Culprits of Medication-Induced Telogen Effluvium, Part 2
January 2024
in “
Cutis
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Telogen effluvium medication-induced hair loss anticoagulants heparin warfarin Direct oral anticoagulants DOACs alopecia antihypertensive medications angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors β-blockers Minoxidil hypertrichosis androgenetic alopecia diffuse nonscarring alopecia TE hair loss blood thinners Rogaine excessive hair growth pattern baldness
TLDR Some blood thinners and blood pressure medicines can cause hair loss, which usually starts 1 to 6 months after beginning the medication.
The document discusses Telogen effluvium (TE), a common cause of medication-induced hair loss, particularly linked to anticoagulants like heparin and warfarin, with hair loss onset reported 3 weeks to 3 months after starting the medication. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are also associated with alopecia, but more research is needed to confirm this. Certain antihypertensive medications, specifically angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and β-blockers, have been reported to cause hair loss in rare cases, but these may not be directly related to TE. Minoxidil, another antihypertensive, can cause reversible hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) and is used in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. The document concludes that the development of diffuse nonscarring alopecia should prompt suspicion for TE and thorough investigation of medications initiated 1 to 6 months prior to the onset of clinically apparent alopecia.
