Hi,

I just wondered if any of you might know of a diuretic that does NOT cause hair loss the way that HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) does?

Do ALL diuretics cause hair loss?

I did not even know that HCTZ causes hair loss until I read it here on the forum, and I'm so darn angry that I was not told.

I have been scarfing back 25 mgs of HCTZ every morning for over three years now, and my hair is soooo thin! (And it used to be really THICK).

Of course, my doctor is 'mystified' about what could be causing my hair to thin so much.

I've tried researching HCTZ online so I could take the info in to him, and cannot come up with ANYTHING definitive that verifies that it does cause hair loss as a side effect, but ... there is no doubt in my mind that it has contributed to mine.

ANY suggestions you might offer for a diuretic that does NOT cause hair loss would be VERY much appreciated. I can't afford to lose anymore hair.

Thanks so much!
Nancy

EDIT: Came back to add - I've been taking the HCTZ for hypertension.

Hi,

I just wondered if any of you might know of a diuretic that does NOT cause hair loss the way that HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) does?

Do ALL diuretics cause hair loss?

I did not even know that HCTZ causes hair loss until I read it here on the forum, and I'm so darn angry that I was not told.

I have been scarfing back 25 mgs of HCTZ every morning for over three years now, and my hair is soooo thin! (And it used to be really THICK).

Of course, my doctor is 'mystified' about what could be causing my hair to thin so much.

I've tried researching HCTZ online so I could take the info in to him, and cannot come up with ANYTHING definitive that verifies that it does cause hair loss as a side effect, but ... there is no doubt in my mind that it has contributed to mine.

ANY suggestions you might offer for a diuretic that does NOT cause hair loss would be VERY much appreciated. I can't afford to lose anymore hair.

Thanks so much!
Nancy

EDIT: Came back to add - I've been taking the HCTZ for hypertension.
:wave: Where did you hear hctz causes hair loss. I too have been on hctz for five or six yrs and i was never told that. I use to have very long and healthy hair until the last 2 to 3 yrs. I just assumed it was due to my many illnesses and many different meds. I will ask the pharmacist when i go for my walk tomorrow and then post the answer on the board. if you get an answer before then let me know. good luck.

HCT side effects , notice under skin alopecia which is hair loss .

Body as a Whole: Weakness.
Cardiovascular: Hypotension including orthostatic hypotension (may be aggravated by alcohol, barbiturates, narcotics or antihypertensive drugs).
Digestive: Pancreatitis, jaundice (intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice), diarrhea, vomiting, sialadenitis, cramping, constipation, gastric irritation, nausea, anorexia.
Hematologic: Aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia.
Hypersensitivity: Anaphylactic reactions, necrotizing angiitis (vasculitis and cutaneous vasculitis), respiratory distress including pneumonitis and pulmonary edema, photosensitivity, fever, urticaria, rash, purpura.
Metabolic: Electrolyte imbalance (see PRECAUTIONS), hyperglycemia, glycosuria, hyperuricemia.
Musculoskeletal: Muscle spasm.
Nervous System/Psychiatric: Vertigo, paresthesias, dizziness, headache, restlessness.
Renal: Renal failure, renal dysfunction, interstitial nephritis. (See WARNINGS.)
Skin: Erythema multiforme including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis including toxic epidermal necrolysis, alopecia.
Special Senses: Transient blurred vision, xanthopsia.

Urogenital: Impotence.

HCT side effects , notice under skin alopecia which is hair loss .

Body as a Whole: Weakness.
Cardiovascular: Hypotension including orthostatic hypotension (may be aggravated by alcohol, barbiturates, narcotics or antihypertensive drugs).
Digestive: Pancreatitis, jaundice (intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice), diarrhea, vomiting, sialadenitis, cramping, constipation, gastric irritation, nausea, anorexia.
Hematologic: Aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia.
Hypersensitivity: Anaphylactic reactions, necrotizing angiitis (vasculitis and cutaneous vasculitis), respiratory distress including pneumonitis and pulmonary edema, photosensitivity, fever, urticaria, rash, purpura.
Metabolic: Electrolyte imbalance (see PRECAUTIONS), hyperglycemia, glycosuria, hyperuricemia.
Musculoskeletal: Muscle spasm.
Nervous System/Psychiatric: Vertigo, paresthesias, dizziness, headache, restlessness.
Renal: Renal failure, renal dysfunction, interstitial nephritis. (See WARNINGS.)
Skin: Erythema multiforme including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis including toxic epidermal necrolysis, alopecia.
Special Senses: Transient blurred vision, xanthopsia.

Urogenital: Impotence.
:wave: :wave: Are you saying these are all possible side effects of hctz. This med doesn't sound to me like a diabetic person should be taking it. I've been taking this med since 1999 and was never told the side effects. I notice my hair was thinning a little and I just had eye surgery due to try eye. Do you know if it can be taken with verapamil and avapro? Wait until i see my endo. If hctz has all these side effects then that explains why somedays I feel great and other days I can't get out of bed. I thought it was the lisinopril. :rolleyes:

It has the potential to cause some of these in people , is it going to cause a lot of these in people , the answer is probably no but you can't rule it out . It is on the list for a reason because it has been seen in some people . A lot of people take diuretics without any problems other than running to bathroom more often .

I agree with viper,

If the listed side-effects occurred with any regularity, there would be NO drugs in the pharmacopeia....even aspirin.

That rare alopecia (hair loss) is common to lots of drugs. It's a PATCHY loss of hair- not thinning- that is generally completely reversible.

I've knows dozens of people on HCTZ over the years (it was the FIRST real BP med developed a half century ago)...and NEVER seen a case of alopecia....probably choking on the tiny pill is more likely:D:D.

I agree with viper,

If the listed side-effects occurred with any regularity, there would be NO drugs in the pharmacopeia....even aspirin.

That rare alopecia (hair loss) is common to lots of drugs. It's a PATCHY loss of hair- not thinning- that is generally completely reversible.

I've knows dozens of people on HCTZ over the years (it was the FIRST real BP med developed a half century ago)...and NEVER seen a case of alopecia....probably choking on the tiny pill is more likely:D:D.
;) ;) Thank you zip, i was beginning to wonder why am i hear. I do have some muscle weakness, but nothing like with the toprol xl or the zetia. i can tolerate alot of pain, but not my heart, back or brain. I had thinning hair not hair loss. It has since cleared up and i am back to my old self. You are a wealth of info. :jester:

does this hczt cause hair loss? i just looked on the webmd site and i didn't see that mentioned in the side effects.

if there anyone out there, as these posts are old, now find that the hair loss problem has been resolved and if so, approximately how long did it take to stop seeing hair everywhere on the floor?

According to viper's post, yes hctz can cause alopecia which is hair loss. I know my mom had alot of hair loss when she took hctz. It is now growing back to normal.

i was just diagnosed with acute pancreatitis in the er with pain in my middle back and thru to my chest. my dr. is taking me off hgtz water pill that i had been taking for a month. he said this could have caused it. going in for ultrasound and more blood work. he has be on liquids for a few days.

I had hair loss with hctz,atenelol and lisinipril (along with some other nasty side effects) Had no problems with furosemide. I think that I have heard that diabetics should not take either one, as a regular treatment, because of it's effect on the kidneys.

I've not haad a problem withh 25 years of HCTZ nor any problem so far with furosemide (Lasix!)