I'm losing hair on the top of my head and the only thing I can attribute it to is a change in my blood pressure meds. Last fall my doctor changed me from Diovan HCT to Losartan 100mg. Has anyone else experienced this side effect?
Has anyone experienced hair loss when taking Losartan?
Question posted by pchris on 15 Feb 2012
Last updated on 21 March 2025
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
103 Answers Page 3
nbdb
11 Aug 2021
Yes I am losing my hair because of losartan. 50 mg twice a day. I also lost hair from a few other HBP meds in the past. I need to find one that won’t cause hair loss. You can read other’s comments about the same situation. Good luck to you.
Kris3752
12 Aug 2021
We all need to write the manufacturer so they can put this on the list of side effects
nbdb
11 Aug 2021
Yes I am losing my hair. I was taking lisinopril for a year and that made my hair fall out. Then my Dr changed me to Losartan 50 mg twice a day and I didn’t think anything of it but slowly I started losing hair again. I was also take generic thyroid, levothyroxine which definitely causes hair loss. Switched that and I had regrowth. Now I’m down to a few medications and I have been taking those for over 15 years. So I can rule those out for hair loss. I have now realized it has to be the losartan and especially after reading that other people are having issues. I have always had new hair grow back after stopping a medicine that caused hair loss. I’m a retired stylist and know a lot about the human hair cycle of shedding and regrowth. We do shed a decent amount of hair every day but mine is out of control. I have to vacuum my pillow and bed every day. I am finding hair all over the house. My hair is about 6-8 inches long.
I now have thinning on top and sides. Scalp is showing a lot and towards the top crown area, in the back it’s thinner there too. I do see new stubbles either growing in or that was breakage from falling out. I read that you have to wash your hair at least 3 times a week so you can maintain a healthy scalp. I have clumps of hair the size of lemons when I shower.
Kris3752
11 Aug 2021
So sorry for your situation. I tried 8 different BP meds and had side effects from all of them. I am 62 years old now and take zero prescription meds. I spent one year documenting everything I put in my mouth and figured out what raised and lowered my BP. I believe everyone can get off BP meds if they want to take the time to learn. I don't eat salt or processed food or fast food anymore. I take supplements and eat only whole fresh foods.
Pete1891
29 May 2021
I have been off Losartan now for two years and back on Valsartan. I am happy to report my hair is as thick as it was years ago! I have also been using Loesche Labs Professionals treatments, which has also really helped. I highly recommended it.
Rgoc2015
13 Jan 2021
I am 39 and have been taking Hyzaar, a combination of Losartan and Hydrochlorothiazide. I have been taking it for about 3 years now. I experienced very bad hair loss. I remember showering and feeling tons of hair run down my face. I used to have a lot of coarse hair. Now my hair is thin and you can see the scalp and I have one particular spot on the back of my hair that has very thin sparse hair. I am very worried and have stopped taking this damn medication. Baldness does not run in my family. I've read that the hair can grow back eventually but I don't trust the literature. I have yet to read an experience where someone has fully recovered. I am really distraught. Has anyone stopped taking Losartan and recovered their hair completely? I don't understand why I have yet to read an experience where someone has fully grown their hair back. Do they even exist?? Can someone who has recovered completely please comment. I will give an update at the three month mark to let you guys know how I'm doing.
nbdb
11 Aug 2021
Yes, your hair will grow back unless you are a male with the beginning of natural hair loss. I’m a female 59 yo and I have always had my hair grow back after changing medicines. Now I’m going to have to change again because losartan is making my hair fall out now. I had regrowth from stopping lisinopril and I am sure I will have same results from stopping losartan. I just have to find a medicine that works and won’t make my hair fall out again.
Skeptickler
5 Oct 2020
Fifty-five-year-old male here.
I've worked at home for many years, and haircuts are few and far between. When this story starts, my hair was very long and thick.
I'd been taking olmesartan for over a year, and before that, valsartan (which I stop taking because of the ongoing recalls). Olmesartan worked well for me and had no significant side effects.
My COBRA benefits ran out at the end of February 2020, so I had to find new insurance (and, as it turns out, a new PCP). In early March, after the last of the olmesartan ran out, my new doc switched me to losartan (which was on the insurer's formulary list).
Everything was fine until I finally broke down and got a haircut in late June. Holy sh|t! Because my hair had been so long, I hadn't really noticed the hair loss, but it was massive! It looked like about half the follicles on the top of my head were gone, and there was a HUGE bald batch at the crown. (Prior to this, I had had NO balding on the crown and only a minor recession of the hairline in front.) I informed my doctor and even sent him pics, but he casually dismissed it as "male pattern hair loss." I insisted that he switch me back to olmesartan, which he did.
That was over three months ago, and the hair is FINALLY starting to grow back—I can feel little "spiky" hairs all over my scalp, especially in the bald spot on the crown. (Also, I've had regular periods over the past three months during which my scalp itched terrible, which I took as a good sign). It's going to take a very long time for my hair to look like it did in February, but at least the regrowth process has started!
To those who've suffered recent hair loss due of losartan, be patient! Most online sources say that it can take three to six months for hair to even start growing back, and then at least a year for it to return to how it looked before.
Magoomus
6 Oct 2020
Glad to hear another person who is having re-growth! Mine is still thin and falling out... but at a slower rate. So I'm still hopeful that eventually it will be back to normal. And my BP is still slightly elevated (YAY!) so there's been no need to put me on a BP med... at least so far.
SageOne5
25 Aug 2020
Yes, Losartan caused me to have hair loss. I was on it for about 4 years during which time it was gradually increased up to 100 mgm because it wasn't helping my blood pressure that much. In fact, at times it seemed to have no effect on my BP at all. Initially I noticed a lot of hair in the shower drain but thought perhaps it was due to age although my mother never suffered hair loss. Then about 2 years ago, when the dosage was increased from 25 mgm to 50 mgm, my hair began to thin dramatically on either side of my head near the top and right in the very front at the hairline it broke off leaving a stubble. It was not at all like any type of female baldness I had ever seen. Also the texture of my hair changed from curly, thick and somewhat coarse to very soft and fine.
When my doctor increased the Losartan to 100 mgm and my BP was still somewhat high I did my own research and decided I needed to be on another medication not just because of my hair but because Losartan was not working that well for me. I was already taking Atenolol so we continued with that, discontinued the Losartan and added a diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. The effect on my blood pressure was immediate and quite amazing. It came down and has consistently been in the 120's over 70 to 80 ever since. It is now 4 months later and not only is my hair beginning to grow back but I no longer have the panic attacks I was having which I have read are another Losartan side effect that doctors either deny or try to minimize. Losartan works by blocking a certain hormone from your kidneys and if that is not the cause of your hypertension it won't work for you as was the problem in my case. For me personally it was a very negative experience being on it. I never mentioned the hair loss to my doctor because I knew he would just chalk it up to my age but after reading about all its' side effects and how it doesn't lower blood pressure for everyone I knew I had to take something else. I am so glad I did. It took a good 3 months to begin seeing some fine wispy hair begin to grow back in and the texture of my hair over all is back to normal. I will report this to the FDA for what it's worth.
Magoomus
25 Aug 2020
Glad to know your hair is coming back!! It's been a couple of years for me and I still have sections (mostly on ONE side and right in front like you were saying) that are very very thin. Only since this pandemic and not being able to get a haircut have I noticed my hair slowly (very very VERY SLOWLY lol) coming back. Good luck with the hair and the BP!
Freem001
31 May 2020
Yes. I'm a woman over 65 who started taking Losartan (50mg) tablets about 3 months ago. Besides vitamin D3, Losartan is the only medication I take. I noticed more hair loss than usual at every shampoo - but today, my hair started coming out in handfuls. I wish my pcp had told me that this medication causes hair loss. I was taking a water pill, but had to switch because it was causing my heart to skip beats. Does anyone know a good treatment to restore hair loss? I don't want to wear a wig :-( but godivassecret is starting to look like an option.
Suzi3955
31 May 2020
I quit taking Losartan med several months ago and my PCP is aware, although I’m sure she wishes I’d take another HBP med. My hair seems to have rebounded and has thickened up. I still loose strands of hair and sometimes it breaks off, but definitely not as much as when I consumed HBP medicine. I also learned that over-using NSAIDs, in particular ibuprofen, can cause excessive hair loss. Since I have a couple health issues with pain and inflammation, I still take ibuprofen but not as much as I once did. I try to use it ONLY when my pain and swelling is bad. (I have a back issue, spondylolisthesis, AND degenerative joint disease in my right thumb coupled with carpal tunnel syndrome also in the right arm/wrist.) Overall, though, I now lose less hair than before!
You asked about any hair treatments I use and find effective; I use a regimen called Nioxin, shampoo, conditioner and treatment spray. I get it through Groupon and I believe they offer the best prices. I also purchase OGX brand shampoo & conditioner, Biotin and College formula. I alternate between the 2 regimens. Between the two brands, my hair appears fuller, thicker and more manageable. You can find OGX products almost anywhere (Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, etc).
Good luck! Hopefully, you won’t have to wear a wig-EVER!!!
Cbrittain70
16 April 2020
Yes! I started taking Losartan on 3/6/20 and I have seen a considerable amount of hair breakage. Mine doesn't seem to be falling out at the root though or I just haven't noticed it. This is very disheartening since I noticed it after a couple weeks, but when reading the side effects I didn't see it listed. So I decided to search forums and thankfully I found this one. I am convinced it is from the medication. I am going to stop taking Losartan and see my doctor tomorrow. Thankfully I still have enough longer hair that I can blend the short spots in with it.
7527
4 March 2020
YES, Losartan definitely causes hair loss. My hair has not grown back. Dr recommended I use Rogaine. I’m trying Atenolol.
jxc8142
15 Feb 2020
I have been taking Losartan for over a year and noticed extreme hair loss in the center-top of my head after 6 months. At first, I was unable to identify what was causing the loss: shampoo, hair style, hot iron, etc. I finally started researching and found this site. I am convinced this medication is the cause. It has become so noticeable I often wear a wig as a disguise. I plan to contact my pcp for an alternative-tomorrow!
Regrowth
18 Jan 2020
I'm just realizing that it's the medication that i been taking for 3yrs losartan25mg that started my hair loss on top of head and to the point where it's really falling out just by touching or scratching it
Planning on seeing doctor on Tuesday
Naka38
8 Jan 2020
Yes I have I’ve been on losartan for about 3years now I’ve lost half of the middle of my hair I’ve always had thin hair but before I started taking them it was getting fuller now it’s so thin and bald . Now seeing this post I’m making an doctors appointment because this is now my confirmation.
cricklecrackle
16 Dec 2019
I have been losing clumps of hair in the shower. I have been on losartan since May and I started losing hair in October. So I am switching medications.
Jenniferradney
7 Nov 2019
I have been taking Losartan for 5 months and for 5 weeks I have had major hair loss and thinning. I actually thought it was dry shampoo but I am now certain it’s the Losartan and have stopped it. I see there are so many others this has happened to. My question is, has anyone’s hair grown back at all?
Magoomus
8 Jan 2020
Mine seems to be growing back some. Not a lot. But at least it's not falling out as fast as it was. Now it seems like normal every day falling out.
Needhelp7777
16 Feb 2020
Which medicine are you taking for BP now? Have you stopped Losartan!
Magoomus
16 Feb 2020
I stopped taking the Losartan and have not taken anything else. My BP is 'elevated' when I check it at home but never in the high range. I never believed I had high BP to begin with. My hair seems like it's growing back... then starts falling out again. It's so thin now on the sides that there's a patch where you can see my scalp just above my ears.
Needhelp7777
16 Feb 2020
If you didn’t have bp why did u start taking Losartan ? What are your bp readings normally??
My cousin (who is a doctor)says if bp is high for a longer duration it starts affecting other organs like kidney heart and eyes in long run.. So you better check with a doctor before stopping your medication.
My bp goes to 150-160/95-105
That’s why I have to take medicines..
Magoomus
16 Feb 2020
I started taking it because my primary doctor INSISTED I had high BP even though I kept telling him that it was from sitting in his waiting room for 2 hours EVERY TIME I have an appointment with him! Any other doctors I go see (specialists/urgent care/etc) my BP is either just slightly elevated (probably white coat syndrome lol) or too low. But this fool scared me into taking this stupid medicine because I AM a little overweight and I used to smoke so he convinced me. I'd get another GP but he takes my insurance and I have a nerve disease and he's very good about referrals to my specialist. His wife was the GP for myself and my partner and a few other family members and friends... (and everyone LOVED her)... but she passed from ovarian cancer.
BettySmith1963
24 Sep 2019
Hi there, I also started taking Losartan 2 years ago and after a few months I noticed the hair in front of my head as well as my eye browns started to fall, I didn't even think about the medicine and I thought of so many other causes, I went to see a dermatologist and he wanted me to take steroids injections on my scalp but I decided not to do that, finally I saw my GP and he mentioned that one of the RARE side effects of Losartan is hair loss or thinning of the hair. So now we know, I asked my GP to change my Blood Pressure Medicine and then I will keep an eye on my hair to see if it will grown back. I'm bald on top and mainly in the front area, my eye browns have only a few hairs. It is pretty common, not RARE like the drug side effects says. I wish I had known this since the beginning.
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diovan hct, high blood pressure, losartan
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