Strattera (ADHD Medication) and Hair Loss
My 18 year old son is showing an over-all thinning of his hair. When his hair is wet, I clearly see his scalp. He takes fish oil capsules every day and he uses Strattera, 90 mg daily. Other than this, I can think of nothing that could be contributing to the thinning. Do you have any reports of Strattera causing hair loss? Thanks.
The most common cause of hair loss in males is androgenic hair loss or male pattern hair loss. It may start as early as their teenage years. Now add to this the medication Strattera (said to produce hair loss — see ADHD Message Board) and you complicate the hair loss presentation. Your son should discuss this with his prescribing doctor. You need a good doctor working on a Master Plan for hair loss (worst and best case) for him.
I am a 26 year old woman living with ADHD. I was on Strattera for 2 years, and it caused massive hair loss for me in that time. Large wads of it would come out every time I took a shower. It took me a long time to realize it was my medication causing the problem only b/c I had a naturally thick head of hair to begin with. I chose a rather extreme and direct approach to the problem my shaving my head and going off the Strattera. I am very glad I did so, b/c my hair is growing back fast and thick, they way it used to be. :) I also take pre-natal pills to help with the hair growth (pre-natal pills are exactly the same as a regular multivitamin with regards to nutritional ingredients, except with slightly higher dosages of the vitamins and minerals everyone already needs) How you and your son feel about using pre-natal pills is of course up to you. ;)