I've been taking Cymbalta for 5-6 months. First 30 mg then increased to60mg. I had to divide it to am and pm because of tiredness. It was working great and then my hairdresser after not seeing her for 10 weeks said my hair was a lot thinner. It's been another 3 weeks and now I'm really noticing it as well. It's in the vaccume and going down the drain. I don't want to stop the one thing that makes me feel better but I'll feel a lot worse if I'm bald so I'm considering quitting.
Cymbalta - Is it common to experiance hair loss? Will it stop and will the hair grow back?
Question posted by susanmitch on 19 Nov 2012
Last updated on 18 April 2023
22 Answers Page 2
Every one reacts different to meds. My experience was major hair thinning and sweating. Maybe it was effecting my hormones? They say that it is not very common to experience hair loss. Then why are so many people having hair loss? Thats enough to cause depression.
It’s definitely the cymbalta. I was in 90mn for 2 yrs. hair started thinning out. Now I have 3 large bald spots. Dr keep saying it’s not. Finally went to an endocrinologist. She said it was the cymbalta just as I thought. It’s been 3 months and I haven’t noticed any new growth. I wasn’t taking this fir depression. DO NOT take this med unless you have a very very thick head of hair. It’s not worth the side effects!!!
I hope that those of you who are experiencing hair loss on cymbalta will report it to the FDA and or any other appropriate agency. This is important information for people to know. Obviously, hair loss is going to exacerbate depression, the very reason why duloxetine is prescribed in the first place.
I've just weaned myself off of Cymbalta after taking it for 2.5 months for situational depression.
I have always had thick, coarse hair. I have had trouble with it because I had breast cancer and was on oral chemo for five years, during which time I lost a lot of my hair, especially on the top and right side of my head. I have a head full of hair varying from 1/16 of an inch to 4 inches, but was happy it was growing back.
Now my hair has gone dead on my head - dry, lifeless, no body. I noticed after my last haircut that the hair was much thinner than it had been, and have noticed since then that I'm back to having it fall out "at will".
The only change is the Cymbalta. Since I've been checked regularly by all my "ologists", and know that I'm in good health, I went on the internet to see if this was a side effect. I think I have my answer and possibly yours.
I took 30mg of Cymbalta for about 20 years, not realizing what it was doing to my body. What a nightmare!! It made my hair fall out, raised my cholesterol, raised my blood pressure, knocked my thyroid off, caused severe insomnia, and destroyed my motivation and gave me brain fog. All of these things were subtle enough that I never made the connection. My doctor got me off of it in 3 days without side effect one!! She put me on Zoloft for those days and then I was able to stop. I am so glad I finally woke up and made the connection! I would like to know, if anyone can tell me how long it will take to get my hair back.
Been on cymbalta for three months started with 30mg then bumped it up to 60mg just quit taking it I have lost over half of my hair and its still falling out after almost week of being off I am afraid in a few weeks I will not have any hair left.
Cymbalta takes about 6 weeks to get out of the blood stream and you will stop losing hair as the amount in your system goes down. I don't know if it will thicken up again though.
My neurologist recommended Cymbalta 60mg taken along with topomax for my migraine headaches. I experienced hair loss , but didn't connect it to the Cymbalta, as I had been very run down. My stylist usually comments on the thickness of my hair - excessively thick even after menopause, but I was losing hair just as you report. I finally entered a question about the relationship of Cymbalta and hair loss and there were many postings like yours. I called my Doc and was able to come off immediately because I was not prescribed for depression. The hair loss slowed and has stopped after approximately three weeks. My stylist showed me the new growth sticking strangely out of my head from between the rest of my hair. Weird, but I'll take it. I wasn't going to choose baldness. Good luck to you.
Glad ur hair is growing back mine is about three inches long! So happy its growing back been meaning to contact cymbalta because this should be listed as a side affect so people know it can happen and not have to waste $ on tons of blood work like I did making sure nothing else was causing it.
I have been experiencing hair loss as well. I've been taking cymbalta for a couple of years and started taking topomax for migraines about ten months ago. My hair has thinned a lot! I quit taking the topomax. I am still losing hair though so I don't know if it's the cymbalta.
I am also on Cymbalta and was not aware that it makes your hair fall out even though my hair is getting much thinner, I was blaming it on Topomax which my doctor was giving me for migraines when I take anti-depressants.
which for sure makes your hair fall out. Topomax is also helpful for weight loss. Good and bad side effects
After reading everyones comment about hair loss after taking Cymbalta I'm in a dilemma, I've just been prescribed Cymbalta but haven't started taking it and don't think I will, I'm already taking Topamax and I've lost a lot a hair from this drug. I'm taking Topamax from chronic migraines, I wake up with them daily, it's just a matter to what degree they are, some days I can take Imitrex and they will go away, some days I take Tramadol, on a really bad day it's vomiting, diahrrea and back to bed after doing a dose of Stadol in my nostril to stop the pain and to put me to sleep along with a Phenergan suppository in my rectum to stop the nausea. I was hoping the the Cymbalta would be something that would stop some of my headaches but I'm not sure being bald is something I want either... there must be a cure without so many side effects!!!
One of the side effects I had from taking Cymbalta was a reactivation of my migraines which I hadn't had in years and then they got even worse when I stopped taking it. I am still getting them.
I have been on cymbalta 60mg for 5 months now and I'm totally freaking out about my hair loss!! My hair is so thin! I've looked up all side effects and nothing mentions hair loss! They need to inform people that this is a side effect! After reading all the comments on here and other places it has to be true! I just pray my hair grows back!!
Give it time. You should see improvement within 3-6 months.
I am taking Cymbalta now for over 2 years and am at 120mg with no problem of hair loss. As matter of fact I am lucky and have not had any side effects.
I agree. There are blood tests to try to diagnose it. My hair was falling out enough that when I complained to the dermatologist, she lightly stroked my hair and got a handful of hair. That's when she ordered the blood tests. All came back normal. My internal medicine doctor told me that extreme physical or mental pain can cause hair loss. SURE ENOUGH. When my severe migraines got better, the hair stopped falling out. Then when they got worse again, the hair fell out again. So I would talk to your doctor to get the blood tests, but if they come back normal, look to your stress. Good luck.
Hi sara12345, does that same theory apply to horrible physical pain? Just curious as to what you think about that issue.
Thank you,
Lara
YES, that's exactly what the doctor told me--extreme physical pain can cause hair loss and it did with me.
Hi sara, is your hair loss visible to anyone but you and your stylist?
Thank you for answering my previous query!!
Lara (sweet lemon)
Is that really you? I have missed you so much. Wish you the very best.
To answer you, maybe not, but my hair was definately far thinner. I can't really tell you since I am so disabled that I rarely see anyone other than my husband. Recently, I stood right in front of my husband, asking if he saw anything different about me. I turned my head back and forth, then asked him, "about my hair?" No he never noticed the many blond streaks that I had just had put into hair at the hairdresser. So he is no guage of anything short of me becoming totally bald I would think. I hope that you get the blood tests and get to the bottom of the cause.
Yes Sara, tis really me! I've missed you as well, I went for a while not telling anyone, but had to tell my friend sara!
You made me laugh about you having to go totally bald before your husband would notice your hair! Tis universal, I fear, men just don't notice stuff!
But if you put on two pounds, LOOK OUT, they'll notice that!
Please, get to your stylist and see if she/he notices your hair thinning. They usually remember that type of thing.
xxxx (hugs) to Sara,
Lara
So very glad that you are back Lara. I so love your postings, including your last one. Yes my hairdresser did notice my hair loss. A great welcome back to you!
I agree. It may be something else too. Call your doc. And don't quit cymbalta without weaning off of it, under his direction.
Hello susanmitch. No, it is not common side effect to taking the drug. I would let your doctor in on as to what is happening. Regards pledge
Ive experienced hair loss as well. I was on a 60mg dose and began to see signs of thinning hair around 12 wks. It isn't a common side effect but it isnt unheard of either. My Doctor has had other patients complain as well. I believe like my Doctor does, that age is a factor too. Women in thier late 30-50 range may also experience heavy and longer periods. Be careful of this symptom as my gynocologist informed me that the uterin wall was bleeding and atta hing itself to other internal linings and organs. If it were to continue then a full histerectomy would be called for.
Cymbalta on a low dose can be helpful but people need to pay close attention to any chNges in thier bodies.
I also have been on this medication for a month and have been cleaning the drain in my shower EVERY DAY. My hair as thinned ALOT within last 3 weeks-:(
Cymbalta made 30% of my hair fall out and my scalp itched so bad I clawed it till it bled. It helped my joint and muscle pain but I couldn't stand the itching. Nothing would stop it. I tried everything.
I am diabetic and my dr put me on citalopram 2 years ago because i lost almost all my hair and i have very long hair. She said the diabetes was stressing my body too much. After beining on it 3 months my hair stopped falling out and grew back.
Check all the medications you take for side effects of hair loss. Take b-12 and biotin 10,000 mg . If you notice you have bald circular patches go to a dermatologist they will give you med to put on the bald places and your hair will come back. I am 63 and have had long hair all my life i was stressing like crazy over loosing it.
Hope this helps.
Jj
Related topics
cymbalta, anxiety, fibromyalgia
Further information
- Cymbalta uses and safety info
- Cymbalta prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cymbalta (detailed)
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