Hair loss with amlodipine

[Happybeat]

Have had high blood pressure for many years taking 5mg amlodipine with success until recently. Couple months ago the dose was increased to 10mg to combat my higher BP. Now I am losing my hair. Want to control my BP but would like to have some hair on my head. Has anybody else experienced this? Does anyone know which (if any) BP meds are less likely to lead to hair loss?

[Happyrosie]

Hmm happybeat we have similar names ..... I’m not on the same medication as you. Some fifteen years ago NICE made new recommendations on what white sixty year olds should be on, and I changed to that.But, for the last four or five years my hair is certainly getting thinner. I’ve always put it down to age (75).

I’ve always found my pharmacist to be a real whizz on medications and their setbacks and interactions so I would talk to him. You may be able to do the same?

[Happybeat in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks for your response. I will definitely check with the pharmacist.

[Brisk61]

I also have thinning hair as my sisters do .We had luscious locks before familiar hypertension was diagnosed. I find a diet rich in omega 3 does keep it looking healthy. I also use Plantur 39 shampoo. Definitely B/P meds do contribute to our hair loss. I take Ramipril and it does cause hair loss only in a small %of people. It controls my B/P and as I do get side effects I am reluctant to change. Good luck with your search, let us know how u get on . 🙂

[Happybeat in reply to Brisk61]

Never heard of Plantur 39. Checked it out on line and found that caffeine is an ingredient. I was recently diagnosed with A Fib and have been told to stop, or at least limit, alcohol and caffeine. Just finished reading "Just be careful because caffeine will absorb through the skin and into the bloodstream." So I may not be trying Plantur 39 but do I really do appreciate your input.

[lettingoffsteam]

I'm on 5mg amlodipine plus others and I've noticed my hair is thinner than it was.Perhaps your GP could pair 5mg amlodipine with another med as two different ones often work better than a large dose of one.I'm on ramipril 2.5mg.

[Boberto101]

I take 5mg Amlodipine and no issues. Hair loss is not present on the official side effects list and not heard this before for the drug so I wouldn’t be too sure it’s directly related. As stated you may want to see if you can go a lower dose and combine with another BP med. Dual therapy is deemed to be far more effective in reducing side effects as opposed to larger doses of one med. Seasonal hair shedding is a thing so look at diet and all those things. Can also be hormonal so it’s hard to pin it down to one thing I think. Seasonal hair shedding does come back in 3 months

[Happybeat in reply to Boberto101]

Thanks for your input. FYI, hair loss from is a possible side effect of BP meds per the websites of The Mayo Clinic, WebMD and Healthline. I'll talk to my doctor about dual therapy as I do believe the meds is the culprit.

[Boberto101 in reply to Happybeat]

Best of luck with it. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. Web MD and other sites dosent state hair loss as an official side effect on that. Checked again and it’s not even on the ‘rare’ list. There are 1 or 2 beta blockers which I believe are considered stronger that may carry hair loss as a side. But they work very differently as a drug. Main sides of Amlodipine is dizziness and ankle adema. You would be considered an outlier if it’s happened. It may have been a body reaction to increased dose age. Everyone is different. Definitely the dual option in lower doseage is the way forward to minimise sides. 👍🏼

[xxSummerladyxx in reply to Boberto101]

Hair loss is on the leaflet that comes with amlodipine.