May 5 2006, 11:35 am PT | Posted in: Drugs (Cause Hair Loss) + Female Hair Loss
My Dr. told me that lisinopril doesn’t cause hair loss. You say it does. It is not listed as a side effect, so are you sure it does? I freaking out cuz my hair is falling out. I am 53 years old and had all blood work done and all came back fine. I always had thick thick hair and so does everyone in my family. I am wondering is it menapausual? I have no other syptoms and my periods are still very regular. Will it grow back in or what should I do??? Im so confused because everyone tells you somthing different.
Many drugs can potentially cause hair loss. Most of the times scientists cannot find the exact mechanism of why this happens. Likewise, scientists cannot find the exact cause of hair loss either, because there are so many different factors involved.
I have three important points to make with regards to medications causing hair loss:
- Before identifying a drug as a possible cause of hair loss, you should find other medical causes.
- People take medications for a health problem. You should not stop taking a medication just because you think it may be causing hair loss. Your health should come before your hair (especially if you are not certain that the medication is causing the hair loss).
- Most importantly, you should follow up with your doctor for medication changes and concerns.
If you are taking Lisinopril, you likely have high blood pressure. You should NOT stop taking Lisinopril just because it has a rare side effect that you may or may not be experiencing. Stopping high blood pressure medications puts you at risk for strokes and other serious medical complications. Some women who have genetic hair loss have it appear at about your age. The best way to make this diagnosis is to have your scalp mapped out for miniaturization. If you have genetic female hair loss, then there will be miniaturization over the thinning areas and miniaturization in the ‘rim’ of hair around the side and back of your head. Mapping out your scalp is the key to this diagnosis.
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I would like to respond to the woman who complained of hair loss and blood pressure medication. The exact same thing has happened to me. I too had gorgeous thick curly hair…so much so that I was referred to as “big hair”. Now after two years on various blood pressure medications it is getting thinner and thinner- to the place that I am depressed about it. I also am not sure if this is hormonal but my natural mother (I was adopted) does not have this problem,nor did she take BP meds. I understand your concern that this reader should continue to keep her BP low, but I think it is a lack of empathy on your part when you infer that the hair loss is not that significant of a problem. In your early 50’s in this culture your hair is still a major factor to looking good. Of course you will probably agree with my doctor who asked me “what do you want a full head of hair in the casket or walking around a little bald?” I am still debating that question and I have to say women who are not that vain, still have a difficulty going bald,especially if its due to some synthetic medication. There has got to be another answer…
I started Lisinopril in June and was unaware of the side effects. I have had a cough (I assume from allergy) for many years and then after starting the medication it got much worse. I went to a pulminary specialist because my cough was so bad and he told me to stop the Lisinopril and get on another BP medication. I have also noticed that my hair has been coming out and is much thinner these past few months. It is my opinion that it DOES cause cough and hairloss.
Dr., is there a BP medication that will not cause hair loss.
Also, if someone has had hair loss because of taking Lisinopril will it grow back after stopping the medication (with cardiac physicians approval of course)? I was taking 5mg/daily and had a terrible cough with a lot of mucus. Even my allergist couldn’t understand it. After stopping the Lisinopril I no longer have those symptoms and additionally I have found that I sleep all night (which if I’m not mistaken disruptive sleep is another side effect of Lisinopril).
My husband is having the same problem with the hair loss and thinning. He is just 50 years old and has always had very thick hair. His parents did too, up until their deaths when they were both in their mid-80’s. My husband has been taking Lisinopril for the last couple of years and his hair has drastically thinned out to the point of seeing his scalp all over his head. He’s also convinced it’s the medicine. That is the only regular Rx that he takes. He is going to ask the doctor if he can try a different BP Rx. He has also started walking and jogging again to try to reduce the BP naturally.
Well let me just add a comment, I am 20 years old and have bad kidneys and just a touch of B.P problems, I have always had big, thick hair, UNTIL I started taking this medication! Now I am 20 years old and have thin thin thin hair so bad that you can see through it! I know it has to be this medication and after reading all of the comments I will be taken off of it ASAP!There are way to many options out there to stay on something that makes your hair fall out and makes you cough.
I agree whole-heartedly w/ CM about the hair loss issue & do hope there is another viable solution to curing blood pressure issues than using meds that cause this condition. We (especially women) live in a society where we are judged by our appearance almost as much as (and in many cases entirely) as our qualities, and anything adversely affecting their appearance can unnecessarily dampen one’s spirits unnecessarily.
I have taken Lisinopril for about 2 yrs and haven’t had any issues outside of a cough that occurs mainly when I sleep. However, I stopped taking it for about a year and resumed recently. Within about 3wks of starting the meds, I’m experiencing massive hair loss (which is devastating, as I’ve had thick healthy hair all my life). I also had a recent report from my doctor that indicated that there was a narrowing in one of my renal arteries (a major artery that leads to a kidney), which he beleives is what causes high blood pressure, as the narrowing of the renal artery causes a hormone to be released into the bloodstream that increases blood pressure. I’ve never been known to have this issue before; i was placed on high blood pressure medicine as a fluke and for the first time in my life in a surgery room 2yrs ago while undergoing an unrelated procedure, so I can’t help but wonder whether Lisonpril is the blame for the renal artery narrowing, which was discovered 1/5yrs later.
I am a 25 year old male with Hypertension. It runs in my family. I have been on Lisinopril 10mg/day for 2 years now. I had the thickest hair ever about five months ago. Its over 60% gone now. Comes out everywhere on my head!!! I gently pull at my hair and 3-4 hairs fall out. I have been freaking out about this.
Blood work normal, thyroid normal, etc. Lisinopril? Maybe? I’d love to know!!!!