Certain types of medications can cause hair to fall out – do you know which ones? In later age, it’s more commonplace to be taking tablets to treat health conditions, but if they’re not working for you, speak up. There are four types of medications that may cause hair loss: blood thinners, antidepressants, beta-blockers and cholesterol-lowering drugs – as confirmed by Medical News Today.
Blood thinners
Otherwise known as anticoagulant medicines by the NHS, they are given to people to help prevent blood clots.
These life-saving tablets can help to lower the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Mistakenly, people might believe they thin the blood, they do not; instead, they interrupt the formation of blood clots inside blood vessels.
The most commonly prescribed anticoagulant is called warfarin, and a possible side effect includes hair loss.
There are other anticoagulants available, such as:
- Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
- Dabigatran (Pradaxa)
- Apixaban (Eliquis)
- Edoxaban (Lixiana)
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Although they can be effective at treating the symptoms of certain conditions, they don’t address the cause(s).
Again, there are various types of anti-depressants, so if one isn’t working for you, it’s best to have a conversation with your GP.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers block the hormone adrenaline, thereby slowing down the heart.
It’s prescribed for a variety of conditions, such as:
- Angina
- Heart failure
- Atrial fibrillation
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
Although most people prescribed beta-blockers have either no or very mild side effects, “contact your GP if you’re having symptoms that bother you”, said the NHS.
The leaflet placed into your medication box should tell you all the possible side effects that a specific drug may cause.
If you believe your hair loss is linked to your prescribed medication, and it bothers you, tell your doctor about your concerns.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs
Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that help to lower the amount of “bad” cholesterol floating in your bloodstream.
This will also help to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, angina, heart attacks and stroke.
There are five types of statins available on prescription in the UK:
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- Fluvastatin (Lescol)
- Pravastatin (Lipostat)
- Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
- Simvastatin (Zocor)
In addition to taking medication to lower cholesterol levels, it’s highly advised by the NHS to:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
- Stop smoking
Do not believe that once you’ve been prescribed medication that you’re only option is to put up with negative side effects – options are available.