Opiates & Hair Loss - a connection?

[jim811]

Hi...

I used opiates for about 4 years and noticed hair loss a couple of years ago...well more than usual.  Do opiates have an effect on this and if stopping, 7 days clean and exercsing, will the hair loss decrease or better, stop?

Thx,

Nick

[bluejeep]

Having undergone two knee replacements and one rotator cuff surgery, I can tell you that I have a MUCH greater hair loss when I am taking any sort of opiate:   Oxy, Hydro or even Tylenol 3.   Even though I'm female, I'm using Men's Rogaine to try to fill in (almost) bare spots.   So far it's working, but slowly.   I guess I'm vain but it's going to take a LOT of pain to make me take any of those again.    

[mombojombo]

Insult to injury, losing our hair.  Geez.  The only thing I've heard for you to watch out for bluejeep is that once you start using Rogaine, that's it. You have to continue or the bare spots will come right back.  But you know, what are we gonna do, have bald spots?  No. I'm not getting that can of stuff and spraying it on to color my scalp!  I have a cousin who did go to a special place to have hair added to a hair piece she wears.  She pulls her hair out due to an anxiety disorder and it then stopped growing in spots.  It looks completely natural and i'd never guess she had a hair piece.  The cost was huge, almost 5,000 for it but it's lasted a long time.  Looks amazing.  Always a back up in case Rogaine peters out.  

[OldFaithful]

Yes, I've been on Tramadol for well over 6 months and I have experienced a dramatic hair loss.  My hair is extremely thin and brittle.  I do not take any other type of prescription medication.  I take multivitamins, hair supplements, and maintain a healthy diet.  Despite my good intentions, as long as I take the Tramadol, my hair continues to thin.  No amount of washing, conditioning, and pampering my hair will interrupt the breakage.  Disheartened, I did some research and found that hair loss is a possible side effect of Tramadol, especially if there is extensive use.  But take heart, after discontinuing the drug, normal hair growth should resume within months (or so I have read).  I am weaning myself off of the medication for the sake of my hair and overall health.  The side effects of the medication far outweigh the benefits of it, in my opinion.  I am prayerful that in time I will enjoy the beauty of my shiny, long black tresses yet again.  I do wish you all the best as well! :-)

[Jenelle2020]

Hi , I too have lost LOTS of hair since I have been on methadone, it is very upsetting and has caused me HUGE anxiety. Just a few days ago, I went in to another forum under Alopecia ( hair loss ) and one of the doctors responded to me and told me that methadone is a definite cause of hair loss. This made me feel so much better, I have been tapering off for 2 years now, going very very slow. But that doctor in the forum told me that when I am off the methadone my hair will grow back. I would assume this goes for pretty much all narcotics. I am glad to know I am not the only one losing hair.

[lynzee760]

yes,
Ive been on tramadol for about 4 months. And im thinking the reason my hair is falling out is because i take that medicin. Im going to call my doc and make an appointment for that just to make sure. Just to be on the safe side. when u went to the dermatolgist (prolly spelt that wrong sry) what do he/she say about it? i would like to know. Im kinda worried about it cause what if its cancer or somthing cause i am a smoker. EEEEEKKKKS

[ImDONENoMore]

I can't answer for everyone, jenn, but I can tell you I experienced the same thing, and after I quit tramadol, my hair returned to normal and I no longer have an issue with it.  Quit.  It will be the best thing you ever do.  :) (oh and to get more responses, you should post your own question - older threads tend to get overlooked here).

Good luck to you!

[jenn272]

I decided to look this **** up due to my hair really thinning in the last year or so. I have always had long, thick, beautiful blonde hair and it was one of my "best qualities" hands down. i have been complaining for months and i have even purchased and used the Keronique and Heir Essentials. NOTHING is helping. My last ditch effort, i begin thinking about the Tramadol I have been taking for 10 years and now I am up to 6 at a time, 3 times a day. Yes....I know!!!! So what I am getting to is that has to be it...the pills. This is very scary for me as I AM dependent on those pills ( I have constant cronic pain condition due to Neroupathy and neck surgeries. What do ???  Anyone else experiencing this too???

[IBKleen]

Hi gman & Welcome!

this post started in 2008, meaning it is an old post and will get sent back to archives if no one notices you posting on it. Your best bet would be to go to the top of this page and hit the green Post A Question button. Follow the instructions and start your own thread. that way the members can get to know you and can answer your questions. We have quite a few members here that are familiar with the perils of Tramadol.

If you need help, let someone know and we can guide you. Hope to see you in the forum. +-

[gman995]

ive been on tramadol for 2 months now and have noticed major hair loss lately. Its so bad that i went to a dermatologist. Has anyone else had this side effect with tramadol?

[hairman433]

my hair is falling out in clumps as well and the shower is full of hair when Im done. Its from the subs Im sure and My hair went from thick as can be to Im sure it will be gone in a few more moths of this

[jlund]

I am going on my third year straight using oxycontin as well as other opiates on and off after a severe motorcycle accident... Recently I have noticed my hair becoming extremely thin (always very thick) and been experiencing horrible amounts of hair loss with no regrowth.The hair loss is becoming more rapid as well. I posted on another forum about this, but I need more answers!!!  I haven't read anyone else with a condition as severe.

[zzzaaaccckkk]

my wife has said the same thing. 4 out of 4? I dont know about genetics!

[GoingToMakeIt]

Gee and I thought it was genetics. maybe not!

[jim811]

I can't help but think that the opiates drain the nutrients from your body.  I also liked my starbucks...caffine, wasn't exercising and really not eating good.  Before I had the narcs, I couldn't control my hair let alone lose it...but hey, let's see what happens...never know.  I hope your'e right...bald or even thin at my age is so not cool....

Nick

[ruby441]

Ya know...me too. My partner was always commenting on all the hair in the shower.She really thought it was connected to the oxycodone use, in fact she swore after I was off the oxy for like one week it was better...I doubt it was that fast.  And there was always a lot! I have not noticed any really thin patches or that my hair has gotten a whole lot thinner, I just thought that I normally lost a lot of hair. It would be nice if a side effect of getting off the opiates would be hair gain. Anyway I definitely have not been loosing as much as I was, which was handfuls. Anybody have a any experience with suboxone & the same. Also over the past 10 years my hair has gotten a lot of gray & I've been using on & off for that long.

ruby441

[Mandy589]

I took opioids for 8 years, from 17-25.

  My hair is incredibly thick so if my hair started to thin a bit I really don't think I would have noticed. 1 thing I did notice was that the hair on my head practically stopped growing. I went 3 years without having a hair cut an my hair grow from my chin to my shoulders.
A normal person's hair grows on average a 1/2 an inch per month, so normal hair growth is 6 inches a year. So over a 3 year period hair should grow around 18 inches, but my hair grew 4-5 inches in 3 years.
Truthfully my hair had always grown at a slower rate than others so I thought maybe my hormones were changing and that my hair would start growing at my normal rate over time, but it didn't. Also my best friend at the time was also abusing opioids and her hair growth didn't seem to change. She had been taking them a year before I started and she always took more than me so I didn't think opioids were part of the problem. I was wrong.

I am 99% sure opioids altered my hair growth and cause some but not mayor hair loss.

I have been clean for 8 months and my hair has grown from my shoulders to my boobs, about 5-6 inches.

My hypothesis is that opioids taken continuously over a long period of time, more than a year, can begin to effect cranial (head) hair growth and hair loss. I'd say 1 in 3 people taking opioids are likely to experience some symptoms related to loss or declined hair growth. Hair growth should improve and return to normal once they stop taking opioids.

Also you asked about suboxine and I have been on Suboxine for the full 8 months and my hair problems are gone. So no I don't think Suboxine has the same effect on hair as true opioids do.

Hope that helps and gives you some relief.

[flmagi]

I'd like to know this too. I have experienced the same thing. My hair is really thinning and it scares the hell out of me.