Coumadin and Hair Loss

The Mayo Clinic lists hair loss from Coumadin/Warfarin as one of the less-serious possible side effects. I already had thin hair, but after three months of Warfarin (for DVTs), I am close to bald on top. Luckily, the doctor has taken me off of it, and hopefully, that lost will be regained.

Personally, I think Coumadin/Warfarin are prescribed far too often. Fish oil, garlic, cranberry, turmeric and other natural substances have been shown to work quite well, and without the nasty side effects.

I was following the Esselstyn diet while I was on Warfarin, eating exactly the same things, in the same amounts, day after day. Yet not a week went by that I wasn't called by the clinic to adjust my dosage. One week I would be at 1.7, the next at 3.4. Then I would have a week that was good, only to have it go drastically down or up, the next. Each time, I could hear the suspicion in the nurse's voice, when she asked if I had eaten more of less of the broccoli and spinach that are a mainstay in my diet, and she heard me say 'No'. So, I am very grateful that my doctor decided enough was enough. Now I will concentrate on the natural products to accomplish the same thing.

I have been on Coumadin for 6 years. I have APS and had a TIA about 8 years ago. My eyebrows and hair started falling out about a year after I started taking the Coumadin. My hairline all around my face is receding rapidly. My hemo let me swtich to Lovenox, but I could not tolerate the side effects. I was only on it for about 3 weeks, but immediately noticed regrowth. I am extremely discouraged and now am on Rogaine for Women, which a dermatologist recommended. According to the literature, however, Rogaine does not work on drug induced hair loss. Are there any other drugs to use besides Lovenox and Coumadin for APS with history of TIA? My Hemo is nervous to take me off and swtich to another drug, but I am 42 and just cannot deal with this continuous hair loss. Anyone on Pradaxa? Does Low Molecular Weight Heparin also cause hair loss?

I am experiencing hair loss and it is positively from warfarin I have been a liscened cosmetologist for over 40 years and just read the inserts or go online under side effects it says Alopecia which means baldness.I am going to get off this drug which my Doctor dis agrees but I want my hair I will go back to baby asprins

I went on Coumadin in 2005 after suffering a blood clot to the leg. Last year (2011) I had back sugery and suffered a pulmonary embolism. The first round of Coumadin lasted 6 months. I loss alot of hair and had to wear a hairpiece. I am now on Coumadin for minimum a year. I don't know what to do. My hair is course and falling out like it did in 2005. I got it cut real short so its not so traumatic when it falls out. My doctor tested my Thyroid and it was normal. He too was not aware of this side effect of Coumadin. I going to look for a wig next week. :(

Have been on coumadin since sept,
. I am also losing hair! Too many of us to be a coincidence, don't you think? Will ask my doc and get back.

I have been on Coumadin since March 2010 due to multiple DVTs and PEs. Being 40 years old when it happened was devastating but I survived. Since going on Coumadin I now have devastating hair loss. (To be your own advocate you must almost become a doctor with the studying of your conditions.) DO NOT take ONE doctor's or even several doctors’ OPINION as gospel. Medicine is a science but each individual doctor can interpret it differently. I finally heard from a pharmacist and a dermatologist (mind you, the third opinion I got) that Coumadin CAN cause hair loss. If you are up-to-date with your own research then you will know that new drugs are being approved that can be a substitute for Coumadin. If you have not done any research, stick to the New England Journal of Medicine, NIH, Hopkins, Mayo Clinic (and some others). DO NOT read websites that are not associated with big name research hospitals or publications. I made that mistake and found more OPINIONS instead of FACTS. I hope this helps. :-)

Rebecca-i am sorry to hear about your problems. I know that they are developing new blood thinners. Do you know yet which one you will take? I have an appointment with a new doctor in a month to get a second opinion on what medicine I can take for my situation (Antiphosphoidlipid Syndrome). I've had 2 dermatologists confirm that my hair loss is solely from Coumadin. It's incredibly depressing.

Asked my Dr. Today. Hair loss is uncommon but is a possible side effect of coumadin. Hair does grow BA k after you stop the drug. Personally,I don't think it's as rare as they say
Look at all of us. Did notice that I didn't start losing hair till my dose was upped. Hope this helps you guys.

I am so sad to hear of all of the people on this post having this same issue of hair loss. I got a dvt in the leg and pe after having a c-section giving birth to my son. I told the doctors and nursing staff of the cramping in my leg and they told me I needed to walk more. Nobody looked into a clot in the leg I was told that I was NOT to get up in the first 24 hours after my son was born. I heard after I was diagnosed with the pe that it's rule number one that the hospital was supposed to get me up walking right away and not wait as long as I was told by the staff. They dropped the ball and I'm lucky to be here. I am on 7.5 Coumadin daily for 4 months. Only in the last few weeks I've noticed my hair falling out in clumps in the shower and dropping more and more each day. I also said something to my dr and they never heard of hair loss sude effect The fact is that I never had hair loss before this and now I'm taking a daily dose of rat poison. I mean it only makes sense and instead of the doctors jelping anyone out they make u feel like your crazy. The best rule of thumb is to follow your gut as u all know your bodies and you will be your own best advocate as its your life. Speak up and say how you are feeling even if you get the attitude from the doctor that you are being a hypochondriac. Speaking up saved my life as if I didn't follow up with the leg cramp after the hospital brushed me off I could have possibly died leaving my newborn son. I pray that each of you get well and hopefully see the hair grow back.

i have been taking warfrin for DVT for 6 months now though doctors said it will only take about six month to be on this treatment,is it really possible to take it for the rest of my life

To whom this may concern. I am an RN and had a blood clot in my leg many years ago. I was perscribed Coumadin. During the course of my recovery, I began loosing my hair. It came out when I washed it, combed it and I would noticed hair on my pillow after a nights sleep. I was again perscribed this drug six months ago after back surgery and suffering a pulmonary embolism. My thyroid is normal. Coumadin CAN cause hair loss! The good thing is that it grows back after therapy is discontinued. It took about two months post discontinuation of Coumadin to notice my hair was not falling out anymore. Hope this helps.

My hair came out too. I work in the medical field and was performing a test on a patient with a beautiful head of hair. I complament her and she said she was a cancer survior and at one time had lost most of her hair. A shampoo, conditionor, and treatment was recommended to her and what I see was the results. I was given the name of this product (Nioxon) and have been using it for a little over a year now. My hair has grown back and is absolutely beautiful. I have since stop using the treatment and use the shampoo and conditionor only. I hope to see this patient again just to say, thank you... If any of you should use this productor, I pray you are as happy as I am with the reaults. To God Be The Glory!

I have been steadily losing hair while taking Coumadin. I want to know if it will grow back.

I took Warfarin for 6 months and stopped (against doctor's recommendation). I had many of the typical side effects and one of them was massive hairloss. It has been 10 months since I stopped and my hair is still falling out. Almost all doctors lie about it. they know, but the Warfarin industry is very powerful.

Yes Coumadin does cause hair loss!!!!!!!!!!<etc. My thyroid is fine and ever since I started taking Coumadin I have had significant hair loss:~{ When I picked up my meds from the pharmacy it SPECIFICALLY states that hair loss is a side effect along with blurred vision and taste buds going crazy} Im praying that it comes back, bc I had THICK CURLY BUTT length hair before this drug. Owell at least I no longer have Pulmonary Embolisms in my right lung anymore:~} Hope this helps.

Shana wrote:

Laurie - not to go against your advise, but almost every other forum I go to for Coumadin, all the patients experience hair loss, including myself.
http://www.robprince.net/dvt/forum.asp...
and
http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp...
My hair was thin before, but is really thin now. I have been on Coumadin since Aug07 and my haircut just keeps getting shorter and shorter because of it. It's sad, but I do have hair at least. I'm thinking about hair extensions if it gets any worse. No thyroid issues either.
I hope this helps Ron, you are not alone. Most of us have this issue at some point.
I hope you are doing well.

OMG Laurie you are so right! I told my Doc that I was losing my thick head of hair! He said he never heard of such a thing, I then replied" Hello its only the main ingredient in Rat Poisoning why wouldn't my hair fall out? He shook his head and I showed him the side effects on th prescription paperwork given to me by Walgreens. Duh. Sometimes docs are so stupid!

nthabiseng wrote:

i have been taking warfrin for DVT for 6 months now though doctors said it will only take about six month to be on this treatment,is it really possible to take it for the rest of my life