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Hair loss on rivaroxaban

44 Replies

I have been taking rivaroxaban for around 3 months and my hair has been falling out for around a month

My hair is getting thinner and it's making me depressed as every morning there's hair on my pillow and it falls out if I just touch my head.

I hate this would it help if I change to a different blood thinner or are they all the same?

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44 Replies

I've been taking Apixaban for about 18 months now without any problems, but I know hair loss can be devastating for females. Hope you get some helpful comments.....John

in reply to

My husband is on that too but he's not losing his hair

Going to ask if I can be changed to them too.ive got to be on them for life so not sure if you can be on APIXABAN for life .

in reply to

Trust me, most of us will remain on anticoagulants for life......

KALIFORNIAKITTY profile image
KALIFORNIAKITTY in reply to

Oh you mean Xaralto? (Spelling) a blood thinner. That's easiert for me to pronounce.

I take Pradaxa, it's kind to kidneys. I have kidney disease. That causes me to lose my hair and ruins your skin. My Nephrologist recommended a B vitamin complex that contains high amounts of BIOTIN. That helped my hair a lot. Our hair gets thinner with age and it's normal to lose 100 hairs a day, I read somewhere. I use several brands,of shampoo with BIOTIN and college. Did you read that losing hair is a side effect of your blood thinner in the warnings you get with your prescription? That might not be it. You can always get BIOTIN supplements if your Dr approves. ( I do not use caps, it's auto correct and I can't change it.)

Kitty

Not a very pleasant thought is it?

in reply to

Nope, but better than having a stroke.....that can be totally lifechanging.......

True I'm taking them for multiple blood clots on my lungs

KALIFORNIAKITTY profile image
KALIFORNIAKITTY in reply to

I'm sorry to hear that. How did that happen? I'm sure that is scarey.

In my last post I typed collegen and got college. Collegen and biotin for shampoo helped me.

Kitty

I have been taking Pradaxa for a long time no hair loss at all. Devastating to some male or female. Speak to GP

in reply to

Yes I am going to got an appointment in a couple of weeks

My hair feels so thin and doesn't feel like my hair which I know sounds odd ..I have to wash my hair with gloves on now as I lose so much and I hate wet hair wrapped round my fingers !!

in reply to

Maybe see doc as soon as you can don't wait couple of weeks

icklebud99 profile image
icklebud99 in reply to

Are you on other medication which may be causing your hair loss. I am on Riveroxiban, 1 year now and no problems with hair.

Can't get to see Dr for a couple of weeks. !!!!

Chrisdave profile image
Chrisdave in reply to

Hm, i know what you mean

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

I thought my hair was falling out but actually I now think it is breaking. I have lots of annoying short fuzzy hairs. Luckily I had very thick hair so not too noticeable but it is worrying, also very embarrassing when you serve a meal with a strand of hair in it 😬 Please let us know what happens when you eventually get to see your GP.

in reply to Buffafly

I will definitely let you know I want to try APIXABAN as it seems hair loss isn't an issue with this medicine I want to get off rivaroxaban as this makes me lose my hair. And it's getting embarrassing as I'm concious of people seeing my scalp.My husband says he can't but I'm convinced you can.

Getting paranoid now.

CaroleF profile image
CaroleF

I've been taking apixaban for about 8 months and have no noticeable hair loss. Significant hair loss must be devastating and I do sympathise. I guess it's worth asking if you could switch to that, though we all seem to be different in our reactions to various medications.

cassie46 profile image
cassie46

I take Rivaroxaban and and have done for 3 years. No noticeable loss of hair. This question has been asked before of most of the NOAC's but generally the answer is no. Are you sure that it is this, some peeps have complained of small amounts of hair loss or slight thinning of their hair but not actually faling out as you have described. Best to see your GP as soon as possible. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Cassie

in reply to cassie46

Thankyou Cassie I've never lost any hair before but since I've been taking rivaroxaban since May it's been falling out.my pillow in a morning has hair on it which is quite upsetting.

Hopefully will get it sorted soon.

rothwell profile image
rothwell

I take Apixaban and do have a small amount of hair loss but take Lambert's Florisene which I order from Amazon and vitamin D3 capsules... This has definitely helped but you need to be patient as they take a few months to work. Have researched this and ALL the anticoagulants can cause hair loss

KALIFORNIAKITTY profile image
KALIFORNIAKITTY in reply to rothwell

Vitamin D3 is very important. Many people have a D3 difficiency. I've never heard it connected to hair loss tho.

D3 is just sunshine. Most do not get enough

WendyWu20 profile image
WendyWu20

I take Apixaban and my hair has been falling out in worrying amounts. Never had a problem at all before taking this drug earlier this year. It is so depressing! I did some research online and it appears that mostly females suffer hair loss from anticoagulants, and if you're sensitive, all the drugs have a similar effect.

in reply to WendyWu20

I know how you feel. It is very depressing my hair is getting thinner

How much are you losing?

WendyWu20 profile image
WendyWu20 in reply to

When I wash my hair then run conditioner through, the hair comes out in my hands. It blows out when I blow dry, and whenever I brush it, the brush fills up with hairs. I've also noticed more just falling out during the day, they stick to my clothes. Its a big worry, because I'm concerned its just going to carry on and I'll have to consider wearing a wig!

in reply to WendyWu20

That's exactly like me I wake up and there's hairs all over my pillow ,I hate it I too have thought of having to have a wig at some point.i have really short hair and it's been 6 weeks since I had my hair cut usually it's ready for a cut by now,but it's nowhere near ready for a cut ,

WendyWu20 profile image
WendyWu20 in reply to

Not many men seem to be reporting hair loss with anticoagulants...makes me wonder if there's a link with hormones. When the docs get around to doing their research (see reply below), perhaps it would be interesting to look at gender and age. I'm 52 and post-menopausal, not sure if younger women suffer as much alopecia with anticoagulants... Pity the granny hairs on my chin are still growing haha :o)

in reply to WendyWu20

Lol you make me laugh Wendy,,, I have plenty of hairs on my chinny chin chin lol it does seem it's only women that suffer from the hair loss my husband is taking APIXABAN. And no hair loss I've been taking rivaroxaban for 3 months and mine is coming out at a drastic rate..If I run my fingers through my hair I have a handful of hair,it is so much thinner as I've said before doesn't feel like my hair anymore.

Every morning I dread looking on my pillow.

Sacha27 profile image
Sacha27 in reply to WendyWu20

I’m exactly the same, I was someone who had the thickness of two peoples hair now it’s terrible and frightening I take Edoxaban

mrslightfoot profile image
mrslightfoot

I have been on rivaroxaban for over 12 months and ive had no hair loss, see GP and let us know how you get on. xx

opal11uk profile image
opal11uk

You need to go back to your GP or cardio with this and asked to be changed onto another appropriate medication. I have been on Warfarin for 20 years and now on Pradaxa and over the years my hair has thinned considerably, plus I also had Radiotherapy for BC none of which helps sadly with keeping a nice thick glossy head of hair lol

Polski profile image
Polski

Sometimes this can be a sign of the body reacting to stress. A good multi-vitamin-and-mineral from a health food shop for at least three months may help.

WendyWu20 profile image
WendyWu20

Thanks Rothwell, I have just ordered some Florisene from Amazon.

I have resorted to using a dry shampoo on a daily basis (in addition to washing hair normally) - find that it helps plump up the thinning hair and it looks a bit thicker :o)

in reply to WendyWu20

I've just tried dry shampoo and I'm pleased with results my hair does look thicker and fluffier. Will see how long it lasts but at the minute I'm happier thanks Wendy for suggesting this x

WendyWu20 profile image
WendyWu20 in reply to

That's good. My Florisene tablets have arrived...the instructions advise taking 3 a day, on an empty stomach with no other medication. Well, that'll be a challenge - having an empty stomach three times a day haha :o)

AllyAF profile image
AllyAF

I am on Rivaroxaban and no problems with hair loss. Hope you get yours sorted.

KALIFORNIAKITTY profile image
KALIFORNIAKITTY

I did some research and neither of the blood thinners you take and your husband takes, has a side effect of hair loss.

Kitty

in reply to KALIFORNIAKITTY

Apparently it's not a recognised symptom but it does happen .I wish it didn't .looks like nothing can be done as all blood thinners may have the same effect.

KALIFORNIAKITTY profile image
KALIFORNIAKITTY

Wow that's just wrong. I could not find any information, even on the flyers I get with my Pradaxa.

Kitty

WendyWu20 profile image
WendyWu20

The DOAC anticoagulants are relatively new and further research needs to be done; however alopecia is already reported. This article (2016) concluded the following:

The observation that both heparins and coumarins cause a similar pattern of hair loss suggests a shared mechanism related to their anticoagulant activity. Therefore, one predicts that alopecia will be seen as an adverse effect with the DOACs.

The prevalence is likely to be underestimated by clinicians due to the latency period between drug exposure and development of hair loss. Additionally, whether the resulting increase in hair loss is to a clinically significant level will depend on an individual’s baseline hair mass and baseline daily hair loss, which is highly variable from person to person.

Even though not formally reported in the many patients studied in the landmark clinical trials for the DOACs, emerging VigiBase® reports and the early Dresden registry findings suggest that DOACs are implicated. With wider-spread clinical use of DOACs this will become clearer. Using algorithmic methods such as Naranjo [28] would help confirm causality, and we call on clinicians world-wide to report alopecia suspected to be related to anticoagulant therapy, so the scale of the problem is fully understood.

Pdotg profile image
Pdotg

My hair also fell out after a couple of months on Rivaroxaban . I saw the gp and chemist who said my hair loss was not related to any pills. After a year of thinning hair - and all the angst that goes with that - it just started growing back again. I've now been on the drug for three years and my hair is back to normal. This may help you? (I'm 67, female.)

in reply to Pdotg

Thanks for that. I'm hair is thinning by the day .I haven't seen a gp or a nurse yet to tell them, but I'm hoping i will be like you and my hair will just start to grow again.My hair doesn't feel the same anymore it feels so different and thin.

pauline5 profile image
pauline5

i been on warfrain for almost 4 years for AF it says on warfrain side effect can cause hair loss yes i seem to have more hairs in my hair brush i dont want to change from warfrian for say i have accident they can reverse it thats why i stay on it as i dont think they can with the others but not sure i wont have the ablasion sorry cant spell as the chap next door had it and then had a stroke his 52 also i nursed people who had strokes im scared as im 75 theres is more of a chance me having one because of my age and consulant said it might not work Also now i hardly ever eat greens i do like them when i do my inr is all over the place my friend says i have to eat it every day but i dont want veg every day i suffer from blood pressure take a few tablets for it if im on my own and have a turn of AF its a bit scarey

Pamelahenderson1 profile image
Pamelahenderson1

I had Significant hair loss when put on xarelto for 6 months!! Changed to Eliquis and it stopped!! Talk to your Dr.!!!

WorryDRUG73 profile image
WorryDRUG73

You give me hope. I've been on Eliquis for 5 months and now have bald spots and significant hair loss. I'm depressed. Every time I lean over a sink, I see hair on the counter and gobs about when I wash my hair. My doc says the drug isn't causing it. I don't believe her. So maybe it will end after awhile??? I go for another clot test next month. Hoping I'm well but don't think so. The drug still makes me dizzy, weak,and gives me memory loss. My life is hard now. But I also had terrible leg pain from the clots before I got on the drug so know it's working. Oh my.

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