Hormone Replacement Therapy and Hair Loss

I am 51 years old and have been on a combi patch for hot flashes for about 7 months. I have noticed my hair is falling out at an alarming rate. Have you heard of hormone replacement therapy causing hair loss? I have been considering either going off the meds or tapering it down by waiting an extra day or 2 to change the patch. Will the hormone flucuation cause more hair loss? Thanks

Yes, any hormonal manipulation can cause hair loss, and we see this condition regularly. Imbalance of estrogen and progesterone levels can accelerate hair loss in some women. You can try to switch to different medications to see if it helps. Changing the frequency of hormonal replacement therapy can be helpful, but needs to be done under supervision of a physician.