hair loss with lexapro

I lost alot of my hair on lexapro and when i increased to the 20mg the hair loss doubled. The psychiatrist and dermatologist swore it was not the medication. I went to a dermatologist that only deals with hair loss and he assured me it was 100% the Lexapro. Stress is a factor for hair loss but the rate at the rate my hair was falling out at 30 years old and both of my parents have all their hair he said it was the medication and I needed to switch to wellbutrin. He said hair loss is in cycles and the medication has to get out of my system before it stops falling out. Stress started in Dec. I started the medication in January. Excessive hair loss started in March. The doctor stated the hair loss will stop between Aug and Sept. It has reduced significantly and I stopped the medication in April.

I have excessive hair loss as well. The only change was going on Lexapro. My doctor said she has never heard of this side affect. I took her in 1 days worth of hair from my brush. She was blown away!!!

Please do not go on Cymbalta. If you think you have problems now you will have multiple problems on top of weight gain and hair loss. Dr. Linda A. Barton

I have been on lexapro for a few months now, and am experiencing a LOT of hair loss and it's causing me a lot of anxiety. I've been on it before and never experienced it. I only have a few pills left so I'm going to wean myself off it. I'm scared sh*tless of my hair falling out. As I have very thin hair anyways. These posts make me hopeful.

And could the hair loss be making my scalp itch?!

I've been on Lexapro for about 3 years and the entire time my hair has been falling out.  I thought it was thyroid issues, but changing the dosage on my thyroid hasn't changed the situation much.  I decided to Google "Hairloss and Lexapro" and found this forum.  I was taking 20 mg., and my new doctor cut it down to 10 mg., which I've been taking for about a month now.  Since finding this forum, I've cut that dose in half again, and will wean myself off of it completely in a couple of weeks.  I haven't been diagnosed with any serious depression issues, just some anxiety.  I moved from California to Florida a year and a half ago, and I really don't think I need the Lexapro anymore, anyway.  Getting out of California has pretty much cured my anxiety!  My hairloss is mostly at my upper temples and behind my ears.  I don't have any totally bald spots, but it's way thin!  I used to have excellent thick hair that made people jealous, now it's getting pretty thin.  I have to keep a hair trap in my shower and judge how much hair I'm losing by how much is caught in the trap.  I also sweep up a pile of hair every week from the bathroom floor and find random hairs on my desk at work, definitely on the bathroom counter, and have even found a hair in the refrigerator and dishwasher!  All my previous doctor said when I told her that was, "Well then, I won't be coming to your house for dinner!"  Nice, compassionate response, right?  That's why she's my PREVIOUS doctor!

Yes I have been on Cymbalta for 5 weeks and will have to stop taking it due to badly thinning hair.

I'm so happy i found this. I've been on Lexapro for about 8 months and now have a pronounced bald spot near my temple. I've recently switched to wellbutrin and am very happy to hear that it grows back

So happy you have found this out. Kept taking away meds from my regime to convince my Internist that the Lexapro was the culprit and I have lost over half of my hair, which I keep in a bag to show people. I am a retired Veterinarian with a Degree in Pharmacology. I see know that the company does not say that this is even a MILD side effect. I was taking only 20 Mgs and am now back on Paxil. The shedding stopped in three weeks, but the hair is gone. We will now see if it comes back. To all that take this drug for GAD, Anxiety Disorder, there is nothing like it. It works and works well. Sometimes the good outweighs the bad and the Paxil does not address my Anxiety nearly as well, but at 60, I am not ready to be bald for life. Do not waste time in going to a Dermatologist unless they specialize in hair loss. The chemical makeup of this drug makes your follicle weak and therefore your hair falls out. That is simple laymen's terms.

Wanted to make sure this posted. Dr. Linda

I just got off lexapro about a week now and have noticed significant hair loss. I was wondering what I did in the last week or so to have caused this, I caught a flu last week too, and thought maybe it had something to do with that. well, after reading this thread, I think it may be the lexapro, I was on for about 2 years and just got off it...Hopefully my new healthy diet and excercise will help restore what I lost...

I was re cently on Lexapro 5 months. Terrible hair loss. I Weaned off this week. This happned to me 13 yrs ago when I was on it for depression when I lost my daughter, but doctors told me it was from depression. I stopped taking it and hair grew back. Six months ago big job change and much anxiety. Docs said try it again. Helped immensely with stress but hair loss again. No doubt about it. Lawsuit interested

I've been talking Lexapro for 8 years. Started at 10mg then up to 20mg. Recently it stopped working so I tapered off Lexapro and my hair Is falling out. I've been completely off Lexapro for 10 days and the hair loss is still noticeable .

I recently stopped taking pail and have the exact same thing, almost completely bald in the middle front of the scalp. Did your hair grow back after you stopped taking lexapro?

Hi every one. I’m a foreign person and maybe my written text has some mistakes. I will be glad to answer my question. Please, please answer my question.

I’ve taken Lexapro (20 mg) for 2 months and after this period my psychologist increase it to 40 mg. after 4-5 days I’ve noticed intense hair lost. Now I cut it to take for 1 week but unfortunately my hair loss hasn’t better yet. Please answer to my question” how long does it take to stop?” I’ll be highly grateful to solve my problem.

I'll be sincerely grateful to everyone who answers my question