Warfarin and hair thinning.

[dedeottie]

I'm sure I have read about a link between warfarin an hair thinning on here. I'm sure mine is getting thinner ! I would be interested to hear from anyone else who has this problem.it will make me feel better but I will carry on taking the warfarin even if I go bald! X

[BobD Volunteer]

I have heard of this also but my problem has been brittle nails. My body hair went thanks to my hormone implants.

Bpb

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

My nails are really soft and brittle! Luckily my hair is so thick that if half of it fell out I wouldn't notice... Can lend some out if needed

[Mrspat]

Yes, my hair fell out while I was on warfarin. Amiodarone had the same effect. Both times, it made me feel utterly depressed and unfeminine.

[dedeottie in reply to Mrspat]

Hi Mrs Pat. Did you change to one of the other drugs? X

[Mrspat]

I was taken off Amiodarone 16 months ago after 7 years. It was the bigger dose that I was first on that caused problems. Cardiologist wanted me to go back on it a few months ago when AF returned but I refused and have got Digoxin instead.

I gave up Warfarin just over a year ago after one year. It also gave me a dry, itchy scalp.GP gave me aspirin instead but am now on Rivaroxaban. If you tell doctors that you have a problem with thinning hair, they are not interested and think it unimportant compared to the benefits of the drugs.

[Christo4]

Dedeottie

Yes my hair is much thinner having taken Warfarin for 5 months now, don't think it's going to get any worse so will carry on as I am, no way I wish to stop Warfarin as I feel safe taking it, I had a stroke last year then this year found out I had AF

Christo.

[Nan1]

Hello Dedeottie, it was so interesting to read your post as I was going to submit a very similar one. Yes, my hair is definitely thinning. I was put on Warfarin in May and noticed very soon after that I was losing quite a lot of hair. Family have been saying that we all lose hair a couple of times a year and it is normal but I know that this amount is not normal for me. I am petrified that I will get complete bald patches and I think I would have to see if I could change to another drug if that were the case. I take 8mg during week and 9mg at weekends so wonder if this is quite a high dose to be on. I am so sorry you have this problem but it has made me feel so much better knowing there is someone else who is concerned. Hopefully it will settle down in time.

[credimus]

Over the past six months I have noticed that my hair has a 'thickened'. It never occurred to me until I just read your post - after six years on Warfarin I was 'upgraded' to Riveroxaban eight months ago. My nails which were also brittle are slowly returning to normal. I realise that it might just be a coincidence but the evidence is there.

[dedeottie]

Hi and thanks everyone. Although my hair is thinner my nails have gone the opposite way and are now much stronger. My hair is thinner all round but no bald patches...yet! Guess I will just have to change the style at some point. It is good to know I am not the only one with this problem as my husband says I am imagining.g it.x

[01maxdog]

Yes, my hair did the same, fall out literally . I could see long strands hanging down below my normal hair length and when I brushed my hair it was full of lose hair in a few strokes ! Washing it was a nightmare as it would clog up the drain ! My GP thought it might be the bisoprolol as I was on 10mg so reduced it to 5. I'm on 3.5 mg of warfarin and now my hair is growing back which my hairdresser confirmed so I have to put it down to the bisoprolol .it was a great concern to me and I went out and bought several false pieces as I have to wear my hair up for work, my GP being a man, fortunately didn't poo poo it !

Lisa

[Offcut]

I have been on Warfarin since 1992 and my nails are rock hard but I have lost some hair but I have put that down to me getting older. I do have a scabby scalp and use T Gel which has helped but not a pleasant smell.

Be Well

[jan-ran]

I have had the same experience, itchy scalp and hair loss, while taking warfarin. I read somewhere that co enzyme q10 was good for that, but had to check that it wasn't affecting my inr. so far I haven't noticed any difference, but will keep trying. Anyone else tried that? Or has any other remedies?

JanR

[Dadog]

I would have thought that hair loss effects would be fairly evident. Considering how long Warfarin has been around it would surely have been added as a side effect by now? Serious hair loss can be devastating and needs to be addressed within one's treatment or health care program.

[Rellim296]

It is listed as a known side effect. It made me very unwilling to eat greens for weeks in an effort to take as little warfarin as possible. As it turns out, I need a largish dose to achieve any sort of acceptable INR, but on 66mgs per week, I have not had significant hair loss.

[dedeottie in reply to Rellim296]

I have to take 10 mg a day so I suppose that is a high dose. Ah well as long as I don't get bald patches I guess I will be o.k. I have looked again at the list of side effects I should have looked more carefully last time! X