Why Might Xanax Cause Hair Loss, Rather than Anxiety?
Hi,
First of all I’m a 29 yr old male with extreme anxiety. I’ve read a couple of posts on this site about Xanax & hair loss. In every question asking about whether Xanax can cause hair loss, you mention that it definitely can.As I stated earlier, I have an anxiety disorder & have just recently started taking the generic version(1mg 3 times a day) of Xanax again. Can you explain to me how & why the Xanax would cause hair loss? I’m just REALLY concerned now after reading about that. I was thinking that extreme anxiety would be more likely to cause hair loss than Xanax?
If you could just give me any kind of explanation, I’d be extremely grateful.
Occurrence of hair loss can be due to several factors. Although most the common cause of hair loss at your age is male pattern baldness, anxiety could be considered an aggravating factor for your hair loss. Hair loss is not one of the commonly known side effects of Xanax. We hear from our patients who just got started on Xanax that they lose hair, but it is hard to prove that their hair loss is really associated with Xanax or if it has to do with anxiety itself.
I have been taking xanax along with other medication and for the last yr my hair is falling out in the handful. When I wash my hair and run my fingers through it I get literally handfuls is this due to xanax long term use among other medications “wellbutrin,seroquel,soma & xanax risterol” all I have been on for 9 yrs.
Help I don’t know why my hair is literally falling out there is no bladness in women or men in my family so everyone is at loss as I am I’m 47
Dr. Rassman:
I take Xanax occasionally but I have also been on prozak. I noticed my hair falling out in the shower mostly. I just recently stopped taking prozak and mentally feel better. However, three months ago I lost my job and just got a new one. During the last month or so is when my hair starting falling out. Thank goodness I have fairly thick hair and so far no one has noticed it other than my hair dresser suggesting I see a doctor. I haven’t gone to the doctor yet – thought I would give it a while since my stress level has gotten better since I started working again. Do you think anxiety is the cause of my hair loss? I am 53 and in menopause and also am hypothyroid but have been on medication for years for it.
Hi,
I am a 38 year old woman taking Xanax for 2 years now in small doses daily. I have NO baldness in my family and I “had” a rather thick healthy head of hair……
My mohter was diagnosed w/ lung cancer so I started taking it. Within 6 months my hair started to fall out. I have really long hair and go extended periods without getting it cut. I just did the other day and my hairdresser almost died!! I have lost a ton of hair and every year this time I shed worse than my dogs.
I have stopped taking Xanax and have started natural treatments. I have also upped my protien and added a store bought pre-natal.
Hi Doctor–
This post is from 4 years ago so I’m not sure if it will be updated but I’m extremely curious about this.
I just got prescribed xanax and I’m 27. I would REALLY like to avoid losing my hair! Was on something years ago that caused hair loss at a very young age (it was a reported side effect of that drug-carbamezapine) and I was really pissed to say the least.
DOES XANAX CAUSE HAIR LOSS?? The last woman’s account sounds really scary!
Thanks, would appreciate a response!
I started xanax 2 years ago. small dosage. I am 26 years old now and balding is very visable. I am very sad about it but I think I’ve figured it out. xanax is NOT a cure for anxiety but a short term “fix”. it effects the chemical GABA in your brain to control mood. Well I know this is a “street drug” so I started feeling guilty taking it. So time after time I would quit for a few months and my anxiety skyrocketed each time to where I felt I absolutely had a serious anxiety problem. So I would on it again each cycle worse than the last. (keep in mind that I am an honor student in college and was only taking .5 Mg a day.. No drug problem). What I feel happened is my brain became dependent on xanax to control GABA responses and when there was a lack of the substance ..well abnormal worrying set in followed by hair shed each time. Ive been off xanax for 3 months now and started yoga to deal with anxiety. My hair loss has slowed dramatically I just hope I can grow back that beautiful curly hair I once took for granted
I am a 25 year old female and have been on xanax for almost 2 years ago. When my grandmother passed away in April, I lost a 3.5 cm piece of hair right in the front. I started to go in a fabric store and pick out any cotton fabric that i liked and would have them cut it about 4-5 inches and made headbands out of it, which then turned into a business within the last 3 months (more ear to ear ones for the business). Anyway if I never wore the flat headbands like i did my hair would have grown straight up, it is not growing flat and blending into my hair. HOWEVER, last week when I went to get my hair highlighted my hair dresser told me I had a lot of bald spots in the back. It feels like someone shaved a piece of my head because it is growing back. I have been getting highlights and wearing headbands my whole life. Of course when you start loosing your hair because of stress, you stress more and then loose more! It is crazy! I suggest going to a dermatologist and they give you medication to put on it to make it grow. So, yes the real question is, is it from the xanax or my own stress/anxiety?
All this is really true i started takin xanax 3monrh ago then notice my hair falling out in large amout when washing or combing stop 3 weeks now my hair stop falling out
I have been taking this drug on and off for over 20 years. It does not cause hair loss. Stress causes hair loss. It is not a street drug that is ridiculous. Because people sell it illegally does not make it a street drug. If you suffer from anxiety and insomnia this is a wonder drug. I hate to be reliant on anything but I do suffer without the drug and have tried many others for sleep and anxiety. This is the ONLY drug that works with my body chemistry.
You may be deficient in magnesium and calcium that’s why you may have anxiety. I take magnesium with calcium all in one pill and have no more anxiety. Most all chronic disease is from mineral deficiency and no doctor will tell you that they want to put you on drugs instead.