Hair Loss Caused by Taking Navane

There are various reasons for hair loss, or alopecia. Some antidepressants and emotional stabilizers can cause hair to fall out as a side effect. Navane, an anti-psychotic drug, may contribute to hair loss.

What is Navane?

• Navane is the brand name for the generic drug thiothixene. Doctors prescribe Navane to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic conditions not related to dementia. It affects chemical activities in the brain.

Alopecia

• Alopecia refers to the autoimmune diseases which causes the body to attack healthy cells in the hair follicles. The disease may result from medications such as thiothixene. Alopecia hair loss is usually not permanent, according to according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.

How hair loss happens

• Hair growth cycles consist of three major phases: anagen, catagen and telogen, according to HairInformation.com. Drugs that cause alopecia do so by shortening the anagen growing phase and prolonging the telogen phase---hair's resting phase---leading to thinning and sometimes balding.

Research

• A book entitled "Hair Loss" lists thiothixene as one of the drugs that induces alopecia by affecting the telogen phase. There are over 100 other drugs on the list that cause hair loss.

Expert Insight

• Alopecia due to medication is often temporary. According to DermaDoctor.com, as soon as the medication is out of the body, you will notice hair growing back fuller.