In some cases, people who take the antidepressant known as Celexa have a question in their mind, does Celexa cause hair loss? Yes, some people may experience hair loss when taking citalopram. But is this a common side effect of this drug or an isolated incident?
Read on to discover more about whether or not your hair loss is caused by Celexa, and what you can do about it if it is.
Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) is one of several types of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It’s one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants on the market today due to its safety and effectiveness in treating depression.
However, like all medications, there are some potential side effects that could be scary if you’re new to taking Celexa. These include dry mouth, dizziness, weakness, inability to ejaculate, insomnia, and weight gain.
However, these side effects often subside after a few weeks or even days with continued use. Celexa also has the potential side effect of causing hair loss in men and women who take it. In fact, studies have found that anywhere from 20% to 52% of patients who take SSRIs experience some form of hair loss as a result.
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Does Celexa Cause Hair Loss?
Celexa is one of many types of antidepressants that have been known to cause hair loss. Celexa among other antidepressants causes telogen effluvium which is a type of temporary hair loss that is triggered by medication, anxiety, and stress. Studies have shown that hair loss accelerates you increase the dose of the antidepressant. But it’s important to remember that this is a common side effect, and it doesn’t occur in everyone who takes antidepressants.
Some people will see hair thinning on the scalp or hair on their brush after a short period. It’s important to note that this type of hair loss is not permanent and will usually grow back within 6 months after you’ve stopped taking the drug. There are several potential causes of hair loss, and Celexa is only one of them.
While it’s possible that the hair loss is due to the antidepressant, it’s also possible that it’s due to something else, such as a nutritional deficiency, stress, genetics, age, certain diseases, a certain medication, or even a change in hormone levels.
Will Everyone Who Takes Celexa Experience Hair Loss?
No, not everyone who takes Celexa will experience hair loss. Hair loss is a possible side effect of Celexa, but it is not a common one. According to the prescribing information for Celexa, hair loss is reported in less than 1% of patients who take the medication.
Additionally, the likelihood of experiencing hair loss while taking Celexa may depend on various factors, including the dosage, the duration of use, and individual differences in metabolism and sensitivity to the medication.
If you are concerned about hair loss while taking Celexa, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider. They can assess your individual risk factors and recommend appropriate monitoring or treatment options. In fact, most people will not experience any hair loss at all. But there is a risk that you may experience some hair loss as a side effect of taking Celexa.
This is important to keep in mind if you’ve just started taking this medication and notice that you’ve started losing hair. It could be a sign that the medication is causing your hair loss. The good news is that most hair loss due to Celexa is temporary and will grow back once you’ve stopped taking the drug.
How Can You Tell if Your Hair Loss is due to Celexa?
There are a few signs that you can look out for if you’re wondering whether or not your hair loss is due to the medication. First, you’ll want to monitor your hair loss over time.
If your hair loss began around the same time that you started taking Celexa, it’s a good sign that the hair loss is related to the medication. If you’ve been taking Celexa for a while and your hair loss is minimal, it’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for other signs that the medication is working.
For example, if you’ve been taking Celexa for depression, you should start to notice an improvement in your mood and energy levels after a few weeks.
How Does Celexa Cause Hair Loss?
There are a few different theories about how the drug may cause hair loss, but it’s important to note that the medical community has yet to come to a consensus about this.
One study found that the drug may cause hair loss by blocking the normal function of the hair follicle. In the process Telogen effluvium leads to the hair follicles entering the resting stage (telogen phase) prematurely.
People who have been taking Celexa and other antidepressants in the past few months may start seeing more hair on their brush. The hair loss is temporary.
Some studies have found that the drug may cause hair loss by inhibiting the hormone androgen, which is responsible for producing both male and female hormones.
What Types of Hair Loss Are Caused by Celexa?
Celexa (citalopram) is an antidepressant medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). While hair loss is not a common side effect of Celexa, it is still possible for some individuals to experience hair loss while taking this medication.
There are several types of hair loss that can be caused by Celexa, including:
- Telogen effluvium: This is a temporary form of hair loss that occurs when a large number of hair follicles enter the resting phase of the hair growth cycle at the same time. This can be triggered by a number of factors, including medication changes, stress, illness, and hormonal changes.
- Alopecia areata: This is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss in patches. While the exact cause of alopecia areata is unknown, it is believed to be related to an abnormal immune system response.
- Androgenetic alopecia: This is the most common form of hair loss, which is typically caused by genetic factors and hormone imbalances. It is also known as male or female pattern baldness.
If you experience hair loss while taking Celexa, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider. They can help determine the underlying cause of your hair loss and may recommend a change in medication or other treatment options.
How long does hair loss from Celexa occur?
Celexa-induced hair loss can occur at any time, but most cases resolve themselves within 6 months of stopping the drug. If you’ve been taking Celexa for a while and you’ve been experiencing hair loss, you may need to change your medication.
However, switching medications is not always easy, so always consult with your physician before making any changes. Most hair loss from Celexa is temporary, but in some cases, it can be permanent.
It is important to keep in mind that Celexa-induced hair shedding is generally not as severe as other types of hair loss, such as alopecia areata or telogen effluvium.
SSRI and hair loss
Many people who experience hair loss while on antidepressants assume that the hair loss is permanent. And while it’s true that some antidepressants do cause permanent hair loss, the majority of cases caused by antidepressant use are temporary.
One study found that the SSRIs fluoxetine and paroxetine cause the least amount of hair loss compared to other types of antidepressants. So if you’re taking Celexa and notice that you’re losing hair, you may want to consider switching to one of these two medications.
Related:
Prozac and Alopecia: Does Prozac Cause Hair Loss?
Does Zoloft Cause Hair Loss? 5 Trusted Sertraline Hair Thinning Treatment Methods
Does Buspar Cause Hair Loss? A Comprehensive Guide to Does Buspirone Cause Alopecia?
Is Your Hair Loss Caused by Another Medication?
Most antidepressants can cause telogen effluvium. However, bupropion has one of the highest risks of developing hair loss. While Celexa is a common cause of hair loss, it’s important to remember that it’s not the only one.
It’s possible that the hair loss is due to another medication that you’re taking. It’s important to note that this type of hair loss is usually temporary but may require that you stop taking the medication.
There are very many potential causes of hair loss for people taking medications. It is therefore hard to pinpoint the cause of hair loss to a medication. Therefore, to know if the cause of your hair loss is by stopping the medication or shifting to another medication.
If you’re taking a medication and you’ve been experiencing hair loss, it’s important to speak with your doctor. Your doctor can help you determine whether or not the hair loss is caused by the medication that you’re taking.
Some of the medications that can cause hair loss include:
- Antidepressants
- Antimicrobial tuberculosis drugs
- Arthritis, and inflammation drugs
- Blood thinners, or anticoagulants,
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs
- Some statin drugs
- Beta-blockers
- Blood pressure meds
- Epilepsy and anticonvulsant meds
- Severe acne and psoriasis
How to Stop the Hair Loss from Celexa
There are a number of ways to stop hair loss or to stimulate regrowing of hair when taking Celexa with the major one being lowering the dose of your citalopram medication with consultation with your doctor or by changing the type of antidepressant or anxiety medication that you are taking. The low dose reduces the effect of serotonin and other brain chemicals in inducing hair loss.
Moreover, you can explore the following:
- keeping the hair moist,
- avoiding harsh products, such as hot water and hair dryers
It’s important to remember that Celexa-induced hair loss is temporary. It may take a few months, but your hair will grow back.
Conclusion
Celexa is a very common medication used to treat many conditions, including depression. The drug is generally well-tolerated and produces few side effects, but there is a risk of hair loss.
This type of hair loss is typically mild and temporary, often lasting only a few months after ceasing treatment. If you’re taking Celexa and notice that you’re losing hair, don’t worry. In most cases, your hair will grow back when you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Either way, it can be quite frightening to consider whether your medication is also causing your hair to fall out. Celexa (citalopram) is one such antidepressant that can cause hair loss in some individuals. However, not everyone experiences this side effect from taking Celexa; it’s only a small percentage of users.
3 Citations:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327068
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28763345/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28763345/#:~:text=Compared%20with%20bupropion%2C%20all%20other,CI%3A%200.64%2D1.37).
