Drugs that may cause Hair Loss

There are certain drugs that can cause hair loss. If you do lose hair on these drugs, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the drug is the only cause. With chemotherapy, the link is obvious. But if you know your medication is causing your hair loss, it may be worth discussing a natural alternative with your doctor if that is medically appropriate.

Classes of Drugs that can cause Hair Loss

Class                                        Example

Antibiotic                                  Gentamicin, chloramphenicol

Anticoagulant                           Warfarin, heparin

Antidepressant                         Fluoxetine, desipramine, lithium

Antiepileptic drugs                    Valproic acid, phenytoin

Cardiovascular drugs                 Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers

Endocrine drugs                        Bromocriptine, clomiphene, danazol

Gout medications                      Colchicine, allopurinol

Lipid-lowering drugs                  Genfibrozil, fenofibrate

NSAIDs                                     Ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen

Ulcer Medications                     Cimetidine, ranitidine.