hair thinning on Effexor XR

Hi. I have the same problem. I've been taking Venlafaxine (it is Effexor, isn't it?) for about five years, and I took paroxetine before, for years too. So, altogether 11 years taking antidepressants. I noticed that something was not right with my hair after some months taking Venlafaxine. At  first, I didn't thought that it could be related to the drugs because my doctor told me to not worry about that and that my hair loss had nothing to do with the medication, but I become more convinced everytime that there was something wrong with my hair, is more obvious now because I can see too much skin between hair. I really think that if it goes on like this, within 8 years or so, I'll have to wear a wig .<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

During these years I had blood tests, I went to dermatologist and despite the results were all right none attributed it to my medication. The dermatologist prescribed me a contraceptive pill. I never took them because they increase the risk of breast cancer and my mother died from that.

 

 I have just turned 28, and though I never had a thick hair, I really liked it. I think it was shiny and beautiful and after all our hair is highly prized and especially traumatic for women.  Also, I cut my hair about a year ago and it barely grows, today has almost the same lenght, especially the fringe. I found it very stranche since that never happenned to me. My self-esteem is very low at the moment, when I look at myself in the mirror I become disheartened and I hardly ever like being in pictures because the feeling is even worse. I desperately and deeply hope that this terrible problem with my hair is closely related, at least mostly, to the antidepressant. The only remarkable thing that it could be related to my hair loss is that I have heavy bleeding during my period, for which I was prescribed iron. That didn't resolve all the problem but improved very slighlty, and I don't know if I have to take it every month or just once.

 

Also I've been through a hard time that sure caused me stress: my mother felt ill, yes, cancer, andfinally, after years fighting with it, she died and I was especially close to her, and I think, though it's been almost three years since her death, I haven't overcome it yet. I supposse that maybe the hair thinning has some connection to all the suffering, but the problem was already there when she was not very ill.

 

I'm going to go to phychologyst to stop taking this and only wish with ALL MY HEART that all the problems with my hair were brought out by antidepressants! 

 

Please, forgive me if I made any mistake, as English is not my first lenguage.

 

I have been sickened to read all these accounts, just as I am equally sickened to put my hair in a ponytail now. Why? EFFEXOR HAS MADE 2/3 OF MY HAIR FALL OUT!!! I totally totally feel sympathy for fellow women who have lost their hair. It's very traumatic. Yes I too was told "hair loss cases are rare with Effexor" but I see now that's a total lie. I, TOO am about ready to cut off all my hair and start over. Let's put it this way, I have many of the other side effects too (realistic nightmares, sweating, headaches, electric shock feeling, loss of energy that almost ruined my school career...and out of all those, the hairloss is THE WORST.
I'm done with this garbage. I was put on 450 mg (yes, really) when I was 20. That decreased to 300 probably 5 years later. I'm 32 and I just finally came down from still 300 in January to 75 now.
That drug should be discontinued, and a class action suit brought against the drug co.

akane814 I'm sorry to hear you are having problems with your medication. Though I am not a doctor, I have had experience with many medications, including Effexor. My long hair (I am male) was unrecognizable when I took Effexor - I experienced extensive thining and hair loss - but when I changed medication my hair returned back to normal within weeks. I was also told it was rare. Speak to your doctor, and good luck. Richard

Hi again! It's been two months since I stopped taking effexor and I believe there's not clear improvement. I really hope the hair loss has been caused by all these years of taking antidepressants and, please, not by androgenic alopecia. I'm feeling too extressed since I stopped effexor waiting to notice any improvement. I have recently had blood tests, everything is fine, but I have cortisol just slighly high and I'll go to dermatologist next week. I'm very, very scared and continously stressed about the idea of having alopecia, and ending up bald or with too few hair that I wont be able see myself in the mirror, destroying my self-confidence completely and forever, terribly shattered and much more depressed than EVER. I can only "pray".

I also just stopped effexor,and have been in a panic over the hairloss.hopefully soon it will slow dowpn.i used nioxin hair loss treatment before and really liked it.so i will try it again.if and when you go off the effexor have your doctor taper you down very slowly.there are suppliments you can take to help too.

Please Contact Arocha Hair Restoration in Houston Texas. Dr. Arocha. He saved my hair. He is not expensive but he is truly and expert and passionate about hair loss. He's been treating me for almost a year. He charged me $200.00 for a biopsy (which was covered by insurance) and had my regular MD do blood test. He has me on a low dose of Doxycycline twice a day and my hair is growing back with avengence. He doesn't charge me for any office visits. He's the most honest and caring doctor and will help you.

Hi i just wanted you to know i havent had any luck yet either.but its only been a month off of effexor ans still have to take fish oil to stop the brain zaps.i tried cutting down because the fish oil causes me gastric problems,but they came right back.does anyone know how long this will take to go away?also i would like to mention that out of the 3 people i know personally who took effexor 2 had manic episodes while drinking alcohol while taking effexor one robbed a store and is in prison and one hit a cop and went on a rampage.both employed and doing well in thier lives and everyone was shocked,including them.that it happened.if you know anyone onthis med let them know they cannot drink while taking it.i sent a report to fda and am worried about how many of our vets are being put on this drug and how many violent episodes are we going to be hearing about.this drug changes your brain chemistry.im going through mania and paranoia but at least i know what is causing it.and that hopefully it wont last forever.im sorry for everyone going through all the pain and suffering and hair loss.its very upsetting,i know.my thoughts are with you.

I was on Effexor for about 3 years. I am sick and depressed with regard to my hair loss. I've never had thick hair ,but since 2010 it has been getting noticeably thinner...especially on the top of my head. I can't live like this. I used to be a beautiful woman. I've started to use a product called Revivogen which makes my head burn and itch but is supposed to have success with regenerating hair. In the last 2 months, I have weaned myself off of Effexor...was at 150 mg at one point then went down to 75 mg, then poured out half my dose to avoid the nausea, brain zaps. I have not been taking Effexor for about 2 months. I do not have any nausea now and no brain zaps and am working on regrowing my hair once again....I hope! Nothing yet. :(  I'm really considering a hair transplant if things do not get better. I am 41 and have a lot of life left to live.I've cut gluten out of my diet and am taking a multivitamin plus an iron supplement, horsetail, additional Viltamin D, Stress B. I'm using something called Sunetics..a laser light that is supposed to help re-grow hair. I'll update in a couple of months in case things change.

This is good to hear - I am a guy and have always been fortunate to have extremely thick hair. It was not long ago that my barber would laugh and tell me one thing I did not have to EVER worry about was going bald (I would ask due to my father experiencing hair loss). However, I look in the mirror after Effexor and my hair has grayed at a rapid rate and more disturbing - thinned out. I have gotten with my MD and quit Effexor ER as of last Friday - but am scheduled to get a dermatologist's opinion this week.

I was on Pristiq for about two years and noticed gradual hair loss. My iron level is fine and take vitamins. I had to switch to Effexor XR because of insurance issues. I've noticed an increase in hair loss so I'm weaning myself off of it

I am a 41 year old woman. I was on Effexor for 3 yrs. It never helped for the anxiety. The with drawls they were horrible and I occasionally have brain zaps even though I stopped it 2 yrs ago. It made my hair thin- I had thick shiny hair before. Now I have thinning all over and exaggerated thinning in the front and sides. It never grew back and continues to fall. I have 35 % of the hair I used to have in the front. I think it threw my body out of whack very badly. I have a good friend that has been on Effexor much longer and is truly bald like a middle age man. Now I am spending so much trying to undo this. I will likely have to get hair pieces soon.

Yes... alopecia (hair loss) is a side effect of venlafaxine.

I have read all the above experiences you are all having with Effexor. I am on 75 mgs. of the generic Venlafaxine ER, and have been for about 10 years. My two major complaints are Hyperhidrosis where my face, neck and scalp just run with sweat, until it drips from ends of my hair, i sweat nowhere else. I sweat in the cold and in the Malls, in shops, and with even the slightest exertion - I cannot tell you how embarrassing it is. I have become very self conscious. Many of the forums have people saying this is their worst side effect. My second worst side affect is hair loss. I used to have REALLY long thick shining hair. Now the hair on sides of my forehead are receding, my hair is breaking, and the partings on the scalp are wide all over the scalp, i have a small soft fringe to one side and it is soooo thin. I also get lots of bruises and have gained 20 lbs. I was put on this bloody stuff to try to help with menopausal symptoms and to get me off estrogen. It did not, so I just took my last estrogen pill. I have tapered off the estrogen completely, and intend to have my Dr. work closely with me by lowering the dose of Venlafaxine and then tapering off slowly. I understand WITHDRAWAL IS AWFUL. I can expect electric shooting pains in head and arms, nausea, vomiting, dizzy spells, crying spells, sleeplessness, and confusion. I am going to stay home and tough it out for several weeks, I am sure, but I want my hair back, and to lose 20 lbs. AND I AM DETERMINED. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN A GREAT HELP - just knowing I am not alone helps tremendously. Thank you all.

I've been on Effexor for 10 years. Noticed my hair thinning a few years ago. My hairdresser said that I had a lot of hair. She must work on a lot of almost bald clients because my hair is now so thin that I'm using scalp make-up. It's like an eye shadow. My friend found this side effect.

I also have had clinical depression since I was 14. Just turned 59. I am terrified of going off of Effexor.

My choices:
Be depressed and have hair
Be happy, normal and go bald.

Neither option sounds good to me.

Would also be interested in what anti-depressant others have used instead of Effexor.

I've had head sweats for two years now! Thought it was menopause. Now in addition to losing my hair, I can attribute head sweats to this drug. UGH! Seeing my PCP next week. Can't come soon enough.