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Statins and Hair Loss

D

diadeb

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395
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Salford, Greater Manchester
Type of diabetes
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Diet only
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Hi Everyone, my question is does anyone else taking statins suffer hair loss. My hair has always been quite thin and although I suffer from Hypothyroidism and have been through the menopause I am sure that the Simvastatin is causing my alopecia, it comes out in lumps when I wash it.
I do use a hair thicker which does cover it up but costs £15 a tin and I can see the problem getting worse as time goes on. I don't want my lipid profile to increase as a result of not taking a statin but I am seriously thinking of stopping. Any advice, many thanks, Debra x
 
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
 
Hi Guys thanks for the replies, Viviennem, Duane Graveline does have alopecia listed.
Noblehead, I have looked in the BNF and all statins have this side effect.
Sue 02, I think I am in for bad time then, at the moment DM is controlled by D/E only but if hair loss is a side effect of Metformin, great. I am already on Levothyroxine and a beta blocker. I will make an appointment with my GP, who is very good but of course Simvastatin is recommended by NICE for type 2's
Again, thanks for the replies, Debra x
 
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)
 
Well everyone I went to see my GP today and basically he said that it could be anything thats causing the hair loss because I am on so many medications, beta blocker, calcium channel-blocker, Levothyroxine.
Anyway we agreed that I stop the Simvastatin, no statin at all as they all cause alopecia and go back for repeat bloods in January and review the situation, so hopefully my hair might be better, Debra x
 
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 :D
 
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.
 
Hi Daisy1, I have sent a PM to Energize, but my hair loss is all over the top of my head and I now use MANE Hair Thickening Spray (just google it). It costs £15 per 200ml can but does last for ages and completely camoflages hair loss and if you order 6 you get one free, best wishes, Deb xx
 
Hi to everyone who is interested in this thread. I went back and got blood lipids tested again in January after being off Simvastatin since August 2011 and low and behold Serum Cholesterol 7.7 and LDL 5.4 so am going to re-start taking Simvastatin tonight again. As I said I am already on beta blocker and Levothyroxine due to Hypothyroidism so not much I can really do about it. I did have my Calcium and Ferrititn checked also and they are ok, so hair loss not due to Parathyroid gland or low Ferritin levels. I may see if I can go on Atorvastatin instead but in BNF it states that all statins have hair loss as a side effect and of course it may all prove to be post menopausal, oh the joys of getting older!, Debra x
 
Hi to Everyone again, I re-started the Simvastatin last week but I went back to my Surgery today and saw a different Doctor, who was very nice and sympathetic. She said that she didn't doubt for a minute that it was the Simvastatin that has been causing my hair loss and that I was to stop it immediately and to commence a Fibrate called Fenofibrate 267mgs OD.
It was just so good to see someone who seemed to understand and didn't just dismiss it as "getting older" and "after the menopause". So I will take it daily and report back in due course to you all.
Stay Healthy, Debra x
 
Hi everyone, I can now report back on this subject and to let you know that whilst my thinning patches are still that, obviously once the hair has gone it is gone forever. I can report that no more is falling out when I wash or comb my hair so I am pleased with the result and would recommend that anyone who is having the same problem and thinks that it is due to their statins to go and see a sympathetic doctor and ask to switch to a Fibrate instead. Deb
 
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