Statins and Hair Loss

You could ask to see a trichologist, Daibell - if I've got the word right!

I've always blamed my thinning hair on hypothyroidism, bit mine isn't coming out in lumps! :shock: and nor should yours be, There was a lady on Woman's Hour a few months ago who said that hair loss such as you describe (or even general thinning like mine) is NOT normal, even post-menopausal, and should not be ignored.

I can't say I noticed it getting any worse when I was on Simvastatin, bit I was only on 10mg (or whatever) and stopped it a couple of years ago. Google 'spacedoc.net' and search his site to see if hair loss is a side effect that he mentions (Duane Graveline - ex-USAF/NASA space programme medic). If it''s a known side-effect, he'll have it listed.

Let us know how you get on.

Viv 8)

Debra,

The only advice I can offer is to see your gp and discuss alternative statins with them.

Nigel

Hello,

Ive noticed my hair is thinning a lot at the front, i noticed it a while ago but now other people are noticing it too, I googled it and on the list of drugs that can cause this is Metformin and beter blockers one of them being propranalol, i take both these so am going to speak to my doctor about this at my next check up
Sue

Simvastatin is only recommended because it's cheap. It seems to have the worst muscle-ache type side effects, so probably others - stick to your guns!

Good luck

Viv 8)

Hi,
According to this article, beta blockers and other BP meds can cause hair loss.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency ... 003246.htm

You have got quite a choice as to whether it is one drug or a combination of them. :roll:

Hi Deb
Just wanted to say I hope you get some good results with your hair now you are off the statins,fingers crossed.
Please come back and let us know how you get on. I had a lot of hair loss due to Hypothyroid but it did come back when medicated....so here's hoping for you too

Hi

I'm really interested in this thread re hair loss/thinning. Can I presume we are talking female hair loss here? I'm female, and have been getting a bit thin at the front for a few years (can't remember when I first noticed it). However, I was eventually found to be hypothyroid and so, for some considerable time now, have been taking levithyroxine but the thinning has never improved since.

I have now been on Metformin for about a year and recently have noticed my hair is considerably thinner, to the point where, now, I'm extremely conscious of it. Fortunately, I'm light brown/grey'ish so it could be worse, I suppose.

I don't take a statin as, when I first was diagnosed Type 2 and prescribed Atovastatin (family history of not tolerating Simvastatin), I had other side effects and so don't take anything at the moment.

So, I can't see that my hair thinness can be related to statins, but could be Metformin.

I would really appreciate anyone/everyone posting thier opinions/experiences of GP help etc.

Debra - may I ask what you use to thicken your hair? It sounds as if it's making a difference to your hair.

Thanks everyone

I am also experiencing hair loss and, although I take supplements for my hair, use special shampoo and use a spray on my scalp, it hasn't improved. It might, of course, have been worse without these. I also take statins (Pravastatin) and Metformin but I suspect it's the Met as I was taking statins well before the hair loss started, and as far as I know the hair loss started around the time I started the Met. My endo won't hear of me stopping the Met unfortunately. I haven't got any really thin patches though - the loss is all over.