Hair thinning from antidepressant?

[goldyfm]

I have had my Celexa increased over the last month. I now take twice what I was taking (40mg) currently. I have very thick hair but I have noticed that every time I brush my hair, I am losing a brush full of hair and even more when I shampoo. I read that some antidepressants will do this but I wonder why it is happening now when I had not had this happen months ago when I first started taking the Celexa. Has anyone else had this side effect?

My only other med change is the addition of Cozaar for a heart valve problem. I asked the pharmacist and she seemed to think it would be the antidepressant. If anyone has had this side effect, did it stop or slow down? I don't need another problem to worry about.

[trg247]

Hi:

Stress alone can cause your hair to fall out. At different dosages meds act differently and the best example of that is Wellbutrin. At low dosages it is used to help people quit smoking, the name is Zyban but it is the same med, yet at a higher dosage it is used to help depression and the antismoking properties are gone. So it might be from the increase in the med or it could be the result of an increase in stress.

take care
trg247

[kittywitty]

Goldy -

I've never been on Celexa, but I did have hair loss on Prozac. It's considered a 'rare' side effect, but I'm sensitive to side effects and often times I will experience even the ones that are considered 'rare'. It can be dose-dependent, but for me it wasn't. I had it the whole time I was on it. It did slow way down after I went off of it, though, and my hair eventually thickened up again. I done some research on the Cozaar for you and found that hair loss is considered a 'rare' side effect. I also read about people experiencing hair loss on Celexa. So, if you're med-sensitive like me, it could be from either one. When did you start noticing the loss? After your Celexa increase or after adding the Cozaar?

[goldyfm]

Hi Kitty. I actually started increasing the Celexa about the time I started the Cozaar. But I just started the hair loss last week although I have been on the new meds and increase about a month now. I will probably call my PCP and see what she says.

[goldyfm]

Update. Cardiologist discontinued the Cozarr, thinks that is the culprit for the hair loss. Just wanted to let you know.