Klonopin and Female Hair Loss

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I recently saw my dermatologist over concern about thinning hair. I started taking the anti-convulsant klonopin almost a year ago, a few months after I cut off about 15 inches of dense hair to nill, so I didn’t pay attention to thinning the whole past year. My dermatologist looked at my part line at noted that my part was defiitely bigger on the top than on the back of my head. I also notified her that the hair on my forearms and legs were thicker since starting the klonopin. She said that it could be one of three things:

1) a really stressful year,
2) androgenic alopecia emerging (I’m 30) independently, or
3) drug induced alopecia and hirsutism caused by the klonopin with the klonopin possibly unmasking androgenic alopecia early.

She said that if the cause was drug related, even in the case of unmasking AGA early, alopecia would be reversible once I stopped taking the drug, reversible that is until I reached menopause and then it would reemerge. My maternal grandmother has the thinning hair but she didn’t get it until she menopausal. Is my dermatologist incorrect in assuming if the klonopin unmasked AGA, the hair will automtically grow back for the next ten years or so, after I stop taking the drug? I don’t understand this as I’ve read several places on the web that “unmasking” of AGA implies that hair growth is not going to revive temporarily if you stop taking a drug. I got really excited when she said if that was the case my hair would grow back the way it was until I reached menopause. Her plan for me was to get me off klonopin and see what happens, it would take about 3 months to taper off this drug, and then several months after that to see if it grows back. that if it doesn’t grow back it’s classic AGA having nothing to do with the klonopin as an early trigger at all. IN the meantime if it is there something I should do as a preventive factor, like go out and purchase rogaine and see if it works? Your input would be very much appreciated.

It sounds like your dermatologist has it covered and you should follow her advice. If you’d like a true second opinion, you’ll have to find another dermatologist in your area. Klonopin, like other benzodiazepines, can cause hair loss in some people.

I realize it isn’t what you were hoping to get out of me, but I don’t have nearly as much experience with Klonopin (clonazepam) as it seems your dermatologist does to add any significant value to what you have discussed here… though I appreciate you sharing your experience and wish you luck.