Coumadin and hair loss?

[Yaps]

Have many noticed the hair loss?When I mention to my drs, they claim its not a side effect..yet when I search it says it is?? Anyone losing our crowning glory?
Love Yaps

 

[Birky]

losing hair

losing hair

I am not experiencing any hair loss from taking the Coumadin. I had read somewhere that this could be a side effect. I think this was discussed previously on some thread.

 

[Les]

11 years and 9 years post-op...Hair is as thick as it always was. ( Thanks genes! )

 

[Harpoon]

According my research (as "non-extensive" as that might be) hairloss IS a side-effect of coumadin but I think it varies a lot depending on dosage and other factors. I had a big bald spot on the back of my head when I came home from the hospital. It was from laying on my back in the ICU on a vent for about five weeks. It took the whole summer to grow back, but it did and I was on coumadin the whole time...

 

[Susan BAV]

I took Coumadin for three months post-op and lost a lot of hair! I could hardly believe how much hair I was losing! I wasn't sure what the cause of the hair loss was and suspected the Sotalol (which I took for a-fib), which I also took for three months post-op. Both of those medications are listed as interfering with Synthroid, which I take for hypothroidism, so I thought that was the problem. I still don't know what the cause was but my hair loss trouble stopped a few months ago. I also have read that anesthesia can cause hair loss.

 

[catwoman]

I have always had very thick hair -- was a 10lb baby w/ full head of hair, looked like a 3MO, my mom says.
After each of my surgeries (4 or 5), I've had hair loss, even at age 17. Each time, hair has grown back. I was having some hair loss B4 my MVR, but my hairdresser said my hair was still very thick; I've gone to him for 24+ years, so he should know what my hair is like.
I may be going through some hair loss; after all, I'll be (gulp) 54 in 2MO. I had it cut short, shorter, even shorter in several stages after my MVR. Feels very very thick now.
I'm not sure I'd attribute any hair loss I've had since my surgery to Coumadin.

 

[Marge]

My hairdresser told me that she's had a number of clients who were on coumadin and that they had all had some hair loss. She was surprised when I said I hadn't noticed any. But I was only on coumadin for three months. It was probably not enough time for the side effect, if it is one, to kick in.

 

[hensylee]

If memory serves, this question was discussed 2 or 3 yrs ago, I don't recall much about it but if somebody wants to search it?

Great stress; life changing events; medicines; disease - all hair attackers.

 

[Raverlaw]

Given the demographics of the population that takes the most Coumadin, I think it would be very hard to craft a study that could pin hair loss on the drug only, and not age or other medications.

I had to smile when I saw the title of this thread; it seems like there have been a lot of similar threads: "Coumadin and __________" You can fill in the blank with almost any thing you dread and someone will tell you that Coumadin gave it to them.

The side effect that I fear most is a stroke, and I don't think my daily warfarin dose will give me that!

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Yep, I lost a bunch o' hairs after my surgery, and I got pretty thin on top. It did grow back after a couple of months, however, and I was never sure if it was the trauma of the surgery or the Coumadin that caused it. Seems like if it was Coumadin it wouldn't have returned???

Man, there for a while it seemed like a shower of hair forming a trail behind me

 

[LUVMyBirman]

For the first six months after surgery I lost a great deal of hair.

Chalk it up to the following....it was either A. Coumadin and all of the other drugs. Or B. truma of surgery itself.

In any case......the effects were short lived.

 

[Rush20]

I had read that hair loss only effects 1% of Coumadin users. Out of that 1%, the majority of people effected are women. However, with any numbers, they can be manipulated. I'm sure a large percentage of users are over 40 years of age, so I think nature and natural aging has to be accounted for.

I'm 40 at take 4 and 6 mg on alternating days. I haven't noticed any hair loss as a result.

 

[Nancy]

Joe's been on it for 26 and a half years. He has a full head of hair.
However, there have been times when he has had very traumatic medical problems and they have caused some hair loss, but it did come back.

 

[danseamour]

Oh God, I HOPE that blood thinners won't thin my hair any more than it already is! I was NOT blessed with thick hair to begin with, and I have noticed the hair on the sides of my head are substantially thinner in the last several years....... and I HAVE to take blood thinners for the rest of my life??? Well, at least I can cover the sides. LOL It would be much worse it it was the top of my head - right?
Janet

 

[McCln]

I lost a lot of hair when I started on warafin. I keep it short to keep the hair loss at a minimum. I think it depends on the individual and dosage. I take low doses but I may be one to have the hair loss sideaffect. It is like I take a shot of depo-prevera every three months, and have not gained weight. I have been able to lose weight. So it depends on the persons tolerence and dosage of the medication. Just hang in there. Have a great weekend.

Caroline
09-11-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve

 

[hockeymama14]

hair loss

hair loss

Finally someone else with the same problem.I have lost quite a bit of hair while on coumadin.It scares me.I know they say that it only effects about 1% of the users,but I guess we are that 1%,(how lucky!LOL)I have been taking coumadin for about 15 months after my heart valve surgery,hopefully I wont be on it too much longer.I have discussed it with my doctor and she does not seem too worried,but I sure am.Please let me know what you find out. Thanks