Women have a lot of health issues to keep an eye on. We take our vitamins, minerals and prescribed medications just as we are told to keep ourselves in tip top shape and to help avoid conditions we’d prefer not to have. Then one day you notice your hair thinning in the front.

This is an extremely difficult and humble moment for many women. Unlike men, there are very few situations where a women can stand tall, proud and bald.

The American Hair Loss Association has some excellent reading materials about different causes for female hair lose. The reasons include heredity, stress, hair follicles and many others including prescription medications.

You typically do not see hair loss listed on the side effects of your medications because it is not as common; however for some women it not only common, but expected.

From the American Hair Loss Association, here is a list of medications that can bring about a spell of thinning hair or hair loss:

Acne

All drugs derived from vitamin A as treatments for acne or other conditions, including:

Accutane (isotretinoin)
Blood

Anticoagulants (blood thinners), including:

Panwarfin (warfarin sodium)
Sofarin (warfarin sodium)
Coumadin (warfarin sodium)
Heparin injections
Cholesterol

Cholesterol-lowering drugs, including:

Atronid-S (clofibrate)
Lopid (gemfibrozil)
Convulsions/ Epilepsy

Anticonvulsants, including:
Tridone (trimethadione)
Depression

Antidepression drugs, including:
Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride)
Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride)
Paxil (paroxetine)
Anafranil (clomipramine)
Janimine (imipramine)
Tofranil (imipramine)
Tofranil PM (imipramine)
Adapin (doxepin)
Sinequan (doxepin)
Surmontil (trimipramine)
Pamelor (nortriptyline)
Ventyl (nortriptyline)
Elavin (amitriptyline)
Endep (amitriptyline)
Norpramin (desipramine)
Pertofrane (desipramine)
Vivactil (protriptyline hydrochloride)
Asendin (amoxapine)
Haldol ( haloperidol)
Diet

Amphetamines
Fungus

Antifungals
Glaucoma

The beta-blocker drugs, including:

Timoptic Eye Drops (timolol)
Timoptic Ocudose (timolol)
Timoptic XC (timolol)
Gout

Lopurin (allopurinol)
Zyloprim (allopurinol)
Heart

Many drugs prescribed for the heart, including those known as the beta blockers, which are also used to treat high blood pressure, and include:

Tenormin (atenolol)
Lopressor (metoprolol)
Corgard (nadolol)
Inderal and Inderal LA (propanolol)
Blocadren (timolol)
High Blood Pressure

See Above list of beta blockers under “Heart”

Hormonal Conditions

All hormone-containing drugs and drugs prescribed for hormone-related, reproductive, male-specific, and female-specific conditions and situations have the potential to cause hair loss, including:

Birth Control Pills
Hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) for women (estrogen or progesterone)
Male androgenic hormones and all forms of testosterone
Anabolic steriods
Prednisone and other steroids
Inflammation

Many anti-inflammatory drugs, including those prescribed for localized pain, swelling and injury.

Arthritis drugs
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs including:
Naprosyn (naproxen)
Anaprox (naproxen)
Anaprox DS (naproxen)
Indocin (indomethacin)
Indocin SR (indomethacin)
Clinoril (sulindac)
An anti-inflammatory that is also used as a chemotherapy drug:

Methotrexate (MTX)
Rheumatex (methotrexate)
Folex (methotrexate)
Parkinson’s Disease

Levadopa / L-dopa (dopar, larodopa)
Thyroid Disorders

Many of the drugs used to treat the thyroid
Ulcer

Many of the drugs used to treat indigestion, stomach difficulties, and ulcers, including over-the-counter dosages and prescription dosages.

Tagamet (cimetidine)
Zantac (ranitidine)
Pepcid (famotidine)
As a woman, find strength in knowledge and do your homework. Look at your medications, lifestyle, family history and medical history. Find your answers and seek the solutions that are best for you. Women’s hair loss is not unusual these days and neither is a laundry list of medication side effects.

Thank you for reading Women’s Health. The writer of this article is not a certified medical practitioner. For further information, please see your doctor.