Medications Causing Women’s Hair Loss

Although genetics are the primary cause of men’s hair loss, a wide variety of issues can be the culprits in women’s hair loss. Medications are one of the leading causes of thinning hair in women. Part of the problem is the overwhelming number of medications that can produce thinning hair as a side effect. Hair loss can become a concern for any women taking prescription medication to treat acne, fungus, depression, cancer, convulsions, high blood pressure, inflammation, or thyroid disorder, as well as women using birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, or weight loss drugs.

You may ask if it’s reasonable to assume that a woman can avoid medications. I understand that there’s a good reason that most medications are developed and prescribed, however I also know that medications are OVER prescribed by doctors that may be receiving cool things like office supplies, buffet lunches, and Tahitian cruises in exchange for writing out those nifty pieces of paper. In a personal example, I have asthma. I cannot cure this condition and it must be maintained. My doctor recently wrote me a prescription for a new and fancy inhaler, but I’ve researched this medication and know that it contains steroids. Steroids are responsible for a great number of side effects, one of which is . . . yes, hair loss. I strongly advise anyone on regular medication to thoroughly research the advantages and disadvantages of that drug. I could have blindly accepted this new inhaler and dutifully used it every four to six hours as recommended—in a couple of weeks or months, I would have begun to notice a disturbing change in the condition of my hair.

Don’t be afraid to question the necessity of medications. Sadly, doctors are conditioned to assume a patient wants a prescription and we, as patients, are conditioned to believe that doctors know more than we do. However, this is YOUR body, not theirs! There’s a common disclaimer regarding the use of medications during pregnancy—careful consideration should be made regarding the benefits and risks of using any medication during this time. I think this is good advice for us in general, pregnant or not. Research any medication before you start taking it—it might cure one issue while opening up another.

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