Can amitriptyline cause hair loss?

There are many reasons people can suffer from hair loss, for some it can be as simple as a medication you’re using. Today, we’re looking at a common antidepressant, amitriptyline and telling you if it could be causing hair loss.

Amitriptyline is an antidepressant medication that is used to treat low mood and depression. It is a prescription drug that is available in both tablet and liquid form. For some, amitriptyline can be prescribed for types of pain and to help prevent migraines.

Hair loss can occur for a number of different reasons, including the side effects of certain medications. Although it is normal to lose some hair each day you might from time to time notice that your hair loss is excessive or you are noticing balding in certain areas.

For some, medication can be the root of the problem. In most cases, medication will only cause temporary hair loss and your hair will grow back once you adjust the dose or stop taking medication. If you are concerned that any medication you are taking could be causing you hair loss you can ask your pharmacist for a complete list of the manufactures warnings for the medication, this will highlight if hair loss is a potential side effect.

If you believe your medication is causing you hair loss it is important to discuss this with your GP before making any decision to stop or amend your dosage of medication.

Many antidepressants, including amitriptyline and other medications that are used to treat depression and anxiety, are known to cause hair loss for some. Amitrityline hair loss can be quite common.

These medications can cause hair loss due to the medication being ‘toxic’ to the hair follicles. Your hair follicles are responsible for hair growth and when the follicle becomes damaged the normal hair growth cycle is disrupted, which over time, can lead to hair loss. This can be permenant, depending on the severity of the damage done to the folicles.

Another way to explain it is that amitriptyline hair loss occurs because it pushes the hair into telogen effluvium, which is when hair falls out because it has been traumatised or stressed. The chemicals in the medication cause this. You can expect to lose 50 – 100 hairs through naturall shedding every day, anything after this could be caused by something else.

It is not possible to treat telogen effluvium (amitriptyline hair loss) with a transplant until hair loss has stablised. For many, the best option might be to speak to your doctor if your shedding is causing you any kind of concern.

If you have already changed your medication and are upset or disatisfied with the final result, you can get in touch with the experts here at Harley Street Hair Clinic. We could arrange a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your hair loss further.