Metoprolol & Hair Loss

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I have been taking 200 mg. a day for about 4 years. I thought it was a coincidence that I've lost 50% of my hair during this time because I am also going through menopause. I just found out that it is possible the hair loss is caused by metoprolol, so my doctor just wrote me a RX for a different drug. Will my hair grow back? It was very long, down to my waist, but I've been cutting it to compensate for the thinness. I just touch my head and lose a few hairs! Any ideas?

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1

I have been on 25 mg of metoprolol for 2 months and my hair is rapidly falling out. I have stopped taking it. Will my hair stop falling out? Is the hair loss that I have already experienced reversable?

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2

If your hair loss truly was caused by taking Metoprolol, then yes, your hair will all grow back. BUT you were only taking 25 mg., a very low dose. There could be another source to your problem, such as a thyroid disorder.

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3

Metoprolol is a selective receptor blocker, used mainly in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension.

If you look at the monograph page:

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Metoprolol/­

You will see that hair loss is listed as a SERIOUS side effect that SHOULD NOT be tolerated for any length of time. If you are experiencing this, you need to speak to your doctor IMMEDIATELY!

As a matter of fact, my doctor just prescribed this to me on Friday, 50mgs to be taken twice a day, and that is one of the first things he told me, if I start experiencing hair loss, to stop use and contact him immediately.

Are there any other questions?

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4

Thank you for all this information, and the links. I experienced MOST of these serious side effects while taking 100mg daily of Metoprolol. Yes, I reported all these things to my doctor who never said anything except you should quit smoking. My heart rate was so slow that I passed out and cracked my head on concrete! I ended up in the ER. It wasn't until I complained constantly about hair loss that my doctor finally switched me to Lisinopril, another remedy for high blood pressure. Now I have heart palpitations. I am finallly convinced that I must find a new doctor! Thanks again.

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5

I also lost most of my hair, just today I learned that is due to the metoprolol
med.

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6

I'm beginning to think that all beta blockers can, or will, cause some hair loss. My new doctor added 5mg. of Bystolic (nebivolol) to the 20mg Lisinopril that I take. This did help with my irregular heart beat, but again, I am beginning to lose more hair. Not as much as I did taking Metropolol, but a noticeable amount each day. Perhaps those of us with heart problems are just doomed to having thin hair?

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7

I know that Metoprolol is causing my hair loss because it is the only medication I am on. I did not have a hair loss problem before I started on this drug. Now I have two bald spots. One is at the back of my head, the other is at the side. There is also noticeable thinning of the crown area. Metoprolol has also caused my insomnia. If you do a search on Metoprolol and hair loss you will see that a lot of other people are having this problem also. When talking to the doctor about it he claimed that hair loss wasn't a side effect. I'm sure he was looking at the manufacturers list of side effects. I know better. It IS the Metoprolol. BTW, I've switched doctors and she is going to change my medication. I definitely will not allow anyone to prescribe a beta-blocker to me again. I had no heart problems to begin with so I don't know why that particular medication was chosen. Honestly I think some of these doctors are performing clinical trials on parients without our consent.

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8

My doctor put me on metoprolol about two years ago. I used to have wicked thick hair and it noticeably started thinning out. Two years later I'm shaving my head because my hair grows in so thin now. Also if I miss one day of the drug my heart beat goes really rapid and it never did that before. I plan on getting the hell off of the drug as soon as possible. I'd tell anyone who'd listen to stay the hell away from it!

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9

I was on 100mg of Betaloc (Metoprolol Tartrate) and it was causing my hair to fall out. I particularly noticed it when new hair growth came through and I had random sprouts of hair sticking out at the front of my head and above my ears. My doctor wasn't sure if the beta blocker would cause that, but he researched it and so did I and we both concluded that this was the cause. I chose to reduce my dose to 50mg (not that I am recommending that others should do this), as I couldn't cope with it. My hair was so thin I too was cutting it shorter and shorter to disguise it. My consultant (I have ventricular Tachycardia) said I should see how I coped on 50mg and so far I have been fine on the lesser dose. My hair is definitely growing back! I'm not sure if doctors are truly aware that this is a side effect, but there are plenty of people who have reported this experience on on-line forums.

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10

I had been taking Metoprolol for almost 5 years... all the while my hair was getting thinner and thinner! I thought it was due to using a flat iron and the typical hair loss from aging, however, now I feel it was the drug. WHY won't doctors tell us about this? My hair is nearly ruined and I'm so depressed!!! I can only HOPE it will grow back!!! I was taking Metoprolol for tremors but when I realized what was happening, I stopped taking it immediately!!! I'd rather have tremors than be bald!!!

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11

I finally realized that my hair is really falling out, I just thought I was going through a stage and it would stop, but when I went to put mascara on and hardly had any eyelashes left, I knew I had a serious problem. I finally figured out last night that it had to be from the metoprolol because it's the only drug I take. I am calling my doctor in the morning to get off this stuff and switch to something else...not good! Somebody should warn you about this kind of stuff!

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12

I agree my doctor increased my metoprolol dosage to 100 mg a day in June. By October I had lost mostly all the hair at the crown of my head and a small portion in the lower back. It was the medicine. I have high blook pressure but no underline heart condition. So I will not continue to take the medicine.

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13

If you have high blood pressure, you should take something for that (a silent killer). Metoprolol is in the family of ace inhibitors, so I think all in that family can cause hair loss. BUT the good news is that there are other medicines for high blood pressure that are in a different class of drugs, such as Lisinopril--and they don't cause hair loss at all. :)

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14

Wow... Seeing all of you with this same problem is very comforting but I hate that there are others.. I'm 28 & was just diagnosed with SVT and the er dr put me on metoprolol 25 mgs a day 2x's a day and I've been on it for only 2 months and I'm experiencing extreme hair loss :(:( I've called my drs office & am trying to get my medicine for this changed next week. I will stop taking it if they can't put me on something else. I'm a very healthy person and I do not take any other medications But for my question WILL MY HAIR GROW BACK???

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15

It took a long time, but some of my hair began to grow back. You will notice, in a few months, short hairs and think that it's breakage--but that's your new hair!

Metoprolol works on heart problems very well, but there are many other drugs out there that won't cause hair loss.

Sorry you had to find out the hard way.

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16

I've taken Metoprolol for almost 2 yrs (50 mg) daily. I am 58 y/o. The ONLY other time in my life that my extremely long, thick hair had ever started thinning was when I was about 52 and going through menopause. I was not taking ANY meds a that time. It wasn't falling out in vast amounts, but more than usual. ANYWAY, fast forward to 57 y/o when I was hospitalized with HBP and type-2 diabetes (which I didn't even know I had). They also thought I had a small t.i.a. I was put on the Metoprolol and since all this scared the bejeebees out of me, I have never missed a pill. I have been eating way healthier and exercising more, so should have lost some weight. After almost 2 yrs now, I am at same weight and I am sure the Metoprolol has something to do with it. I am tired all the time, ankles and knees hurt, shoulders hurt, headaches all the time, BUT THE WORST OF ALL IS THAT I HAD AN EPIFANY! I had never associated the HAIR LOSS STARTING AGAIN to the drug! Thinking back, I started noticing more hair than usual just falling out when I gently pulled at the bottom of it. Lots more hair in the drain. I find shedded hairs on the floor, carpet, couch, it's rediculous. They say it's a side affect that only 1% of people have - that is just a flat out lie. I did read many posts yesterday that people who have stopped taking it, that the hair does regrow! I'm talking to my doctor today about this, but I do know 1 thing, don't ever stop cold turkey. You have to ween yourself off under a doctor's care and supervision. HOWEVER, I also read that it's possible that most HBP meds out there do cause hair loss, so what in the world do we do? I've read sadly where some women's hair loss is so bad that they have to wear wigs. This breaks my heart and I don't want to go there, so today is the day I make the call to my doc! I do believe and pray that the hair will regrow for you. It might take months to notice it though.

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17

To those who have discontinued use (because I have for the same reason and my doctor as well, was a complete F***ING joke, no surprise) how long does it take to regrow?

I've been off of this garbage for quite awhile now and I'm not sure I'm seeing the regrowth, though I'm certainly stopped losing hair fairly quickly. I read that it could take a long time (6+ months) before that starts again but, I'm wondering what you all have experienced.

What a complete joke.

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18

I am taking Lisinopril, 10mg and it definitely causes hair loss.

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19

Be aware that Lisinopril can cause hair loss too, I stopped taking it because of this...

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20

I too was on that drug but after I realized that my thick hair was thinning I got off of it. Now my hair is thickening again. But it has not grow the length that it was before I cut it very short to start over.

My blood pressure was high but it was taken by my doctor before 12noon each time and it was usually up. Now I have taken control of my health and I have been taken Pomagrenate Extract for 3 months and as of yesterday my blood pressure was 120/79. This is great. The extract works and I no longer need any blood pressure medication. Let's go for preventiveness and not just treament. That's what most conventional doctors offer.

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165

I thought it was pretty well known that this medicine can cause hair loss?

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164

Re: TONYIA (# 47) Expand Referenced Message

Inept Dr, go see another. I went to dermatologist, a woman. She said she had a baby and lost her hair. Hormones. But ours is called rarely does it lead to baldness.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss, occurs when large numbers of follicles on the scalp enter the resting phase of the hair growth cycle, called telogen, but the next growth phase doesn’t begin. This causes hair to fall out all over the scalp without new hair growth.

Telogen effluvium does not generally lead to complete baldness, although you may lose 300 to 500 hairs per day, and hair may appear thin, especially at the crown and temples.

A medical event or condition, such as a thyroid imbalance, childbirth, surgery, or a fever, typically triggers this type of hair loss. Telogen effluvium may also occur as a result of a vitamin or mineral deficiency—iron deficiency is a common cause of hair loss in women—or the use of certain medications, such as isotretinoin, prescribed for acne, or warfarin, a blood thinner. Starting or stopping oral contraceptives (birth control pills) may also cause this type of hair loss.

Telogen effluvium usually begins three months after a medical event. If the triggering event is temporary—for example, if you recover from an illness or stop taking the medication causing the hair loss—your hair may grow back after six months. Telogen effluvium is considered chronic if hair loss lasts longer than six months.

For reasons that are unclear to doctors, this type of hair loss may last for years in some people. If hair doesn’t regrow on its own, our dermatologists can offer medication that can help

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163

Re: vicky bbbbbb (# 40) Expand Referenced Message

Start taking Biotin

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162

Re: Sandy (# 33) Expand Referenced Message

Seems all the doctors do not believe that it causes hair loss! How do we go about getting FDA to change the literature that pharmacists attach to your prescription? They need to get the pharmaceutical reps to discuss this with the doctors when they deliver the free lunch! Doctors need to be advised!

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161

Re: April (# 23) Expand Referenced Message

We need to get the manufacturer to add hair loss at the top of the list! This is not right!

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Re: Judy (# 21) Expand Referenced Message

I totally agree, the pharmaceutical reps peddling this crap with free lunches are to blame! My doctor said hair loss is not a side effect! It most certainly is! When I pushed back he took me off it. Don’t blindly trust your doctor! Do your own research. I reported it as an adverse event

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159

Wow that is a high dose! I had long hair and after heart surgery my doctor prescribed 25 mg, low dose. My hair rapidly fell out and became very thin. My cardiologist denied the hair loss was the result of this drug. He said I could stop it, that I didn’t need it anymore. I am taking Biotin but it will take months to come back. Call your doctor and ask to get off it,

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158

Re: Verwon (# 3) Expand Referenced Message

Thank you for this! My cardiologist said my hair loss couldn’t be the cause of my hair loss

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157

Which drugs can replace metoprolol for rapid heart rate that won’t cause hail loss?

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156

I am taking Metoprolol Tartrate (50 mg twice a day) and Quinapril/Accupril (40 mg twice a day). I seem to be experiencing hair loss and hair thinning. Would taking these two drugs cause hair loss? If so, will I eventually lose all of my hair? Thank you for your help.

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