I was on Warfarin from 10/2011 until 5/2012. In Jan. or Feb. of 2012 my hair started coming out in big chuncks everytime I washed it. I stopped taking the medication in May of 2012 and about July or Aug.2012 my hair stopped coming out. In Jan. 2013 and for the second time I developed DVT's and a PE. I was put back on Warfarin and now have to remain on it for the rest of my life. On or about 4/2013 or 5/2013 my hair has started coming out again in big chuncks every time I wash it. Is this from the Warfarin and if so, is there anything I can do to slow it down or stop it all together. I am getting very desperate and am afraid. Please respond to my question!
Can Warfarin cause hair loss?
Question posted by Vicki Kowalewsky on 2 July 2013
Last updated on 8 March 2021
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Answers Page 2
aramanarao
5 July 2013
Hi Vicki; You would have been put on Warfarin in 10/2011 after a DVT or Hip/knee surgery or broken limbs. In any which case, you would have been under tension and Tension is a known cause of hair fall. I suggest that you do not discontinue using Warfarin. There are alternate medications to Warfarin but they may not help in reducing hair fall. One solution to reducing 'tension' would be to seek out a clinical psychologist who would recommend meditation or Yoga or similar stress reduction regimen.
MissieMarie
21 June 2016
So tired of blaming medication side effects on the patient. It is not a coincidence that so many lose hair while taking warfarin.
Joanne Johnson
16 March 2017
Well said MissieMarie if only things were that simple. No amount of Yoga will over ride medication side effects. Some exercise may reduce some people's stress levels but not everyone is capable of doing it. Also not everyone on warfarin is stressed hair loss or not.
Vlschaub
19 July 2017
I was on Warfarin for 10 years because of multiple VTE events due to an autoimmune disease called Antiphospholipid Syndrome. I had major hair loss during that time, and it was not due to stress. Many people on my APS support group message boards have reported major hair loss that they can only contribute to the Warfarin. That being said, I would not recommend to anyone to just stop taking the medicine, this course of action could very well mean death. I would recommend talking to your doctor to see if you would be able to switch to one of the new alternatives. I started Xarelto about 4 months ago and have noticed a marked differenced in my hair. I only spoke with my doctor about Xarelto after the FDA finished a study on how if affected people with my disease and it was found that is worked no better or worse than Warfarin. I weighed the options and decided that switching medications would increase my quality of life. I have been doing well since then.
Related topics
deep vein thrombosis (dvt), deep vein thrombosis - first event, deep vein thrombosis - recurrent event, pulmonary embolism - first event, pulmonary embolism - recurrent event, warfarin, medication
Further information
- Warfarin uses and safety info
- Warfarin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Warfarin (detailed)
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