Medications That Cause Hair Loss: Complete List 2022

There are many reasons behind hair loss in men and women. Genes, hormonal changes, and aging are some of the most common ones. But there is another reason that’s slowly making a bigger impact on hair health worldwide. We are talking about medications. Yes, you read it right! Medications used for treating specific conditions could trigger mild or aggressive hair loss as a side effect. 

In this blog, Lordhair will share a list of medications that cause hair loss in men and women. We will also share recommendations to recover from drug-induced hair fall. Since some of you might be in a hurry to learn about the different medications that cause hair loss, here’s a FAQ version of the blog! 

What are medications that cause hair loss? 

The following medications are infamous for triggering hair loss and thinning:

• Amphetamine

• Antidepressants 

• Cimetidine

• Minoxidil 

• Birth control pills 

• Antibiotics

• Weight loss drugs

• Finasteride

• Chemotherapy drugs

How to prevent hair loss from medications? 

In order to prevent hair loss caused by medications, you can:

• Ask trichologist about an alternate solution

• Go for hair strengthening diet and routine

• Wear a hair replacement system if hair loss is aggressive 

Is it possible to recover from hair loss caused by medications?

Yes, it's possible to recover from medication triggered hair loss 

Now that we are done with the TL;DR version, let’s dig deeper into different types of medications that cause hair loss. 

Which Medications Cause Hair Loss?

Here’s the list of medications that cause hair loss: 

Amphetamine 

Amphetamine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is often prescribed as performance enhancement and works by speeding up the messages traveling between the brain and body. Amphetamine comes in multiple forms - powder, tablets, and capsules. 

Doctors also prescribe this psychostimulant drug for treating conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Narcolepsy (a chronic sleep disorder pertaining to extreme daytime laziness and sudden attacks of sleep). Acne, blurred vision, seizures, and heart problems are some of the popular side effects of using Amphetamine. Hair loss though is a lesser-known side effect.

Although not everyone is affected, people around the world have reported hair shedding after getting on this medication. According to medical experts, hair loss triggered by this medication can occur all over the scalp rather than being limited to a particular area.