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What OTC Medications Can Cause Hair Loss?

Some over-the-counter (OTC) medications do cause unpleasant side effects, and perhaps one of the most troublesome side effects is hair loss. You will be surprised to learn how many OTC drugs can cause this unfortunate condition.

  1. Vitamin A

    • Vitamin A is an over-the-counter supplement that is lauded for promoting ocular health, but when the body receives too much of this vitamin, the user can suffer from Vitamin A toxicity. There are many symptoms of chronic Vitamin A toxicity, and one of them is hair loss. According to Mohsen Eledrisi, a consultant for the King Abdulaziz National Guard Medical Center in Saudi Arabia, most adults should limit their intake to 5000 international units (IU) per day.

    Ibuprofen

    • Dr. Judith Reichman of "Today" by MSNBC notes that ibuprofen can cause hair loss in some people. The best way to reverse the hair loss is to stop taking ibuprofen and wait to see if the hair grows back naturally. Dr. Reichman claims that the hair usually grows back on its own and does not become a recurring issue.

    Lamisil

    • Drugs.com contains a long list of side effects associated with the anti-fungal drug Lamisil, but hair loss seems to be mild compared to some of the other adverse effects. Hair loss is accompanied by ocular changes, taste disturbances, and liver abnormalities.

    Zantac

    • The eMedTV website claims that Zantac, a drug used to decrease stomach acid that leads to reflux and ulcers, occasionally causes hair loss. However, you are more likely to suffer from side effects like headaches, rashes, and constipation.

    Naproxen

    • Naproxen is a pain reliever that some people prefer over ibuprofen and acetaminophen. But according to Dr. Dennis Barter of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, this drug has caused hair loss in a number of patients. He reports that the pharmacy at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has received 58 reports of naproxen causing hair loss.

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