Does Levothyroxine Cause Hair Loss?

Anjali specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. Her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be h... more

Drug-induced hair loss is a condition where some oral medication may cause your hair to fall out. Some individuals often complain that Levothyroxine causes hair loss (1). This oral medication is prescribed to treat hypothyroidism. While it does help treat hypothyroidism symptoms, what does science say about its relation to hair loss? Keep reading this post to learn more about the link and what you can do to stop the hair loss.

  • Does Levothyroxine Cause Hair Loss In Women And Children?
  • Should You Discontinue Levothyroxine To Stop Hair Loss?
  • How To Prevent Hair Loss In Women Who Take Levothyroxine
  • Diagnosing Drug-Induced Hair Loss: When To See A Doctor

Does Levothyroxine Cause Hair Loss In Women And Children?

To understand if levothyroxine causes hair loss, we need to dive deep into the relation between thyroid dysfunction and hair loss. Thyroid dysfunctions are known to cause hair loss. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid functioning) causes the scalp to become oily. It also makes hair coarse and scanty, and may even lead to baldness. Excess thyroid function, on the other hand, causes hyperthyroidism that also makes hair fine and very scanty. Such thyroid imbalances can cause alopecia areata (2).

While levothyroxine is used to treat thyroid imbalances (and their associated side effects, like hair loss), it also may cause hair loss in some cases.

In a study, a 10-month infant diagnosed with hypothyroidism faced sudden diffuse alopecia on the scalp (3). The cause was found to be an overdose of levothyroxine, leading to an excessive thyroid function, causing hair loss. Hair loss occurred after two weeks of starting levothyroxine and ended a few days after the dosage was reduced. This shows that there needs to be an accuracy in the prescribed dosage. When ingested in the appropriate dosage, levothyroxine only balances the thyroid level without causing hair loss.

In another study conducted with 255 women, thyroxine (commonly levothyroxine) was shown to cause diffuse hair loss (4). This shows that anti-thyroid medication can cause drug-induced hair loss.

Drug-induced hair loss leads to either telogen or anagen effluvium (5). Telogen effluvium normally occurs two to four months after you start taking the drug (including levothyroxine). Anagen effluvium occurs within a few days or weeks from drug intake. These can lead to patterned or diffused hair loss and can be acute or chronic.

641750249' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >Hair loss is a common occurrence in pregnancy due to the change in hormone levels. Although it may cause hair loss, levothyroxine is one of the few medications safe for pregnant and nursing women (6).

Should You Discontinue Levothyroxine To Stop Hair Loss?

Since treatment with levothyroxine is lifelong, it cannot be discontinued. But depending on your thyroid levels, the dosage may be increased or decreased. Stopping anti-thyroid medication can have severe effects on the body. But there are some other treatment suggestions and lifestyle and dietary changes you can make to prevent hair loss.

Here are some tips you can try to prevent hair loss while taking levothyroxine.

How To Prevent Hair Loss In Women Who Take Levothyroxine

Levothyroxine medication is to be taken lifelong. But the dosage may be increased or decreased based on the hormone levels indicated in your blood test. If you take levothyroxine to regulate your thyroid levels but are experiencing hair loss, do not panic. Here are a few tips to help reduce such drug-induced hair loss.

There is a specific method to diagnose hair loss caused by drugs. Know more in the next section.

Diagnosing Drug-Induced Hair Loss: When To See A Doctor

It is normal to lose 80 to 100 hair strands a day. But consult a doctor if you notice excessive hair loss. The doctor may perform a gentle pull test to confirm drug-induced hair loss (9). You may be asked to stop washing hair for five days before the test. After five days, a lock of hair is gently pulled at the ends to note the amount of hair loss occurring. Hair loss beyond 10% could be diagnosed as alopecia. The doctor might perform other tests to confirm drug-induced hair loss and may suggest any alternatives.

Conclusion

While levothyroxine may cause hair loss, it is often temporary, reversible, and treatable. You are more likely to notice hair growth once its dosage is reduced. However, since levothyroxine is to be taken for life in most cases, you also must focus on bettering your lifestyle and dietary habits. The right practices, if performed daily, can promote your hair and body health.

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