After just a couple Of months with 25 mg per day, I experience a massive hair loss. Even diarrhoea, even if that might be caused by other things. When I started with medication, I read about the side effects including the hair loss. I was hoping it wouldn't affect me. I have a tendency to alopecia, but the hair always comes back to the bald spots. This is something else. Is there someone here who has experienced this and can give me some advice? Thx in advance.
I have been on propranolol for 13 yrs and never had any side effects apart from needing it.. Daily. I think this sounds like an alopecia condition.
Hi and thx. Unfortunately, I really believe this is a side effect Of the medication. The hair is really falling off. With the alopecia I hardly notice it, it's my hairdresser who points it out to me. I've seen a lot of posts on other forums but I wanted to listen here, becos I'm comfortable here.
okay .. is a good idea to Follow other people we all have different experiences.. Yes is a good site.. Can give a lot of advice with expert advice.
Hi Conta 10
I have been on this medication for over 2 years and apart from the weight gain i cant say that i have experienced any other side effect?
Hope this clears up for you
Take care
I have been taking 60 mg of propranolol nightly for several months for essential tremor. My tremor is much better, but my hairdresser has mentioned for the last few months that I am experiencing tremendous hair loss on the crown of my head. My normal hair is very thick. I don't know if the problem is the propranolol or if it is a lingering side effect of six hours of anesthesia several months ago for a three-level spinal fusion, preceded by two years of frequent spinal epidural injections, nine in all. Thoughts?
Hello, I know this is a late response to the discussion but I have also experienced this problem. I have been on propranolo 40mg for just over 2 years and had a problem with both hair loss and sleep disturbances. I recently decided to come off the medication in the hope that this will help the problems. The sleep disturbances have subsided but I'm yet to see if my hair thickens up again. Hope this helps!
Hello! I know I'm late to the party but I've been on propranolol (40mg once to twice a day) for about 6 months now. I noticed my hair falling out a lot more than normal about 4 to 5 months ago. I'm crossing my fingers it's not the propranolol because it is a life saver for me. I was wondering if you could give us an update on your hair?? It's been 6 months and I'd love to hear that your hair has stopped falling out! If you tell us good things from stopping the meds, I might reconsider taking them everyday! If you could let me know as soon as you can, that would be more than awesome! -Tess
Hi tess I've been taking propranolol 40mg for 6wks now for anxiety and panic attacks.didnt go to work for two wks as couldn't leave the house with the panic attacks.doctor put me on prop,I thought it was a lifesaver till 2 wks ago when I've lost nearly half of all my hair..I'm coming off it as from today,well weaning.front of my forehead is see through now.really gutted.going to try cbt..I asked the doctor and he did say unfortunately it is one of the side effects 😞
In Early/Mid-August I was prescribed 30mg propranolol for anxiety. By October 7th I noticed diffuse hair thinning. By Oct, 20th half of my hair had fallen out resulting in my scalp showing. I have no family history of hair loss on either side of my family, even the men in my family grow old and die with full heads of hair. I've had a slew of blood test, hormonal, thyroid, nutritional, blood count, lupus, RA, diabetes, etc... Every test normal. Propranolol being the only medication I'm taking I'm confident this is the cause of my hair loss. As a 30 year old healthy woman that jogs daily and avoids sugar and sat. fats this is distressing to say the least. My doctor was adamant my hair loss was unrelated to propranolol. So I researched online, and what do I find? Thousands of sites detailing beta blockers to female hair loss. One article is from a 1985 study of 2,000 women, where 4% experienced "mild to excessive hair loss". How is this side effect not known or listed? Anxiety is the very reason I was prescribed this medication and now it's made me more anxious then ever! I'm out of pocket nearly $5,000 towards my deductible and have received no answers, only vague advice to enhance my nutritional intake and shrugging shoulders as though this is no big deal. A new symptom as of yesterday is my eye brows have begun falling out en masse. I visit my parents both in their 60's with full thick heads of hair, while I take showers and fill my hands with hundreds of strands. I finally told my doctor I'll be finding someone else as I don't find her helpful. I'm hoping to reduce this beta blocker until I can be prescribed an alternative anxiety medication. Until then I've been filling in bald spots with a shake on fiber powder from sally's, washing my hair with nioxin, and applying rogaine and taking 10,000 mg biotin at night. In the past month I haven't seen any results but realize it takes time. I appreciate you bringing this subject matter up and hope your hair has regrown as I hope mine does too. I personally don't believe doctors are intentionally deceiving patients about the hair loss effects of beta blockers, because these medications are generally so inexpensive and my doctor appeared genuinely surprised I suspected propanolol to be the cause.
Hi Conta10/All,
My 9 year old son had a cardiac arrest just over 3 weeks ago and he was later diagnosed with having Long QT Syndrome. An ICD was fitted and we were advised he would need to take Propanolol for the rest of his life (praying this won't be the case)
Last week i noticed a bald patch at the back of his head. Hoping this is not down to the meds??? Going to ask the Drs if my son can either go on a low med or see if they can stop him taking it completley, as i really don't want him going through any other dreadful side affects!
Hi Anna,
My goodness! This is very worrying. I'm so sorry that you have had to endure all this whilst also battling with anxiety.
I suffer from hair loss (over 20 years) so i know first hand how you're feeling.
Please keep the faith. I'm sure in time your hair will grow back if it's down to the meds.
Has the Drs discussed changing your medication?
Regards
Pat
Hi Anna,I took myself off the propranolol.(not that I’m advising anyone else to do that) it’s taken 3 months for the hair to stop falling out but it finally has now...I also researched natural remedies for panic attacks and anxiety,and have found gaba...have to import from America but since I’ve been taking it I haven’t had one panic attack whatsoever.and all it is is an amino acid that’s already in our body..worth a read up on it to see what you think.please don’t worry to much about ur hair,it will get back to normal.good luck.zowie
So glad I finally have an answer. My husband passed away unexpectedly last August and I was such a mess I asked for anxiety meds. I have always had very thick hair and have been losing it at an alarming rate. I see scalp and have stopped washing my hair as often as I normally would because of even more hair loss in the comb out. I just thought to look up medications I am taking and the culprit seems to be Propranolol. At least now I cant stop taking this stuff. Hopefully my hair comes back- it is so thin it is making me self conscious. Thanks to all that shared this feedback. We need to report to our pharmacist so it is added as a KNOWN side effect.
Hi Susan just wanted to say try not to worry,I stopped propranolol 4 months ago and finally all my hair is growing back as thick as it was.i had bald patches because of propranolol and abit of blurred vision..hope life’s starting to get better for you.take care
I hope it's okay for a guy to post on this discussion. I don't have baldness in my family; never had a problem until this past year. I just chalked it up to getting older (53). I've been taking 40 mg Propranolol for the past year, and the front/top of my head has been rapidly balding. After seeing this discussion, I am 100% convinced it's because of this medication. Does anyone know if it might be possible for a guy's hair to re-grow? BTW, thanks So much for all your posts!
Hi Mike, I am taking 20mg of propranolol and I am starting to notice the Diffuse Alopecia in my forehead,
Possible cause of the hair loss may be something called "Telogen effluvium" (TE)
I cite this paper (http://www.astrocyte.in/article.asp?issn=2349-0977;year=2014;volume=1;issue=2;spage=80;epage=83;aulast=Garg)
"The most common group of drugs responsible for hair loss in our study was antihypertensives. Atenelol and metoprolol were implicated in 2% patients each in our study. Propranolol and nebivolol were implicated in 1% patients each. Propanolol [6],[7],[8] and metoprolol [9] may produce diffuse alopecia by causing telogen effluvium. "
What I have done is to start using topic Minoxidil. This is my 1st week so don't know the result yet
Took being on 30 mg / daily for a week for mine to completely change texture and start shedding.
Thanks for your comment. I am wondering if I were to go off of the Propranolol, if the hair would regenerate?
Thank you for the information, much appreciated!