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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rach on July 16, 2000, at 20:32:46
Okay, a weird question, but does zoloft cause (or increase) hair loss? It seems typical that once someone starts a medication they blame all the weird happenings in their body on the medication! Ever since starting the zoloft, though, I just have this amazing loss of hair, more than I ever have had in my life. I'm clogging up the shower drain!!! It's not like I've got bald spots appearing, and I've always had very thick hair, so it's probably not a huge problem, but I was just curious. You can always find me by following the trail of hair - I'm like a dog in summer.
There's so many interesting threads going on, but I just don't have the time to read them all at the moment. I'll get back to you all soon, though.
Rach
Posted by Mead on July 16, 2000, at 21:18:21
In reply to Zoloft and Hair Loss, posted by Rach on July 16, 2000, at 20:32:46
Yes, SSRI's are well known for causing alopecia - or hair loss. Here is a URL to check out.
Stopped for me after 2-3 months.
Posted by Sunnely on July 16, 2000, at 22:14:18
In reply to Zoloft and Hair Loss, posted by Rach on July 16, 2000, at 20:32:46
> Okay, a weird question, but does zoloft cause (or increase) hair loss?
Rach,Hair loss (alopecia) has been reported with the use of SSRIs. During an 8-month period in 1992, Pfizer (maker of Zoloft) received 21 adverse experience reports of alopecia. In 17 reports specifying gender, 15 patients were women. In 1994, according to Eli Lilly (maker of Prozac), there had been 725 reports of hair loss due to Prozac. Of those cases that indicated gender, 540 involved women and 73 involved men. Incidentally, hair loss due to another antidepressant nefazodone (Serzone) has also been reported. Mood stabilizers such as lithium and Depakote have been known to cause hair loss.
Assuming the hair loss is not caused by some medical/psychological conditions such as thyroid problem or trichotillomania (obsessive hair pulling), the combined use of selenium and zinc seems to have beneficial effect for Depakote-induced hair loss. Not sure if this works for the SSRI-induced hair loss but worth a try. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for selenium is 70 mcg (microgram) daily while the RDA for zince is 15 mg (milligram). For hair loss due to Depakote, higher doses of selenium/zinc combination is recommended such as 200 mcg selenium and 100 mg zinc. Those who are already taking a multivitamin could change to a brand called "One Source" from WalMart, which already contains 200 mcg of selenium. However, it only has the RDA for zinc, so it would still be necessary to take an additional zinc supplement.
If the above trial doesn't work and your hair loss persists or worsens and is not due to any medical/psychological condition, may be a switch in antidepressant medication is in order.
References:
[1] SSRI and Hair Loss? In: Biological Therapies in Psychiatry Newsletter, AJ Gelenberg MD (editor), April 1996.
[2] Hair Loss with Nefazodone. In: Biological Therapies Newsletter, AJ Gelenberg, MD (editor), April 1998.
[3] Is there any type of treatment for hair loss associated with the use of valproate (Depakote)? Clinical Consult (Answer provided by Michael Johnson, MD of the Medical University of So. Carolina, Charleston). In: Psychopharmacology Update, July 1999.
Posted by Rach on July 17, 2000, at 5:25:14
In reply to Re: Zoloft and Hair Loss, posted by Sunnely on July 16, 2000, at 22:14:18
> Rach,
>
> Hair loss (alopecia) has been reported with the use of SSRIs. During an 8-month period in 1992, Pfizer (maker of Zoloft) received 21 adverse experience reports of alopecia. In 17 reports specifying gender, 15 patients were women. In 1994, according to Eli Lilly (maker of Prozac), there had been 725 reports of hair loss due to Prozac. Of those cases that indicated gender, 540 involved women and 73 involved men. Incidentally, hair loss due to another antidepressant nefazodone (Serzone) has also been reported. Mood stabilizers such as lithium and Depakote have been known to cause hair loss.
>
> Assuming the hair loss is not caused by some medical/psychological conditions such as thyroid problem or trichotillomania (obsessive hair pulling), the combined use of selenium and zinc seems to have beneficial effect for Depakote-induced hair loss. Not sure if this works for the SSRI-induced hair loss but worth a try. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for selenium is 70 mcg (microgram) daily while the RDA for zince is 15 mg (milligram). For hair loss due to Depakote, higher doses of selenium/zinc combination is recommended such as 200 mcg selenium and 100 mg zinc. Those who are already taking a multivitamin could change to a brand called "One Source" from WalMart, which already contains 200 mcg of selenium. However, it only has the RDA for zinc, so it would still be necessary to take an additional zinc supplement.
>
> If the above trial doesn't work and your hair loss persists or worsens and is not due to any medical/psychological condition, may be a switch in antidepressant medication is in order.
>
> References:
>
> [1] SSRI and Hair Loss? In: Biological Therapies in Psychiatry Newsletter, AJ Gelenberg MD (editor), April 1996.
>
> [2] Hair Loss with Nefazodone. In: Biological Therapies Newsletter, AJ Gelenberg, MD (editor), April 1998.
>
> [3] Is there any type of treatment for hair loss associated with the use of valproate (Depakote)? Clinical Consult (Answer provided by Michael Johnson, MD of the Medical University of So. Carolina, Charleston). In: Psychopharmacology Update, July 1999.Sunnley,
Thank you for all that info. I had a look at some herbal stuff today, and I could only find one supplement that had selenium in it (I'm in Australia). On the pack it said that selenium in high doses can cause hair loss. I'm confused! Can you, (or anyone) shed any light?Thanks,
Rach
Posted by Rach on July 17, 2000, at 5:28:42
In reply to Re: Zoloft and Hair Loss, posted by Mead on July 16, 2000, at 21:18:21
Hi,
Thank you for that link - although I am a bit more worried now than I was before after hearing all those horror stories about eventually needing wigs! I'm going to go see my doc tomorrow and see what she says. If she brushes me off, well, it'll just be me and the counsellor.Did the hair loss stop 2-3mnths after you started taking zoloft, or 2-3m after you finished the zoloft?
Rach
> Yes, SSRI's are well known for causing alopecia - or hair loss. Here is a URL to check out.
>
> Stopped for me after 2-3 months.
>
> http://www.hairsite.com/discfem27_toc.htm
Posted by Mead on July 17, 2000, at 6:44:22
In reply to Re: Zoloft and Hair Loss, posted by Rach on July 17, 2000, at 5:28:42
>Did the hair loss stop 2-3mnths after you >started taking zoloft, or 2-3m after you >finished the zoloft?
>
> Rach
>1) I quit Zoloft for other reasons. I had the same problem with all SSRI's. It seems to be my body's way of saying, "Holy moly - what the heck is going on here???" My scalp has a panic attack! It stops after 2-3 months of taking it. I am now on Celexa and Effexor - after 2 months of taking those meds, all hair loss stopped. I continue to take both. The hair loss was never noticable to anyone except me and my hairdresser!
2) Don't be too worried about the people on the URL. No one ever re-posts to say the hair loss stopped. Once it stops, people are happy, they go on their merry way and don't go back to the URL to share the good news.
3) I think this is another sympton which goes very under-reported -- especially for men, since they think its part of a natural process for them.
Mead (female btw)
Posted by Rach on July 17, 2000, at 9:27:52
In reply to Re: Zoloft and Hair Loss, posted by Mead on July 17, 2000, at 6:44:22
Mead,
Thanks for the reassurance. It's probably not the hair loss itself that is freaking me out so much, more the fact that it is something I had no idea about, and wasn't advised about at all, and that docs don't really seem to take seriously. It worries me what other effects the meds could have on my body that is little known or ignored.Rach
Posted by danf on July 17, 2000, at 11:50:21
In reply to Zoloft and Hair Loss, posted by Rach on July 16, 2000, at 20:32:46
Rach,
quite a few meds ( cardiac, HBP, gastric acid, blood thinners, etc) besides SSRIs can speed hair loss. Worry & anxiety also do.
For some the dandruff shampoo Selsun Blue ( has selenium ) helps. the hair loss from selenium is one of the signs of toxic levels, not usually associated with normal supplements.
There is always something to worry about.
I just took some contractors glue on a roller & covered my head. Then went to the local barber shop & rolled on the floor. Now my hair does not fall out at all. lol
I wonder why my friends call me Jason now ?
Posted by Rach on July 18, 2000, at 1:03:59
In reply to Re: Hair Loss and worry, worry, worry » Rach, posted by danf on July 17, 2000, at 11:50:21
danf,
Thanks - you cleared up the selenium confusion and gave me chuckle! Hmm...maybe if I get desperate I might try the glue. Maybe if it's very desperate.
:)
Rach
Posted by kate k on July 20, 2000, at 6:19:38
In reply to Re: Hair Loss and worry, worry, worry » danf, posted by Rach on July 18, 2000, at 1:03:59
> danf,
>
> Thanks - you cleared up the selenium confusion and gave me chuckle! Hmm...maybe if I get desperate I might try the glue. Maybe if it's very desperate.
> :)
> RachI thought that it was just me and my moulting! This babble page is so good to find out that a lot of the symptoms etc whilst on Zoloft / withdrawing from Zoloft are part of the norm. Thanks to all of those who contribute to these discussions. I wish I had thought of the net for some support earlier... too busy with my moulting hair and cleaning up after it. kate k
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