Angry Reader Points Out — Lamisil Does Cause Hair Loss!
A Google search brought me to the question and your answer from a man who was experiencing dramatic hair loss following a two month usage of Lamasil. Your reply discounted Lamasil from being a cause, citing the drug’s use for infections that in and of the condition cause hair loss.
I am sorry to tell you I find your reply specious. Look, the drug insert slip detailing the side effects CLEARLY states that hair loss is a DIRECT side effect of terbinafine hydrochloride usage. You can bet the drug company would give much not to have to include it, or any other in a list of side effects, but after 33 years of patient use, I’m fairly certain that it’s had substantiation. Hair loss is a real unpleasant and tremendously visable side effect, and tons of money is spent by men and women to counter baldness. No drug company wants to have to tell users “this could happen to you”.
Now, I am a 45 year old woman prescribed and dutifully taking on schedule terbinafine hydrochloride aka Lamasil. I have had HUGE, by the handfuls, hair loss. I am in perfect health, substantiated by my age 45 health screening, except for normal stress, the effects of aging, and toenail fungus.
Please note: I received the prescription of Lamasil for TOENAIL fungus, not fingernail fungus, not ringworm or anything else that would cause hair loss, and hair loss is NOT a result of toenail fungus, doctor. So, when you post a sincere and concerned question (which unsurprisingly you did NOT answer) with a reply disdaining and discounting the legitimacy of the issue with an answer that supports an obvious agenda on your part, you discredit yourself and your profession.
AND I still need to know if MY hair will regrow. That guy was almost certainly loosing his hair from the Lamasil. Drugs are special, doctor, and many are needful, but those side effects ARE real.
Many drugs can cause hair loss, but my position has always been to explore other, more common causes of hair loss before blaming the drug. More importantly you need to discuss starting or stopping any medication with your physician.
Lamisil is often used in the treatment of fungal diseases of the skin, such as ringworm or toe fungus. If left untreated, some fungal diseases of the scalp by itself can also cause hair loss. I stand corrected with your reference to the drug insert warning of hair loss as a complication, but many times, just because a person is on a drug that has hair loss as a known side effect, it does not mean that it is THE cause of the hair loss. Diagnosis is just not that simple.
If you believe the drug you are taking is causing your hair loss, please address these issues with the prescribing doctor. There’s a disclaimer at the bottom of every page of this site that can be summarized to say, “This site is intended to educate the public on hair loss topics and should not be used for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment recommendation.” Please remember that I am not your doctor.
I am a 36 year old healthy woman who is in the same boat as the last posting. Again – the question is… will hairloss that is a side-effect of Lamasil grow back???
is this working would like to communicate with Susan about this I’m a 39 year old who has also had hair loss.
I would also like to communicate with Susan. My daughter is taking terbinafine or Lamisil and she is experiencing hair looss. Did your hair grow back?
Hey Tony, Ann, Susan, I just experienced a drastic hair loss with Terbinafine. Did your hair grow back after the Terbinafine treatment?
It was little over one year ago today that I had an accident involving my foot and my toe was broken. I had much pain for months following and the nail had not grown back the way it should. At first I thought it was normal, but it went unchanged and even worsened during the next 5 months. I had consulted with my doctor, as fungal nail encroached within the toe itself. Thus, I was prescribed “lamisil”. I thought nothing about side effects at the time, only that my doctor needed to have a simple blood test for the condition of my liver, which is a common practice.
I had moved from the states to the US Virgin Islands in April of this year. I came with a good head of hair with color and another supply of Lamisil. Then 2 months later, I noticed a sudden and increased volume of my hair falling out. Another month has since gone by and my hair is extremely noticeable of hair loss on the top globe of my head, very thin and increased loss of color. Simply I am frightened and further depressed over what is happening. Now I must search for resources to gain back what has happened to me. You cannot blame it on stress, I live in paradise of the Caribbean. So angry that I found my search led toward a drug, that if I knew this would have happened to me, I would have sacrificed my appearance of a Toe instead of my Hair. WILL IT GROW BACK ?
To Susan, Ann, Tony, Frank, Joseph: it has been at least a year, if not more for all of your posts. Did your hair grow back? I experienced dramatic hair loss from lamisil. The above text that states the fungal infection itself causes hair loss does not wash. I had a lovely thick head of hair. I had a fungal infection in my toes for 10 years before I finally gave in and took treatment. During the treatment, my hair changed completely, fell out in huge bunches, broke off, and now looks and feels terrible. Please let me know if yours came back to normal. Thanks!
I’ve too just come to realise it’s probably this terbinafine crap causing my hair loss and thinning. I applied the left overs from an old tube just once before going on a week long trip for work. Thought my hair was falling out from extra stress. It seemed to stop and I kind of forgot about it. I got a new batch a couple of weeks ago and applied it again just once. All of a sudden my hair started to fall out again. The following hair cut I really noticed how sparse my hair had become. It’s been about a month and I think I can actually see some smaller hairs regrowing. Not sure at this stage how much I’ll recover but I have a feeling it’s not going to be all of it. This stuff apparently stays in your skin for 7 days after application which seems to line up perfectly with when the loss was at it’s worst. I don’t think I’ll risk using this stuff again as it’s far too likely to be the cause.
I am a 46 year old male…I’ve had pretty good hair and obviously as we get older, however, I’ve been on Lamisil for toe fungus for about 2.5 months and I have DEFINITELY noticed my hair becoming thinner, receding quickly and becoming very very brittle. Lamisil is undoubtedly the reason this is happening. Aging is a natural process that occurs over time…sudden changes are indicative of an acute issue. The only acute change in my life has been Lamisil and therefore through deductive reasoning…I am going to say it’s culprit.
As far as regrowth…I am no expert, but, from what I’ve studied hair loss, or, Alocpecia can be cause from medications. Usually it’s reversible after cessation or discontinuation.
Here are a couple links that may interest you. The first is a discussion on WebMD about medications that cause hair loss…of which antifungals in listed. The second is on Alopecia Areata which is hair loss from medications. I’ll try to paste here, otherwise google those topics. Look to my next post for links.
Link regarding medications that cause hair loss (Alopecia Areata)
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/drug-induced-hair-loss-2?page=2
Link regarding Alopecia Areata itself
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-201261/Is-alopecia-reversible.html
In my first post my first sentence got cut off somehow while trying to paste a link.
I meant to say that I’ve always had a good head of hair and obiously as we get older it begins to thin.
Hi Everyone
I have experienced big hair loss. Took 250mg Terbinafine for 17 days (fungal toe nail) & quit on 17 AUG 2015. My scalp is still burning now & it is 22 SEPT 2015, over a month since discontinuation. I am 43 year old male with previous good hair. Now balding at crown & big thinning in general. Have seen doctors & dermatologists though they seem inexperienced with this, but obviously do not state that. The burning varies in intensity. I also take fluoxetine anti-depressant which can interact with Terbinafine I have discovered, so am discontinuing this for the short term, which will be fine as I can exist without it. I have stopped all vitamins,supplements. I am investigating this myself as the specialists seem to not be providing any answers for me. I tried anti-histamines & also Betnovate scalp application (from Doctor)which made my symptoms worse. Am listing everything I eat/ingest. I noted that this drug can be used to treat fungal infection of scalp follicles. I worry this drug is just attacking my scalp/hair follicles. I equate the hair burn to mean hair loss in progress. I have had so much burning I can only assume I will lose stacks of hair in the months to come. No doctor has told me about link to scalp from Terbinafine nor warned about possible anti-depressant link. Terbinafine on it’s own is bad enough.
My question to anyone out there who has experienced this is :
How long did the hair loss continue for you ?
Did your hair grow back & if so, how long did it take ?
Is this hair loss permanent ?
Being male I am happy to lose hair over the course of my life & expect it, but not like this.
I have read that it can take 3 months for Terbinafine to fully leave the
system.
I really appreciate any help as I am beyond despair about this & preparing myself for baldness. I know worse things happen in life but this just seems cruel.
Many thanks
Mark
Updates anyone, did you hair regrow and become thicker after taking this medicine?
I had hair loss as well when using Lamisil, did your hair grow back. Can anybody respond back to me if their hair after these of Terbinafine. Thank you very much
stop using the Lamisil if it caused hair loss. You may have developed an allergic reaction to it