Which blood pressure medications cause hair loss
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Blood Pressure Medications and Hair Loss
Introduction to Blood Pressure Medications and Hair Loss
Blood pressure medications are essential for managing hypertension, but some of these medications can have side effects, including hair loss. Understanding which medications are associated with this side effect can help patients and healthcare providers make informed decisions.
Minoxidil: A Unique Case
Minoxidil is a well-known vasodilator initially used to treat high blood pressure. Interestingly, it is more commonly recognized today for its ability to promote hair growth rather than cause hair loss. Minoxidil works by widening blood vessels and opening potassium channels, which increases blood flow and nutrients to hair follicles, promoting hair growth. However, it can cause an initial increase in hair shedding due to the synchronization of the hair cycle, which is usually temporary and followed by new hair growth 1.
Other Blood Pressure Medications and Hair Loss
While Minoxidil is associated with hair growth, other blood pressure medications can lead to hair loss. These include:
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Beta-Blockers: Medications such as metoprolol and propranolol are known to cause hair thinning and hair loss in some patients. The exact mechanism is not well understood, but it is believed to be related to the way these drugs affect the hair growth cycle.
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ACE Inhibitors: Drugs like enalapril and lisinopril can also lead to hair loss. This side effect is relatively rare but can be distressing for those affected.
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Diuretics: Medications such as hydrochlorothiazide, used to reduce blood pressure by eliminating excess fluid from the body, have been reported to cause hair loss in some individuals.
Conclusion
While Minoxidil is unique among blood pressure medications for its hair growth-promoting properties, other medications used to manage hypertension, such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics, can cause hair loss. Patients experiencing this side effect should consult their healthcare provider to discuss alternative treatments or management strategies. Understanding the potential side effects of these medications can help in making informed decisions about hypertension management.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Minoxidil use in dermatology, side effects and recent patents.
Minoxidil promotes hair growth by widening blood vessels and opening potassium channels, but side effects include irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.
Highly CitedDrugs and hair loss.
Hair loss may be caused by medications, but other factors, such as fever, hemorrhage, severe illness, stress, and childbirth, also contribute to hair loss.
Drug-Induced Hair Loss and Hair Growth
Drug-induced hair loss can be reversible after interruption of treatment, with hirsutism and hypertrichosis being common side effects.
Highly CitedDrug reactions affecting hair: diagnosis.
Drug-induced hair loss is usually reversible, but some drugs may cause permanent hair loss.
Highly CitedA case of mirtazapine-associated hair loss.
Mirtazapine, a prototypical noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant, can cause temporary hair loss in female patients.
Case ReportMeasurement Tools and Utility of Hair Analysis for Screening Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication
Hair analysis is a reliable and clinically feasible method for measuring medication adherence to antihypertensive medications, aiding in blood pressure goals.
Hair loss due to Quetiapine usage : a case report
Quetiapine use may cause diffuse alopecia in a 37-year-old male patient, a rare but potentially significant side effect, which recovered after discontinuing the medication.
Case ReportOral minoxidil treatment for hair loss: A review of efficacy and safety.
Oral minoxidil is an effective and well-tolerated alternative for healthy patients having difficulty with topical formulations for treating hair loss.
Systematic Review
Rigorous JournalHighly CitedFinasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group.
Finasteride 1 mg/d effectively slowed hair loss progression and increased hair growth in men with male pattern hair loss over 2 years.
RCT
Large Human TrialHighly Cited