Is Atenolol Causing My Hair Loss?
Dealing with Atenolol hair loss is becoming an increasingly common problem. This popular drug for high blood pressure is one of many prescription medications that cause hair loss.
Atenolol has been available and used relatively widely since 1976, when doctors began prescribing it to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). Atenolol works by slowing down the heart, so it doesn’t have to work as hard.
In some cases, simply reducing the amount of medication you are taking (under the supervision of your doctor, of course!) can reduce Atenolol hair loss to a manageable level. Read on to find out if your use of Atenolol may be contributing to your problems with hair thinning.
Atenolol Hair Loss: How Common Is it?
Complaints of Atenolol use resulting in hair loss are becoming increasingly common. The medication originally gained popularity because it didn’t cause problems with the central nervous system (for example, depression) — side effects that were common in similar medications that were used more often.
Yet in recent years, doctors in some countries have begun prescribing Atenolol less frequently because of its link to the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Not all doctors acknowledge the Atenolol hair loss connection, even though it is clearly indicated in listings of the drug’s side effects. If you doctor did not advise you of the risk of Atenolol hair loss when he prescribed you the medication, you are certainly not alone.
Nonetheless, the Atenolol hair loss link is clearly established. Other side effects can include indigestion, fatigue, insomnia, skin conditions and hallucinations.
Atenolol hair loss is a complication for up to 5% of the people taking this medication.
You can read more about Atenolol and how it can result in hair loss here.
Is Atenolol Hair Loss Permanent?
One of the good things to report about Atenolol hair loss is that it is reversible. Once you stop the medication, and it has time to work its way out of your system, the hair loss should stop and you should start seeing new growth.
If you would like further details, there’s more information on medications that cause hair loss available on this website.
But before you make any changes to the medications you are taking, be sure to talk to your doctor. They can help you develop a strategy and options that will work best for you.
