TLDR A hemodialysis patient's hair loss was caused by the drug tinzaparin but stopped after switching to a different drug.
In 2003, a 66-year-old patient undergoing hemodialysis developed diffuse alopecia attributed to the use of tinzaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). The alopecia stopped and hair regrowth was observed after the patient switched back to another LMWH, enoxaparin. A biopsy confirmed that the hair follicles normalized post-discontinuation of tinzaparin, indicating that the hair loss was specifically linked to this drug. This case underscores that different LMWHs can have distinct side effects, such as reversible alopecia.
147 citations
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April 1994 in “Drug Safety” Some drugs can cause hair loss or increase hair growth, but these effects are usually reversible when the drug is stopped.
26 citations
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August 2006 in “Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics” Some patients lost hair after being treated with the drug enoxaparin for a brain vein clot.
13 citations
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December 2017 in “Archives of Medical Sciences” Rivaroxaban can cause liver injury, allergic reactions, blood vessel inflammation, and hair loss, but these side effects are rare.
Some medications can cause hair loss, and it's important to track when the hair loss starts after taking a new medication.
31 citations
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January 2016 in “Drugs - Real World Outcomes” Some new oral anticoagulants may also cause hair loss and might not be better than traditional ones for preventing hair loss.
54 citations
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September 2012 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Some medications can cause hair loss, but stopping the drug usually leads to recovery within 3 months.
