A few months ago I started taking lisinopril hctz for high blood pressure. I began to notice a bit more hair loss than usual when I shampooed, but nothing significant. However, it gradually increased to huge handfuls, plus would fall out all day long. Research indicated that beta blockers and ACE inhibitors (Lisinopril) can cause hair loss, so my doctor prescribed Losartan-HCTZ 100-25 instead. I've only been on it a week and the shedding has increased so much! Come to find out that hair loss is a side effect of Losartan too!
My question: Which bp meds DON'T cause hair loss? Every article I've read says to switch to a med that isn't known to have this effect, but they fail to mention which ones they are!
I'm so upset! Always had long, super-thick hair (the kind people remarked on) and now it's thin and getting thinner by the moment. :(
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53 Answers Page 2
PF
pfoote
30 May 2018
I am right with you!!! It is driving me nuts. Been taking on and off lisinopril for years. Had hair loss got some better, then back on it and it is so thin. Like you I have always had really thick hair. Now that I am graying it really makes it look worse. I have tried everything, shampoos vitamins, etc.
Votes: +0
EL
EllaRS
30 May 2018
Hi pfoote,
Wish I could update the original post from three years ago. I switched to amlodipine and all my hair grew back. You should try a different drug! Good luck!
NE
Needhelp7777
16 May 2018
Thanks a lot for your response. I’m going to ask my GP to change my medication. I remember reading in one of your comments about ‘ Viviscal Extra Strength Hair Nutrient Tablets’. That’s the reason I wanted to know if you are still taking it along with your BP medication. Thanks again!
Votes: +0
EL
EllaRS
20 May 2018
Oh I forgot about those! (It was 3 years ago.) I'm pretty sure I didn't take them very long--maybe a few months? Anyway, best of luck to you!
NE
Needhelp7777
15 May 2018
Hi EllaRS! I’m so glad I came across this forum... thanks for initiating this thread. I’m on Losartan(50mg)for the past one year and I’ve experienced drastic hair fall... I could clearly see the difference in my pics from before I started the bp med. Doctors don’t seem to agree that it’s due to the med but I’ve made and appointment and I’m going to ask to switch to Amlophine... Can you please let me know what other supplements you started taking for hair growth? Are you still taking it? Also, what’s your dosage for Amlophine? Thanks a lot once again. Your response will be highly appreciated.
Votes: +0
EL
EllaRS
15 May 2018
Hi NeedHelp,
I take 10 mg. of Amlodipine. I started at 5, but it didn’t lower my pressure enough, so my doctor increased it.
I don’t take any supplements. My hair stopped falling out and went back to normal when I switched to Amlodipine. Actually, I think it’s better than normal! I have a massive amount of hair now, thick and shiny and long.
Hope this helps!
NE
Needhelp7777
18 May 2018
Thanks a lot for your response. I’m going to ask my GP to change my medication. I remember reading in one of your comments about ‘ Viviscal Extra Strength Hair Nutrient Tablets’. That’s the reason I wanted to know if you are still taking it along with your BP medication. Thanks again!
CA
camperdoodles
5 May 2018
Hi, I posted way down in this thread about diet change (eating plan to reduce hypertension) and supplements with my goal in mind of weaning me off the vital organ damaging meds and stopping my terrible hair loss caused by them... it's not cleared admin yet as I just posted it, but it might be of help to many people I am hoping! My didn't suggest a change in diet, but was familiar with the eating plan once I mentioned it to her... and I learned doctors are not trained in nutrition, just in prescribing drug A and if that doesn't work, prescribe drug B, and if that doesn't work, prescribe drug C, and on and on. Good luck to everyone in their BP fighting journey :)
Votes: +0
ST
Stressed01
24 Feb 2018
Hi EllaRS, My old doctor put me on that same medication along with hydrochlorthized and it caused my hair to thin badly like yours... I took it for up to 5 years along with other junk he put me on I didn't need. Come to find out when I went to my new doctor, she retested me and come to find out my blood pressure and cholesterol and everything is fine. The other doctor had me on all that for nothing. My question is... how long did it take your hair to grow back after stopping the drug? I already had thin/medium hair to start with, but now you can see my scalp and it's heart sickening. My hair used to be fine before taking all that crap. I am just looking for some hope if there is any... Blah I'm so tired of stressing...
Votes: +0
EL
EllaRS
25 Feb 2018
Hi Stressed01 , This was a couple of years ago, so I can't be that precise with my answer, but I do remember the first couple of weeks after I switched to Amlodipine, the shedding slowed, then it stopped, then my hair started to grow again in the following months. Now my hair is thicker than it's ever been in my whole life. I get compliments on it all the time--a hair company even asked if they could use a picture of it in an ad! So try not to stress (even though I totally understand). I'm pretty sure your hair will go back to the way it was. You'll have to be a little patient because hair only grows around half an inch/month. But for me, I was so elated not to see fistfuls of hair coming out in the shower!
LA
Laura208
13 March 2018
Hi EllaRS, I've been on Lisinopril for about 2 Yeats now, I was pretty sure my hair loss was from this pill.My BP before taking this medication would be as high as 200/108. I am not overweight and all my blood tests come back normal so my Dr. started me on Lisinopril and my hair started falling out soon, after. 6 months with a BP still in dangerous levels, he added Clonidine. I would like to try lowering my Lisinopril dosage , maybe even get off of it. My question to you is , how high was your BP, does the medication you are on now work for people who get such high numbers. My BP has spiked as high as 250/115 for no apparent reason and sent me to the hospital on a few occasions.Ive been reading some of the comments but have not seen any with people who have had extreme numbers. I know I have to take meds to keep my BP under control, but I would like to keep what's left of my hair as well.
EL
EllaRS
13 March 2018
Hi Laura208,
My blood pressure was never as high as yours. For me, the Lisinopril worked better than the Amlodipine for controlling my blood pressure. On the Lisinopril, my bp was around 117/69, and on the Amlodipine it's around 130/78, on average. The Amlodipine also took much longer to kick in (around 5 weeks, which my doctor said was normal). I also had to up the dose from 5 mg to 10 mg/day. That doesn't mean you would have the same experience, though.
Have you been thoroughly tested to see if there is an undiscovered cause of your spiking blood pressure? My husband had a similar experience, after always having great blood pressure. He found out that he had unexplained kidney damage (could be from a virus, environmental exposure, etc.) that was causing his blood pressure to soar. In any event, talk to your doctor about getting off the Lisinopril. There are tons of other drugs for hypertension.
CA
camperdoodles
5 May 2018
Hi, My BP would spike like yours did and that is dangerous obviously and very very scary. The first drug I was put on was just a water pill, and that worked for a couple years. I only began experiencing hair loss after being changed up to a beta blocker. My doctor reacted initially not aware that hair loss was a side affect until she personally saw me in her office and saw the hair falling out before her eyes--and since she's been my doctor for over 10 years, she remembered what kind of hair I had--lots and lots of beautiful strawberry blonde. So, she changed me from a beta blocker to a calcium channel blocker. The experience was very scary. I had to go to the hospital twice because heart rate was racing out of control and BP spiked badly over several weeks during the change. The side effects were scary, stressing me out, and keeping me up at night.
On the calcium channel blocker my hair loss nearly stopped after only a week, but I had to make a choice to take a chance on dying or go balk. Unfortunately I had to go back on the beta blocker and my hair is again falling out every day. As I am big on researching a problem, after I began poking around for a solution, I discovered an eating plan to fight hypertension called the DASH diet (DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and ordered three books on the subject including a cookbook. I couldn't switch to the eating plan instantaneously because it literally changed almost everything I typically purchase for groceries, so I gradually phased out what is not on the plan and phased in what is on the plan. The side effects of the calcium channel blocker are now gone (angina chest pain and tightness plus the irregular heart beat, pounding heart, tingles in my legs, which was very scary). In addition to the DASH eating plan I am also taking a daily beet root supplement of concentrated beet crystals to increase the Nitric Oxide levels in the body to improve circulation, and my doctor agrees this is a good plan. I am going to see what she thinks about very very gradually (over months) weaning myself off the harsh medications by cutting doses in extremely tiny increments (taking pills/tabs not capsules so I can literally just bite a piece off and go smaller and smaller maybe two weeks at a time) and monitor my BP several times a day. Five years ago all I was taking for BP was a water pill, and then when I began having flushing episodes, I was put on the one that caused the annoying cough, and then when I came down with unrelated pneumonia which exacerbated the cough, I was changed to the atenolol beta blocker plus amlodipine and my hair began to fall out. I've been on the beta blocker for 2 years and my hair keeps falling out and falling out. The brief change to the calcium channel blocker was a very bad experience and I was badly afraid for several weeks as that type of BP med definitely does not work for me. In reading here that all BP meds cause hair loss, I am not going to experiment again with changing to a different type, rather I am going after a natural approach to changing my diet and focusing on loading up on natural supplements and increasing vitamins and minerals and lowering sodium and high fat diary. My refrigerator already looks very different inside (quite pretty with fresh herbs, veggies, and fruit) and I feel better and am slowly dropping weight around my midsection. I am not over weight much, only by 12 pounds, but I had some extra weight around my midsection which I have learned in my research is very unhealthy and should be gotten rid of in order to improve the reduction of the BP. I am going to be hopeful that going natural is the way to fight this. No pre-processed foods allowed as they are not natural, are unhealthy in so many ways despite the "labeling," and contain incredibly high levels of sodium. Sodium is used so the maker can advertise "no artificial preservatives." Even changing to dried beans and fresh tomato instead of canned makes a huge difference! I just soak the beans over night, rinse and strain them, and store in the freezer in a zip lock for future use in recipes! It's also surprising how delicious foods taste using fresh herbs instead of salty seasonings, and fresh citrus squeezed over a salad with olive oil instead of pre-made fake ingredient salad "dressing." --The web is a wonderful wealth of information on methods to store fresh foods so they last longer. I never knew you could just pop limes and lemons into the freezer for use as juice any time by nuking them for a minute before squeezing. So easy! Good luck to every one here and I am SO glad to have found this thread. I will keep checking back to read how it's going for all of you and to give an update on the effects of the change in my BP because of diet and if I am able, because of it, to wean off the harsh damaging meds. I am not very old, mid 50s, and I'd like to live as long as possible with all my organs functioning well. I am certain they damage the vital organs as I've seen references to it on the web here and there, particularly the kidneys.
So far, I don't know any anti-hypertensive drugs that don't cause hair loss... Not happy about that! Maybe there are some, but I'm going to start checking each med out for side effects before I even fill the prescription. In the meanwhile, I exercise quite a bit--- 5 days/week, at least, and eat a vegetarian diet with NO added salt. (Can keep a lemon in the freezer to grate over veggies for flavor--and extra vit. C!) Nutritionally, there are several items we can take to try to maintain hair health: Adequate protein diet, with added supplements: biotin, flax seed oil caps, evening primrose oil caps, brewers yeast (pills ok, 1000mg--- with all three meals).
Votes: +0
EL
EllaRS
25 Feb 2018
Amlodipine doesn't cause hair loss for me. And most people don't experience hair loss with blood pressure meds. I know lots of people who take them and their hair is unaffected.
CI
Cindi Lou
31 Oct 2018
Is this working for you to stop hair loss and regrow? Thanks!
EL
EllaRS
31 Oct 2018
@Cindy Lou--This was over three years ago. Yes, once I started on the Amlodipine, all my hair grew back. It is very thick now.
LO
Loweezy
31 Oct 2018
Yes, there are lots of people on anti-hypertensives without hair loss, but almost all anti hypertensives have hair loss listed as a possible side effect. I recently figured out that the naproxen that I was taking for back pain was actually making my blood pressure go up. So... I stopped taking the naproxen (Aleve) and my BP normalized. I think I'm the side effect queen. I have side effects to so many meds! Frustrating!
EL
EllaRS
31 Oct 2018
@Cindy Lou... Ooops, don't think you were asking me. The way this board is set up makes it so hard to follow. Anyway, here is something interesting. My bp had been running higher than normal lately, and I did NOT want to change drugs or add another one, and have to deal with possible side effects all over again. So I decided to increase my daily cardio and follow a low sodium diet. Almost immediately my bp dropped. It kept dropping, so I cut my amlodipine from 10 mg to 5 mg to see what would happen. It remained low, so I dropped it to 2.5 mg. I've been on that dose for about two weeks and my bp has been averaging 112/70. I am hoping to cut it out entirely. Who knew that I was so salt sensitive and why did my doctor never suggest I try a low salt diet?? I swear they just want to throw drugs at you.
CI
Cindi Lou
31 Oct 2018
EllaRS, I hope this is going to you... Thanks for that info! I'm so glad you've been able to cut your dose down that much! Sounds like you may soon be able to get off of it altogether! I also have changed my diet and cut out lots of my sodium in the last months since I first posted, but I haven't noticed a big BP difference yet. Now that it's cooling off, I'm gonna start walking more, so maybe that will help too. I really don't check BP as often as I should; maybe it IS coming down some and I just don't realize it...
EL
EllaRS
6 Nov 2018
Cindi Lou-- I have to keep my sodium very low (500-800 mg daily) for this blood pressure lowering effect, and that calls for very careful attention. Almost everything has some sodium in it. Most prepared foods are sky-high, so I can't eat anything like that. I finally took a chance and stopped my bp medicine altogether and it shot up pretty high by the evening the very first day. It gave me quite the fright! And here I was all smug thinking that I could control my bp solely with diet., lol. I plan on staying on the lower dose for a few more months while I try to increase my fitness and take off a few pounds and see how it goes.
CI
Cindi Lou
8 Nov 2018
EllaRS- Man, too bad your BP shot up; thought you might've had it licked! Don't give up, though! It's really great that your were able to reduce your dosage so much! I also lowered my sodium A LOT and changed to that DASH diet, which helped me to lose 30 lbs, but I've kinda slacked off the last month or two and the lbs are creeping back on. I was writing everything down... calories, fat, sodium, carbs... but I guess I got lazy. I really need to get back on the wagon, cuz my hair is still coming out and my BP could be lower, even WITH the metoprolol. I wish I knew if switching medicine would fix the hair thing and not cause any other probs. Guess I'll just have to try it. I would SO love to be off ALL meds, though... Thanks for all your support and advice! Keep me posted and I'll do the same!☺
I just thought I would check in and mention something that has helped my hair in the past 6 months. I'm still on Low dose of Metoprolol bout 25 MG a,day... but I started having my Colorist use "Olaplex" on me when she colors my hair. It used to be super dry and wiry and yes falling out alot... but since we've been using that my hair has really turned around alot!! It's a hair binder and works awesome. Look it up on the Internet. It's a 3 step process. If you go to any stylist beautician they should be familiar with it. Its,what many Hollywood stylists use to go platinum blonde with no damage. It's just added into any color on your hair, then added again after rinsing, then used again bout a,week later. It's been improving my hair quality tremendously and I'm still taking Metoprolol. Hope this may help some of you. And make sure your loading up on Vitamin D. That contributes to hair loss too. :)
Votes: +1
IH
Ihateparmeceuticals
20 Jan 2018
I've been on Bystolic for only about 5 weeks and I've already had to get a wig! My beautiful hair is pathetically thin and balding. I just read that Trump is taking a drug called "Propecia" that causes hair growth. Does anyone know anything about this? Maybe he's on to something.
Votes: +0
EL
EllaRS
25 Feb 2018
Just try another bp medicine--there are so many. The third one I tried (amlodipine) didn't cause hair loss.
RO
RosenowL
22 Nov 2017
I had thin hair to start with so this is an awful side effect for me. My Doctor denied it could happen with what I was taking. I finally got her to switch me to another one. So we will see. I feel very bad for you and everyone who has this problem. I hope we can find something that helps.
Votes: +0
WO
wordscapes
22 Nov 2017
Had major hair loss with LIsinopril so didn't want to take that this time around. Doctor prescribed 50 mgs of Losartan. Everything fine first three months, then hair loss started in same fashion as Lisinopril. I've cut the oval, lined tablets in two and trying a lower dose. My blood pressure really isn't that high and they say the old 120 can now be 140. Who knows. Need to come up with medications that don't cause hair loss.
Votes: +0
TK
Tkke
25 Oct 2017
I sympathize with you. I have had benicar, aminophylline, and they have thinned my hair. Sadly, most doctors do not even it acknowledge hair loss as a side effect, or will quote that it is not a "known" side effect. I am curious as to why manufacturers do not list it as a possible side effect. They should be legally obligated too. I was just about to try HCTZ until I read these comments stating that it too causes hair loss. I am going to try to lower my pressure naturally. I have done it before temporarily. It is disappointing that there is not anything available that is safe for our hair. I realize everyone's makeup is different, but if most of us are having this problem, it should be a priority for some company to produce a med that promotes and does not cause hair loss in high blood pressure patients.
It is almost comical that we seem so vain, but who wants a lowered blood pressure while having bald spots, or thinning hair, or having to hide behind wigs, weaves, hats and the like? It would be comical if it were not so depressing... Stay hopeful!
Votes: +1
AT
Attorney2017
25 Oct 2017
I do not think it is vain for a woman with beautiful thick hair to not want to go bald from a BP med! If you could see what I am left with, you would understand. I am almost completely bald! I am kicking myself for not going off the Losartan sooner, but my MD said it was not a side effect! Well, it sure the heck is. We all need to report the hair loss to the FDA or there is no way anyone will know. There is a FDA website that you can report side effects. This is unacceptable. I urge everyone to report this.
MA
Marchmont
25 Nov 2018
I spoke with my doctor at the beginning of 2018 with concerns that my previously luxuriant long hair was starting to thin, I am a 69 year old woman on 1mg Estradiol gel hormone replacement therapy, and have been on HRT for the best part of forty years, so for my hair to suddenly start falling out at this stage in my life seemed inexplicable, I had always understood that the Estradiol would prevent hair loss along with the bone and skin benefits that HRT brings. I was told that there were many reasons that can cause hair loss. It is now nearly a year since I started experiencing hair loss which has drastically accelerated this past couple of months. I discovered my recently bought hair brush was clogged with hair and with overhead lights I can see my scalp shining through whats left of my hair. What the doctor failed to tell me that when I started 10mg Olmesartan at the beginning of 2018 that it can cause hair loss.
In the last six months the practitioner has changed my medication to 20mg Olmesartan Medoxomil which I think is a generic version. Its only through reading the comments on this website that I have come to realise that its the BP medication thats caused this drastic hair loss. I'm at a loss of what to do, like most women the thought of losing all my hair would destroy me, but along with several other side effects which I can only put down to the BP medication I think I have to risk higher BP and find some other way of reducing it. I think its almost criminal that hair loss is not noted on the side effects possibilities when I was given this medication, do all BP medications cause hair loss. Any comments would be welcomed.
BR
BrianDSmd
16 Oct 2017
I don't know which do not. But I know for me the addition of the Alpha-adrenergic blocker Cardura caused me to see clumps of hair on the drain after showering. I have been on an increasing number of anti-HTN's. I have had some minor thinning (better hair than most 64 y.o.s! Is my best physical feature.) But Cardura caused my scalp to show under a widening visible part. As of today I quit Cardura. Pressure be damned!
"Hair loss is found among people who take Doxazosin mesylate, especially for people who are male, 60+ old , have been taking the drug for 1 - 6 months, also take medication Aspirin, and have Psoriasis. This review analyzes which people have Hair loss with Doxazosin mesylate. It is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 8,192 people who have side effects when taking Doxazosin mesylate from FDA , and is updated regularly." EHealthme
Votes: +0
CO
Counselingman
13 Oct 2017
I am 65 y.o. male. Had heart attack 14 years ago. Found out 7 years ago I was misdiagnosed and I have A-Fib. I have been treated for high BP since heart attack. I have always had great hair until last year. I didn’t seem to have big issue with lisinopril and have taken it for 6-7 yrs. Doctor added Clonidine 5 yrs ago and I started having cognitive issues. So first they added Metoporol 25mg and then 6 months ago added Norvasc. Used to be able to be able to comb hair back but now my hair has receded more than 1 inch and is thinning out on top and losing hair every time I shampoo or comb. So I will be completely bald. I am also on Eliquis blood thinner. Recently started a custom diet that includes foods to reduce BP and keep protein levels high. It is starting to work. Hope I can begin titration of Metoporol and Norvasc soon.
Votes: +0
82
82003
15 Sep 2017
My hair has been thinning miserably on Losartan. I am 46 - in good shape, eat good, am at a good weight, do yoga and have been on the same blood pressure medication (Cozaar/Losartan 50 mg) since I was 25 years old, over 20 years. I have slowly been loosing hair for about 10 years. Right now it is so bad I have hair extensions in. I am angry and frustrated about it all the time. Every hair dresser said it was weird the way it was thinning and breaking but no one could figure out why. I tried every thing each one of them suggested with no improvement, only got worse and worse. I printed out this page with all your stories to show my doctor. I am going to request that he change my med, I just hope it won't make things worse. I will update if I have good results. Best of luck to everyone, people who have not been through it don't understand how horrible it is to experience loosing your hair with no control over it.
Votes: +2
EL
EllaRS
15 Sep 2017
@82003 I will keep my fingers crossed for you! I had terrible hair loss on Losartan. I'm happy to say everything grew back when I switched to Amlodipine. I get compliments on my hair all the time now, so keep the faith!
MA
Marchmont
25 Nov 2018
I spoke with my doctor at the beginning of 2018 with concerns that my previously luxuriant long hair was starting to thin, I am a 69 year old woman on 1mg Estradiol gel hormone replacement therapy, and have been on HRT for the best part of forty years, so for my hair to suddenly start falling out at this stage in my life seemed inexplicable, I had always understood that the Estradiol would prevent hair loss along with the bone and skin benefits that HRT brings. I was told that there were many reasons that can cause hair loss. It is now nearly a year since I started experiencing hair loss which has drastically accelerated this past couple of months. I discovered my recently bought hair brush was clogged with hair and with overhead lights I can see my scalp shining through whats left of my hair. What the doctor failed to tell me that when I started 10mg Olmesartan at the beginning of 2018 that it can cause hair loss.
In the last six months the practitioner has changed my medication to 20mg Olmesartan Medoxomil which I think is a generic version. Its only through reading the comments on this website that I have come to realise that its the BP medication thats caused this drastic hair loss. I'm at a loss of what to do, like most women the thought of losing all my hair would destroy me, but along with several other side effects which I can only put down to the BP medication I think I have to risk higher BP and find some other way of reducing it. Why is hair loss not noted on the side effects possibilities when I was given this medication, do all BP medications cause hair loss. Any comments would be welcomed.
EL
EllaRS
25 Nov 2018
No, not all blood pressure medicines cause hair loss. I know many people who take different ones and haven’t experienced any changes in their hair, including my husband. The problem is some of us do get hair loss and it’s a matter of trying different drugs. Lisinopril and Losartan both caused massive hair loss for me, but when I switched to Amlodipine it all grew back.
MA
Marchmont
25 Nov 2018
Many people on this site claim that Amlodipine also caused massive hair loss, perhaps you are just fortunate or have an interest in Amlodipine ?
EL
EllaRS
25 Nov 2018
?? An interest in Amlodipine? I'm simply sharing what worked for me. I have no personal interest in what drugs you take.
NE
Needhelp7777
18 Jan 2020
Did you see any changes to hair fall? Which medicine helped you?
I have been on 5mg of amlodipine for several months now and am also losing my hair. Unfortunately, unlike most others who have posted here, my hair has always been very very fine. It was not necessarily thin before but it certainly is now and a lot of scalp is showing through. I am afraid to try other types of bp meds at this point as it seems that Amlodipine is one of the less likely ones to cause hair loss and I would be in a wig right away if I tried one that was worse. I do realize that everyone's body reacts differently. Anyway, I am wondering if anyone has any advice on dealing with the hair loss issue. I wasn't expecting this side effect and since there is no way to grow hair as fast as I am losing it, wigs,etc. loom large in my future. Just happened so very fast! Does beat stroking out.
