I'm losing hair on the top of my head and the only thing I can attribute it to is a change in my blood pressure meds. Last fall my doctor changed me from Diovan HCT to Losartan 100mg. Has anyone else experienced this side effect?
Has anyone experienced hair loss when taking Losartan?
Question posted by pchris on 15 Feb 2012
Last updated on 9 August 2024
102 Answers Page 4
Geri59
8 May 2019
I take metoprolol and losartan potassium for high blood pressure. Right around the crown of my head is a bald spot the size of a silver dollar. I believe it is because of the medication.
Macchi5
14 April 2019
I started 25 g Losartan and now, 5 months later, my thick hair has thinned considerably and is dry and brittle. I have stopped for two days and am monitoring, hoping that I can stay in the normal range (I started during a very stressful time and life has calmed down considerably). If not will try for more natural way (CBD or olive leaf extract). I am so glad I found this thread as I thought I was imagining it, but clearly this drug does have the effect and hopefully now more and more people can be informed.
Magoomus
14 April 2019
Before you stop taking the Losartan you should talk with your doctor. I was on it for 3 or 4 months and had to slowly stop taking mine I couldn't just STOP all at once. Good luck. :-)
mb63
20 Feb 2019
I began taking Losartan in October 2018 as a substitute for Valsartan which had been recalled. In October and November it occurred to me that my hair was shedding at an enormous rate. By mid-December, I noticed that my hair had thinned drastically at the crown and on the edges. In response, I lobbed off my hair only to discover that my entire scalp had thinned out and that there were two large bald spots on either side of my head (which I really didn’t notice while my hair was longer and covering it over). By the end of December, I determined that the only changes, in terms of what I had consumed or put into my body, was the bp med.
I, therefore, stopped the Losartan immediately (without consulting my doctor - he was on vacation at the time). Within a week, my bp was at stroke levels, despite the fact that I also take Verapamil for bp. Due to the uncontrolled blood pressure, I was forced to call the doctors office. Fortunately, by that time, there were some Valsartan products that were deemed safe and back on the market and my doctor kindly phoned in a new prescription though still on vacation.
It’s approaching the end of February - it’s hard to tell if the loss has slowed since I had cut the remaining hair down to less than an inch in length and haven’t been to the salon to have it properly cut and styled (for one, I am too embarrassed to go - I am practically bald all over).
I will likely make an appointment with my dermatologist in the very near future to see what solutions she may offer.
bcrohan
18 Feb 2019
Yes, I have experienced the hair loss. I have an appt with my PCP to change my medication.
Ssneal426
16 Feb 2019
Wow! In Spring of 2016, I was diagnosed with FFA which is frontal Fibrosing Alopecia. No documented known cause. I've always had a head full of thick hair thanks to mom and dad's genetics. I noticed hair loss/thinning in the crown and back of my head starting in 2018. Increased hair loss started December 2018. Both of my parents and their siblings still have full heads of hair so tend to think that my hair loss is not driven by genetics. I'm scheduled to see a Naturopathic doc because I'm suspecting autoimmune alhough general testing with my PCP has come back negative. I'm now going to schedule an appointment with my PCP to switch BP medicine to see if I notice a change. I switched from Lisinopril to Losartan in 2014 due to the constant dry cough side effect. I also take Biotin, topical rogaine and Vitamin D3 for the FFA. Have also taken steroid scalp injections, but wonder if I should continue with rounds.
Magoomus
16 Feb 2019
Definitely check with your doc about the BP meds. My hair LOSS has slowed down a lot since stopping the Losartan... although I still notice certain spots are very very thin... I haven't noticed large amounts in the shower like before. Sadly though... so far I haven't noticed any re-growth :-( Good luck I hope it works out for all of us!
Needhelp7777
18 Jan 2020
Which medicine did the GP prescribe instead of Losartan? Did it help with the hair loss?
My GP isn’t ready to accept that Losartan is the reason and hence not ready to change my medicines
Gigi504
28 Jan 2019
I was prescribed losartan/hct 50-12.5MG on 1/09/2019 for postpartum hypertension. I noticed three days ago 1/24/2019 that my hair was falling out. I always wear my hair down and pulled it back to wash my face when I thought the crown of my head was aligned with dandruff (which NEVER happens) it was actually hair folicals (I was scared to death)! I pulled (I say this loosely as the hair was literally falling into my hand as I touched it) as many away from my crown and today 1/27/2019 I washed it so that I can see the true damage, because i have A LOT of hair and my edges are gone! It’s disheartening that this is a “1% side affect” when there are so many people here stating the same, this drug causes hair lost, why is that so hard to alert you to, in advance?! I have immediately stopped taking these meds which is not suggested by any means until you talk to your physician about an alternative. I will be getting with my primary doctor ASAP to see if there is an alternative or if I can discontinue all together since it was just postpartum hypertension... ugh.
Kris3752
24 Jan 2019
Yes, I took Losartan about 4 years ago and my hair was falling out by the handfulls.i tried 8 different BP meds and couldn't take any of them. They all had terrible side effects mostly extremely dry eyes and mouth. I spent a year writing down everything I put in my mouth so I could control it on my own. I dont eat table salt anymore or eat fast food. I dont eat any trans fats now and limit red meat. I realized that NSAIDs and anything over the counter for colds also raised my bp. Now I take Hawthorne berry supplement everyday and drink a glass of dry red wine every night and eat clean and exercise and my BP stays fairly normal. If it goes up for some reason, I rethink everything I put in my mouth the day before.
candy66
24 Jan 2019
I have loss hair taking losartan and my hair is starting to come out more and more each day. I am taking 100mg.
designermillion
20 Jan 2019
I started taking Losartan 60 days ago for high blood pressure. I have had very long thick hair all my life and it suddenly started coming out by the roots. The hair loss has gotten so bad my hair has completely thinned out to the point that I barely have a ponytail now. I took a shower yesterday and the hair stopped up the drain. I lost even more combing it out and drying it. I showed my husband and he was in shock at the amount because I’ve been complaining about it for weeks. I was sitting in the bathroom almost in tears trying to think of what’s changed in the last few months and it suddenly hit me that it’s the Losartan so I Googled it. I was excited (yet sad) to see so many others with the same problem. I don’t care what anyone says, I stopped taking the drug as of last night. Losing all my hair isn’t worth it. I’ll call Monday and talk to my PCP about it.
I’m just wondering what other HBP drug doesn’t have this wonderful side effect. This is actually the 2nd one I’ve tried. The first made me so dizzy I could barely walk. Has anyone stopped Losartan? Did the hair loss stop?
Needhelp7777
18 Jan 2020
Did you change your bp tablet? Did the new one change you?
I’m desperate to know if there is any bp medicine which doesn’t cause hair loss
I’m ok with any other side effect but NOT hair loss. Right now I see my hair every single day everywhere in my house
Kakasmith
15 Jan 2019
Yes it is the losartan Thats pulling our hair out. I was taking losartan and stopped and my hair was healthy and beautiful. Soon as I started taking it again my hair started to fall out more and more every day. It became dry and brittle.
H6IM9bam
10 Dec 2018
Yes, I am experiencing this side effect of hair breakage on top of my head. I have been on Losartan since at least August of 2018 and I am, as soon as possible, going to communicate with my primary care doctor about this.
Pete1891
6 Dec 2018
I was on Valsartan 80mg and hair loss was no issue. Was recently switched to Losartan 50mg and already noticed hair loss after 2 months. Going to try to go back to Valsartan.
BookHappy
29 Nov 2018
Update--Thanks to this question and the number of helpful comments, and after trying everything else over an 8 month period, I stopped Losartan 10 weeks ago. Within 4 weeks, I noticed a marked decline in my hair loss, and now, it's back to normal. Not showing any signs of re-growth yet, but I'm hopeful. [No doubt in my mind that Losartan can cause hair loss.] Because my BP went right back up, my MD prescribed amlodipine besylate (Norvasc, Lotrel) which I started 10 days ago. So far no hair loss. Fingers crossed.
DMB1202196
29 Nov 2018
I started taking losartan when my doctor changed my med due to Diovan was taken off the market. My hair is thinning on top terrible. Less than two months I have been on it.
Suzi3955
29 Oct 2018
I began losing an alarming amount of hair about 1 1/2 years ago when I was put on HBP med. First it was lisinopril so I read it could cause hair loss and went off it. I didn’t take any HBP med for about 3-4 mos afterwards but I kept losing hair. I’d like to make a point now to say that my hair texture has also changed. I used to have a thick head of hair. It was lustrous and soft. I have always used professional hair products. Not Suave or White Rain! My hair was very important to me! It still is and every time I watch all the pieces of hair fall out on the floor or counter top or go down my shower drain, I cringe! I was put on Losartan Potassium about 6-7 months ago. I read that it was unlikely to cause hair loss. But I’m still losing lots of hair. I’m a 63 year old female and my hair loss isn’t hereditary as far as I know.
My 88 year old mom still has a thick head of beautiful white hair! I’m going to throw something else out there as a possible cause of hair loss. I have learned about this from researching “hair loss” online and it definitely could apply to my own hair loss issues. I’ve read on several websites including WedMD.com that NSAIDS cause hair loss! After being totally honest with myself, I can admit that I’m a chronic abuser of NSAIDS like ibuprofen and aspirin! I use them more often than I probably should and I have taken more than the recommended dose often! Currently, I am really trying NOT to take ANY NSAIDs. Know how hard that is? All of us have pain issues from time to time, right? Headaches. Back aches. Sore muscles from exercising. But I’m really trying to avoid using any. I’m still taking my 50 mg once a day Losartan Potassium. (Cozaar is a brand name) From all I read on here, though, Losartan also causes hair loss! So perhaps it’s not as unusual as my doctor thinks it is or as what I’ve read about it! I’m willing to bet the ENTIRE LOT of HBP medication causes HAIR LOSS! My HBP isn’t real bad or real high, I guess is a better way to say it. But it’s high, nonetheless! I wish I could seriously COMMIT to exercising at least 3 days a week so that maybe, just maybe, I won’t NEED HBP meds! Perhaps I can control it through exercise and losing 10-15 pounds! Easier said than done. But at least, hopefully, I’d still have a thick nice head of hair! Anybody have anything to add on these comments?? I’d appreciate any and all input!
Related topics
diovan hct, high blood pressure, losartan, doctor
Further information
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.