Metoprolol & Hair Loss

April Says:

Sun, February 15, 2009

I have been taking 200 mg. a day for about 4 years. I thought it was a coincidence that I've lost 50% of my hair during this time because I am also going through menopause. I just found out that it is possible the hair loss is caused by metoprolol, so my doctor just wrote me a RX for a different drug. Will my hair grow back? It was very long, down to my waist, but I've been cutting it to compensate for the thinness. I just touch my head and lose a few hairs! Any ideas?

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michele Says:
Sun, September 13, 2009

I have been on 25 mg of metoprolol for 2 months and my hair is rapidly falling out. I have stopped taking it. Will my hair stop falling out? Is the hair loss that I have already experienced reversable?

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April Says:
Sun, September 13, 2009

If your hair loss truly was caused by taking Metoprolol, then yes, your hair will all grow back. BUT you were only taking 25 mg., a very low dose. There could be another source to your problem, such as a thyroid disorder.

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Verwon Says:
Mon, September 14, 2009

Metoprolol is a selective receptor blocker, used mainly in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension.

If you look at the monograph page:

https://rxchat.com/wiki/Metoprolol/

You will see that hair loss is listed as a SERIOUS side effect that SHOULD NOT be tolerated for any length of time. If you are experiencing this, you need to speak to your doctor IMMEDIATELY!

As a matter of fact, my doctor just prescribed this to me on Friday, 50mgs to be taken twice a day, and that is one of the first things he told me, if I start experiencing hair loss, to stop use and contact him immediately.

Are there any other questions?

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April Says:
Mon, September 14, 2009

Thank you for all this information, and the links. I experienced MOST of these serious side effects while taking 100mg daily of Metoprolol. Yes, I reported all these things to my doctor who never said anything except you should quit smoking. My heart rate was so slow that I passed out and cracked my head on concrete! I ended up in the ER. It wasn't until I complained constantly about hair loss that my doctor finally switched me to Lisinopril, another remedy for high blood pressure. Now I have heart palpitations. I am finallly convinced that I must find a new doctor! Thanks again.

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juana Says:
Wed, November 4, 2009

I also lost most of my hair, just today I learned that is due to the metoprolol
med.

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April Says:
Wed, November 4, 2009

I'm beginning to think that all beta blockers can, or will, cause some hair loss. My new doctor added 5mg. of Bystolic (nebivolol) to the 20mg Lisinopril that I take. This did help with my irregular heart beat, but again, I am beginning to lose more hair. Not as much as I did taking Metropolol, but a noticeable amount each day. Perhaps those of us with heart problems are just doomed to having thin hair?

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MMW Says:
Sat, January 9, 2010

I know that Metoprolol is causing my hair loss because it is the only medication I am on. I did not have a hair loss problem before I started on this drug. Now I have two bald spots. One is at the back of my head, the other is at the side. There is also noticeable thinning of the crown area. Metoprolol has also caused my insomnia. If you do a search on Metoprolol and hair loss you will see that a lot of other people are having this problem also. When talking to the doctor about it he claimed that hair loss wasn't a side effect. I'm sure he was looking at the manufacturers list of side effects. I know better. It IS the Metoprolol. BTW, I've switched doctors and she is going to change my medication. I definitely will not allow anyone to prescribe a beta-blocker to me again. I had no heart problems to begin with so I don't know why that particular medication was chosen. Honestly I think some of these doctors are performing clinical trials on parients without our consent.

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Jake Says:
Thu, January 28, 2010

My doctor put me on metoprolol about two years ago. I used to have wicked thick hair and it noticeably started thinning out. Two years later I'm shaving my head because my hair grows in so thin now. Also if I miss one day of the drug my heart beat goes really rapid and it never did that before. I plan on getting the hell off of the drug as soon as possible. I'd tell anyone who'd listen to stay the hell away from it!

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LW Says:
Tue, February 9, 2010

I was on 100mg of Betaloc (Metoprolol Tartrate) and it was causing my hair to fall out. I particularly noticed it when new hair growth came through and I had random sprouts of hair sticking out at the front of my head and above my ears. My doctor wasn't sure if the beta blocker would cause that, but he researched it and so did I and we both concluded that this was the cause. I chose to reduce my dose to 50mg (not that I am recommending that others should do this), as I couldn't cope with it. My hair was so thin I too was cutting it shorter and shorter to disguise it. My consultant (I have ventricular Tachycardia) said I should see how I coped on 50mg and so far I have been fine on the lesser dose. My hair is definitely growing back! I'm not sure if doctors are truly aware that this is a side effect, but there are plenty of people who have reported this experience on on-line forums.

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Sue Says:
Fri, June 11, 2010

I had been taking Metoprolol for almost 5 years... all the while my hair was getting thinner and thinner! I thought it was due to using a flat iron and the typical hair loss from aging, however, now I feel it was the drug. WHY won't doctors tell us about this? My hair is nearly ruined and I'm so depressed!!! I can only HOPE it will grow back!!! I was taking Metoprolol for tremors but when I realized what was happening, I stopped taking it immediately!!! I'd rather have tremors than be bald!!!

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Brooke Says:
Sun, July 18, 2010

I finally realized that my hair is really falling out, I just thought I was going through a stage and it would stop, but when I went to put mascara on and hardly had any eyelashes left, I knew I had a serious problem. I finally figured out last night that it had to be from the metoprolol because it's the only drug I take. I am calling my doctor in the morning to get off this stuff and switch to something else...not good! Somebody should warn you about this kind of stuff!

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R Says:
Sat, November 13, 2010

I agree my doctor increased my metoprolol dosage to 100 mg a day in June. By October I had lost mostly all the hair at the crown of my head and a small portion in the lower back. It was the medicine. I have high blook pressure but no underline heart condition. So I will not continue to take the medicine.

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April Says:
Sat, November 13, 2010

If you have high blood pressure, you should take something for that (a silent killer). Metoprolol is in the family of ace inhibitors, so I think all in that family can cause hair loss. BUT the good news is that there are other medicines for high blood pressure that are in a different class of drugs, such as Lisinopril--and they don't cause hair loss at all. :)

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bblynn Says:
Tue, January 25, 2011

Wow... Seeing all of you with this same problem is very comforting but I hate that there are others.. I'm 28 & was just diagnosed with SVT and the er dr put me on metoprolol 25 mgs a day 2x's a day and I've been on it for only 2 months and I'm experiencing extreme hair loss :(:( I've called my drs office & am trying to get my medicine for this changed next week. I will stop taking it if they can't put me on something else. I'm a very healthy person and I do not take any other medications But for my question WILL MY HAIR GROW BACK???

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April Says:
Wed, January 26, 2011

It took a long time, but some of my hair began to grow back. You will notice, in a few months, short hairs and think that it's breakage--but that's your new hair!

Metoprolol works on heart problems very well, but there are many other drugs out there that won't cause hair loss.

Sorry you had to find out the hard way.

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Judy Says:
Mon, February 7, 2011

I've taken Metoprolol for almost 2 yrs (50 mg) daily. I am 58 y/o. The ONLY other time in my life that my extremely long, thick hair had ever started thinning was when I was about 52 and going through menopause. I was not taking ANY meds a that time. It wasn't falling out in vast amounts, but more than usual. ANYWAY, fast forward to 57 y/o when I was hospitalized with HBP and type-2 diabetes (which I didn't even know I had). They also thought I had a small t.i.a. I was put on the Metoprolol and since all this scared the bejeebees out of me, I have never missed a pill. I have been eating way healthier and exercising more, so should have lost some weight. After almost 2 yrs now, I am at same weight and I am sure the Metoprolol has something to do with it. I am tired all the time, ankles and knees hurt, shoulders hurt, headaches all the time, BUT THE WORST OF ALL IS THAT I HAD AN EPIFANY! I had never associated the HAIR LOSS STARTING AGAIN to the drug! Thinking back, I started noticing more hair than usual just falling out when I gently pulled at the bottom of it. Lots more hair in the drain. I find shedded hairs on the floor, carpet, couch, it's rediculous. They say it's a side affect that only 1% of people have - that is just a flat out lie. I did read many posts yesterday that people who have stopped taking it, that the hair does regrow! I'm talking to my doctor today about this, but I do know 1 thing, don't ever stop cold turkey. You have to ween yourself off under a doctor's care and supervision. HOWEVER, I also read that it's possible that most HBP meds out there do cause hair loss, so what in the world do we do? I've read sadly where some women's hair loss is so bad that they have to wear wigs. This breaks my heart and I don't want to go there, so today is the day I make the call to my doc! I do believe and pray that the hair will regrow for you. It might take months to notice it though.

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John Says:
Mon, April 11, 2011

To those who have discontinued use (because I have for the same reason and my doctor as well, was a complete F***ING joke, no surprise) how long does it take to regrow?

I've been off of this garbage for quite awhile now and I'm not sure I'm seeing the regrowth, though I'm certainly stopped losing hair fairly quickly. I read that it could take a long time (6+ months) before that starts again but, I'm wondering what you all have experienced.

What a complete joke.

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Vick Says:
Fri, May 27, 2011

I am taking Lisinopril, 10mg and it definitely causes hair loss.

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Nicole Reilly Says:
Mon, June 27, 2011

Be aware that Lisinopril can cause hair loss too, I stopped taking it because of this...

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China Says:
Thu, August 4, 2011

I too was on that drug but after I realized that my thick hair was thinning I got off of it. Now my hair is thickening again. But it has not grow the length that it was before I cut it very short to start over.

My blood pressure was high but it was taken by my doctor before 12noon each time and it was usually up. Now I have taken control of my health and I have been taken Pomagrenate Extract for 3 months and as of yesterday my blood pressure was 120/79. This is great. The extract works and I no longer need any blood pressure medication. Let's go for preventiveness and not just treament. That's what most conventional doctors offer.

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EDDY Says:
Thu, March 24, 2022

I thought it was pretty well known that this medicine can cause hair loss?

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