This list is currently under development and is nowhere near complete. Please e-mail the author about unlisted agents so that they can be added if they have been overlooked. Note: This is not a list of products, but active agents and substances known or purported to cause hair loss as a side effect.

Drug induced hair loss varies by drug. Some drugs you would have to be one in 1 million to experience hair loss. Others you are almost guaranteed to experience hair loss. It is impossible to list the degree for all drugs listed.

Also, regrowth of induced hair loss varies in the time it takes and whether all hair regrows. This is also impossible to list. Most drugs that induce hair loss will take at least several months after stopping treatment to regrow hair. I do not have any information on whether hair will regrow or when for any of these drugs.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs
Clofibrate (Atromin-S)
Gemfibrozil (Lopid)

Parkinson medications
Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)

Ulcer drugs
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Ranitidine (Zantac)
Famotidine (Pepcid)

Cimetidine can act as an antiandrogen and promote hair growth. Hair loss is a problem experienced by a small percentage of people. See the reference below for information about Cimetidine and hair loss.

Anticoagulents
Coumarin
Heparin

Agents for Gout
Allopurinol (loporin, Zyploprim)

Antiarthritics
Penicillamine
Auranofin (Ridaura)
Indomethacin (i/Indocin)
Naproxen (Naprosyn)
Sulindac (Clinorilo)
Methotrexate (Folexo)

Drugs derived from vitamin-A
Isotretinoin (Accutane)
Etretinate (Tegison)

Anticonvulsants for epilepsy
Trimethadione (Tridione)

Antidepressants
Tricyclics
Amphetamines

Beta blocker drugs for high blood pressure
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Metoprolol (Lopressor)
Nadolol (Corgard)
Propranolol (Inderal)
Timolol (Blocadren)

Antithyroid agents
Carbimazole
Iodine
Thiocyanate
Thiouracil

Calcium Channel Blockers
Calan 240 mg

Others
Blood thinners
Some male hormones (anabolic steroids)

Added by me:
Valproic Acid
Lithium
Octreocide
Warfarin
Fluoxetine
Fluroxamine
Fluconazole (in large doses)
Norplant
Lamivudine
Almost any cytotoxic (Cytoxan, Docetaxel (Taxotere),Paclitaxel (Taxol)) drug used for treatment of cancerous tumors.

SOURCE: Health Review Magazine, January 1996. All rights reserved.

Other References:

• Mareth TR; Hair loss associated with fluoxetine use in two family members [letter] (J Clin Psychiatry 1994 Apr) [MEDLINE]
• Ogilvie AD; Hair loss during fluoxetine treatment [letter] (Lancet 1993 Dec 4) [MEDLINE]
• Fatemi SH, et al; Treatment of valproate-induced alopecia [letter] (Ann Pharmacother 1995 Dec) [MEDLINE]
• Nagao T, et al; Treatment of warfarin-induced hair loss with ubidecareNone [letter] (Lancet 1995 Oct 21) [MEDLINE]
• Jimenez JJ, et al; Pretreatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 protects from Cytoxan-induced alopecia without protecting the leukemic cells from Cytoxan. (Am J Med Sci 1995 Aug, Abstract available) [MEDLINE]
• Norplant can cause hair loss in women
• Fong IW; Hair loss associated with lamivudine [letter] (Lancet 1994 Dec 17) [MEDLINE]
• Dorevitch A, et al; [Lithium-associated alopecia] (Harefuah 1994 Sep, Abstract available) [MEDLINE]
• Despland PA; [Tolerance to and unwanted effects of valproate sodium] (Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax 1994 Oct 4, Abstract available) [MEDLINE]
• Maceyko RF, et al; Vasopressin-associated cutaneous infarcts, alopecia, and neuropathy. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1994 Jul) [MEDLINE]
• Article on drug induced hair loss (and growth)
• Weinroth SE, et al; Alopecia associated with fluconazole treatment [letter] (Ann Intern Med 1993 Oct 1) [MEDLINE]
• Parameshwar E; Hair loss associated with fluvoxamine use [letter] (Am J Psychiatry 1996 Apr) [MEDLINE]
• Seifritz E, et al; Hair loss associated with fluoxetine but not with citalopram [letter] (Can J Psychiatry 1995 Aug) [MEDLINE]
• Tullio CJ;Roberts MA;Cimetidine-induced alopecia [letter] (Clinical Pharmacology, 1985 Mar-Apr) [MedLine]

Ad: Propecia, Avodart, Spectral DNC and more!