Hair Loss from Ambien?
(female) I have been using Ambien for about 4 years. I am losing my hair and get tingling feelings and sometimes my scalp feels sore in places. Can Ambien cause this, it seems to have gotten worse since June when I had an MRI done of my head to rule out MS. What can you tell me. Thanks
I’ve not read anything that says Ambien (zolpidem tartrate) can cause hair loss. There are a couple of unverified reports I found online, but nothing in the official literature.
I can not comment on your other symptoms. Sounds like you already have an expert working with you, but based on the information you stated, your doctor must think there is something going on (since you were screened for multiple sclerosis) and you need to have a down to earth discussion with your doctor on the differential diagnosis here.
See my other comments posted regarding a previous blog on the same subject. Just wanted to add a note…I too have had an MRI to rule out MS (not for this condition but for balance problem). I have the same exact hair loss/pain symptoms that you report. I will be going through my calendar to see if the pain & hair loss were accelerated around the same time as my MRI??? Thank you so much for sharing. I’m immediately going to stop taking Ambien and am hopeful that an end to this nightmare is in sight!
(My repost to a similar topic.)
I am a 25 year-old male and have been taking Ambien regularly for the past 5 months. My family also has no history of hair-loss. However, upon the 4th month of taking Ambien I noticed severe hair-loss. I never really kept track of how much hair comes out when I shower, but when my lost hair clogs the drain in one episode it becomes very noticeable.
Please recognize this undocumented side-effect of this drug.
Unfortunately I have not decided which is worse: looking bad because I am balding at my age or feeling terrible because I get 1.5-3 hours of sleep a night.
In reference to the use of Ambien and hair loss I have also lost hair several months after starting taking Ambien. I am female and have always had great hair and lots of it. It was my hairdresser who noticed thinning on top of my head and around my hairline above my forehead. My pharmacist could not find any side effects pertaining to hair loss, but I am suspicious. I have, since a month ago, stopped Ambien altogether and take melatonin and my hair seems to be growing in a bit. I will report any continued improvement or none–either way. Thanks.
I have been on ambien for 2 years and have noticed significant hair thinning on the top of my head. I never thought it was from the ambien until last night when I was talking to someone and she said she quit taking it because she started losing her hair. I’m going to quit tAking it and pray my hair starts growing back!
I went throught what you guys describe above. I took it for about 6 months, started to lose TONS of hair. I stopped for a year, then in another year started again… same thing happened, started losing tons of hair. Maybe something to do with disruption of hormones in the body or something.
Oh gosh I thought it was just me ,Yes I was even miss diagnosed with alopecia because the hair loss was so severe. I also had injections into my scalp to help it grow back.
Anyone can share if hair grows back after you stop taking ambien???
I am desperate! Lost most of my hair, slowly over a period of 10 years, not being able to find a cause.
WE SHOULD ALL GATHER and do somthing about drug company do it to us!
I too have experienced an extreme loss of hair since I have been taking ambien. My hair customers who are on Ambien are losing their hair as well. I keep suggesting that I believe it’s the Ambien they think I’m paranoid!! my hair is thin now and constantly thinning all day every day. This is depressing
Thank you all much, My hair is mostly gone now, I had no idea, why my hair was falling out, I have been taking Ambien under 6 months, I’m just a baldheaded,_stessed put mess now, but alot less stressed since I know the culprit, this is so insensitive, we aren’t crazy, why don’t they give us the option of sleep or hair loss?
It’s very rare for a doctor to tell you the side effects of taking an anti-depressants. Doctors, especially psychiatrists and dermatologist, are heavily paid are heavily paid by pharmaceutical companies to prescribe these meds. if they started doing that, they would run out of business and lose credibility. About an year ago i was prescribed with one of these sleeping med[stilnoct/zolpedium tartarte] but it took me months before i camee to a realization that there is indeed a correlation between hair thinning and these meds. It was’t too long before i started noticing some hair-loss, it started gradually over my temples, but soon accelerated to the center[5-6 months]. When i confronted my doctor, he told me that it’s your anxiety which is the culprit behind it. Bull shit!
For those looking forward for taking these meds, i strongly urge not to, or if you are taking them, then gradually lower your dose and stop taking them. please try some other natural methods for anxiety relief and insomnia.