Antidepressants § Hair Loss (Alopecia)

[Paul Dodson]

I noticed after I started taking some antidepressants(Paxil/Wellbutrin/Effexor/Celexa)that my hair started turning grey, getting kinky getting real dry and falling out all together.  After reading the adverse side effects of these medications - they all say hair loss.  Is there a antidressant medication that does not cause hair loss?  Why would this type of medication cause such a reaction. Even St. John's Wort has this listed as an adverse side effect?  I need to be on medication for depression, but futher losing my hair would make me more depressed, self-esteem problems.



What anti-depressant medication is out there without the hair loss adverse side effects?



Thanks

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I don't know the answer to this because hair loss is listed with most, but is truly quite uncommon.  You are particularly sensitive.  the person to ask is a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss.

[SmilerSS]

I was plagued with hair loss in "starting" new meds..my psychriatist didn't have an answer. Yes, you mentioned that it is an adverse side effect of the various meds as reported, but this may not be the case.

I reached out with my hair loss problem to my family doctor and she said when starting new meds it is likely you will experience hair loss(not uncommon), and that to be true in "general" on medications in general, not just psych,, and she is not a pyche doc...first, I thought it was my thyroid. Had it checked normal with my thyroid med.  She was right from my experience...once, I quit jumping around from one med to another then stayed on consistent meds the hair loss problem went away. So, I suggest you consult your family phyician to eliminate what "may" appear to be a psche med side effect, but the body just reacting from all the med changes. In conclusion, she said med changes can cause hair loss.

She was right in my case. It has gone away,,I had layers, chuncks falling out when I would take a shower...but, no more..no more med changes.....



Hope this helps,,,psyche docs do not know everything an internist does....totally different field...

[Paul Dodson]

Thank you SmilerSS!  I started out with Xanex and Ambien and got totally hooked on those mendications.  Withdrawals were severe for about 6 weeks.  Then I switched to Wellbutrin, which totally flipped me out with heightened anxiety attacks, insomnia and sucicidal idealation.  Most of my hair fell out during that period.  The weird part was it turning grey and kinking up curly. I am still in the throws of a major anxiety and depressive period in my life.  I was hoping to try celexa but was freking out when I saw the hair loss side effects again.



I need relief from this living nightmare.

[SmilerSS]

Paul, I do know one thing about all the psyche meds(alot) is to always, given that the hair loss is due to your pyche meds, is to give the side effect some time to go away. That is true for me, too. Once I found the meds and stuck with it as long as I could tolerate it, if you will, then the side effects can go away..just takes time...Now, knowing when enuf is enuf..is the key..I don't know how long you stuck it out with the hair loss problem,,,but, if you think it wasn't long enuf...then look inside & hopefully, with your doc's insight and knowledge you can find the help you need. Just take it slow..Just don't jam too many meds at once then you don't know which one is causing the problem....you sound like you are doing the right thing..Easy Does It, as they say...educate which it appears your are doing about what you ingest in your body,,I am always researching anything I take..unfortunately, some info is hidden from the consumer....as well as, the doc.



You will be fine,,,get a check up from your physician! They care, too.

Suzette

[Paul Dodson]

Thanks for the advice!  I really appreciate you advice and caring reponses.



Thanks



Paul

[SmilerSS]

Paul, your are most welcome...I am not a doc, but someone who has experienced as a consumer from since 1983 with bipolar, anxiety disorder, panic disorder,,long med trails.  I cannot emphasize enuf to get a complete medical check-up by your physician and tell him/her everything. It's called the process of elimination. I am currently getting off Effexor and what I have read and my personal horror experiences think twice if you got that route. I have since signed a petition against the drug co. Wyerth for withholding severe affects that this drug does by withholding this information from the consumer and, as well as, the doctor. The petition is is online, but not sure what website.

Look under the search engine, dogpile.com(the best I know) and I put in keywords, "effexor withdrawl". It's there, gotta look.

Effexor & Paxil are the most difficult drugs to come off of in my research. But, Effexor is working okay for my sister,,,who knows when it will strike...to someone else it harms.

I had a brillant doc at one time who said folks with anxiety disorders are psyche drug sensitive. True for ME. Being that you expressed those symptoms you could have a disorder that does need to be treated. I am on Tranxene, as a result of my anxiety disorder and works fine. However, different stokes for different folks.



If you not happy with current psych doc, then if able, I suggest you consider(with sincere thought) of moving on to another one with a "new picture" with your well-being. Not, that there is anything "wrong" with your current doc. My previous doc told me sometimes it takes a new doc with a fresh outlook, ideas, etc. to find whatever.  



I wish you the best, just hang tough, stay open, and continue to reach out for help...you do not have to do this alone.



Suzette



PS>>another website you might take a look at is www.prozactruth.com



Interesting different side of view, but not to discourage you tho....from any means to you getting help....

ss



  

[stoo]

Just following up to some of your old comments...as a woman I have been using Effexor for the last 6 mos and am horrified to discover the hair loss effects as part of the reason for my anxiety and depression was hair loss.  Since taking the Effexor, my hair loss has increased and the texture of my hair has changed to kinky curly, snarly, frizzy almost as though it is dead.  My hair falls out directly from the root in large quantities everytime I comb my hair which I baby with Nioxin shampoos, Minoxidril, and only use a wide tooth pick to comb and air dry.  I am really disturbed to notice this side effect and will get off Effexor ASAP.  Just wanted the docs out there to know that it is not as RARE a side effect as they seem to believe.

[jd7]

I too have expierenced alot of hair lose and my hair texture has changed also.
I started on cimbalta and have switched to willbutrin and the hair lose has continued.
I am a middle aged male and have always had a full head of hair.
At first I thought it was just ale pattern baldness but am sure it is the meds now.
To much too fast.
My question is will the hair that has fallen out grow back?
If you go off the meds or if you stop switching meds or if you stay on the same one for a long time.
I am on wellbutrin is now'
So,is it Permanent or temporary.i read hear that it stoped for some but they did not say if the hair they lost came back.

[EP7]

9/22/07 I too am experiencing hair loss and was freaking out because I am a healthy young female.  I work out with weights 3x/week and cardio 2-3 times a week.  I started a ton of different herbs for sleep, now I lose 75 - 100 hairs in the shower every morning.  Very scary.  The doc knows nothing....so now I am wondering if I should start by process of elimination [different supplements].  However, the Sam-e with St. John's Wort & Ginseng during the day and the Valerian Root, 5-HTP, and Lemon Balm before bed have helped me feel like I felt when I was in my 20's.....except the hair loss.  It's been going on for over 2 weeks -- how long before it stops???

[Adrie]

I was on Wellbutrin 150mg.  for 4 years and finally made the hairloss connection.  Over the period of 4 years my hair fell out 100-200 hairs a day.  I have always had fine hair but enough of it to not worry about baldness.  In 1996 I went on Zoloft briefly and my hair feel out so rapidly on .25 miligrams.  I saw a doc who said it was AA and to not worry and use rogaine or get pregnant.  I went off the Zoloft and it stopped.  I did get pregnant, had 2 children and no problems with hairloss. Then the loss returned 4 years ago.  The hair loss did not start at once with the Wellbutrin but seemed to start afterwards so I did not make the connection.  And I had so much good energy from the Wellbutrin.  I was going through a divorce with small children so I attributed the loss to stress.

I am thin, work out regularly, eat heathfully and lead a healthy lifestyle.  I am prone to anxiety and take klonopin .5 prn for the past 8 years.

I started getting concerned and read a book about hormones and hairloss.  I went on Yazmin and 150 mgs of spiro but the loss did not completely stop.  I was on Yaz for about a year and wanted to see if just the spiro would work, worrying about the estrogen cancer connection