Acid Reflux Medication and Hair Loss
I’m a 23 year old male with something like a Norwood II or III hairline. My family history is likely to blame, but I’ve also been on various medications for acid reflux, including omeperazole, protonix, nexium and prevacid for some time. My family Dr. noted that some of these drugs could cause hair loss before prescribing propecia. Do you think this is true, and is any one best?
Practically every day over the years, I’ve received questions asking whether a specific drug or drugs cause hair loss. Again and again, I must remind everyone that there are many drugs that MAY cause hair loss as one of MANY potential side effects. Protonix (pantoprazole), Prilosec (omeprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole) have very rare instances of hair loss reported, but the most important thing to remember is that male pattern baldness (MPB) is the number one cause of hair loss in men. Drugs are the very very last on the list of cause for hair loss in men.
If you believe you are balding or losing hair you should have your doctor evaluate your hair (with a miniaturization study if possible) to see if you indeed have genetic male pattern baldness. Starting on Propecia (finasteride 1mg) just because you believe you are losing hair without a clear diagnosis is not a smart thing to do either — this is why Propecia is a prescription medication. If I may bastardize an old metaphor — when you are being charged by a herd of dancing elephants, don’t look at the ants that may get trampled.
Antacids and the medications mentioned may reduce the ability to absorb biotin. Please look into this as it may be playing a role in your hair loss. Biotin is critical to hair growth and deficiency may cause thinning.
For six years I was on Ranitidine tablets 150mg each for extreme acid reflux issues. In the six year period I lost a great deal of hair on my hairline and in the front top portion of my scalp. It had gotten to the point where the hair that was still there was thin and breaking after about an inch or two of growth.
I was 26 years old (33 now) and in my family MPB has been very rare with only minor recession on the sides but never in thickness. I decided to research ranitidine and found that on at least six different websites the first reported side-effect was in fact hair loss.
Immediately I stopped taking the Ranitidine tablets and began researching home remedies for acid reflux. I found that taking a table spoon of organic non-filtered apple cider vinegar in a small glass of water completely stopped all reflux symptoms and have drank a glass of this only a few days a week since I started. With in one month I saw shocking, visible evidence of my hair returning!
One lone hair from my original hair line had remained, nearly an inch below where my hair had receded to. With in a month of stopping the acid reflux medicine the smooth and hairless skin between that one hair had began to fill with full thick strands! With in two weeks after the first month I began taking a daily vitamin for hair nourishment and I have been seeing continued results.
I’m quickly approaching the second month mark and the top front portion of my scalp is FULL of hair about half an inch (or shorter) to as long as two inches! The small hairs that had only made it an inch long before falling out or breaking are continuing to grow as well as new hair growing up around it! The multi vitamin is rich in Biotin, Niacin, copper, magnesium and a plethora of other supplements.
While male pattern baldness is something that is likely only treatable with the listed medications (and since I am not a doctor I can’t say 100% this works for everyone), there ARE side effects that DO have a higher impact on our bodies. I often wonder if doctors avoid telling us about the natural remedies in order to keep us dependent on them and the pharmaceuticals.
I’ve also dropped about 10lbs of my weight, my skin has cleared up amazingly and I’ve never felt better. I no longer dread looking in the mirror. Having to face the continued disappearance of my hair made me hate the mirror. Now I go to it every other day and stare in awe at all the hairs that continue to grow and appear when I thought I’d never see them again.