeling fit as a fiddle but one day, out of the blue, you notice that your hair is falling out, in bunches. It's always startling and shocking when something abnormal and unexpected occurs, and losing your hair is no exception. If you aren't sick and aren't menopausal, then the culprit may be in your medicine cabinet. One of the drugs that you are taking for another condition may very well be causing your hair to fall out. It is always advisable to discuss your medications with your physician prior to taking them to determine what the possible side effects are.

Anti-Depressants

Anti-depressants, in particular Celexa, have been linked to hair loss. Other anti-depressants that may cause hair loss include Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil, according to Quickcare.org. It is believed that Celexa depletes protein and amino acids. Since the hair is made up of protein, it is understandable why this drug might result in hair loss.

Steroids and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Steroids (anti-inflammatory medicine) can wreak havoc on your hair and cause it to fall out. If you have gout and are taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid drugs or andrenocorticotropic drugs, this can cause hair to shed. Steroids are produced from hormones that are very similar to androgens, which are the male sex hormones. The most potent androgen is testosterone, and if you introduce it into your body you will experience masculine characteristics, such as thinning hair, balding, deepening of the voice and aggression, according to Kidshealth.org (See Additional References). Too much vitamin A may result in your hair falling out also, so make sure that you're not taking too much.

Acne Medication

Accutane, which is used to treat acne, may cause your hair to fall out. Interestingly, some patients who take Accutane don't report hair loss until they stop taking it, while others say that the hair loss starts as soon as they start on the medication. According to Dr. William Rassman, medical director and founder of the New Hair Institute (See Additional Resources), if you take Accutane, the glandular elements of the hair will be impacted, and, as the amounts of sebum production diminish, your hair may become fragile and dry. Blood thinning medicines (anti-coagulants), such as Warfarin and Heparin can result in hair loss, as can Dilantin, which is an anti-seizure medication.

Chemo

If you are undergoing chemotherapy, you may lose your hair. Much of this depends on the particular drugs that are being used in your cancer treatment, the strength of the medicine and the dosage. in addition to your particular sensitivity to the drugs. Your hair will grow back. When you undergo chemotherapy, the drugs cause your hair to stop dividing, according to HealthScout.com. Your hair shafts become thin and break off when the new hair sprouts through the scalp

Contraceptives

Oral contraceptives have been known to cause a hair loss condition called telogen effluvium. This is non-scarring alopecia and is not a permanent condition. Your hair loss may be liberal at first, according to Emedicine.com, but the condition generally resolves itself within six months. When you take oral contraceptives you are introducing hormones into your body. When hormones are in flux, during pregnancy, after childbirth, during menopause or when you are introducing them into your body via a contraceptive, it has an impact on your hair, and hair loss can result.

Tags: hair loss, your hair, cause hair, into your, into your body