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If you started a newantidepressantwithin the past few months, it may be one reason you’re seeing more hair on your brush. Unfortunately, while antidepressants exist to improve your mental health, some of the side effects can be a blow to your self-esteem.
Why Do Antidepressants Cause Hair Loss?
Is It Permanent?
The good news is that this type of hair loss is not permanent. Generally speaking, people will recover completely without any outside assistance in about six months once the medication is discontinued.
Is My Antidepressant Causing My Hair Loss?
Unfortunately, because there are so many potential causes of hair loss, sometimes the only way to know for certain if your antidepressant is causing your hair loss is to stop taking it and see if your hair regrows, but this is generally not advisable.
Always talk to your doctor before stopping your medication.
What You Can Do to Help Your Hair Grow Back
Rest assured that your hair will grow back, even if it’s not as fast as you’d like. While you wait, a different hairstyle or a hairpiece may help you feel better about your appearance.
What If I Need to Stay on My Medication?
If you need to remain on your medication there are a couple of options that may help.
If neither of these options helps, and you feel that you really can’t live with your hair loss, you will need to discuss with your doctor the pros and cons of switching to a different antidepressant.
How to Know Which Antidepressant Is Best for You
3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Malkud S.Telogen Effluvium: A Review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(9):WE01-3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/15219.6492Etminan M, Sodhi M, Procyshyn RM, Guo M, Carleton BC.Risk of hair loss with different antidepressants: a comparative retrospective cohort study.Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018;33(1):44-48. doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000191Ablon G.A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the ability of an extra-strength marine protein supplement to promote hair growth and decrease shedding in women with self-perceived thinning hair.Dermatol Res Pract.2015;2015:841570. doi:10.1155/2015/841570
Malkud S.Telogen Effluvium: A Review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(9):WE01-3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/15219.6492
Etminan M, Sodhi M, Procyshyn RM, Guo M, Carleton BC.Risk of hair loss with different antidepressants: a comparative retrospective cohort study.Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018;33(1):44-48. doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000191
Ablon G.A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the ability of an extra-strength marine protein supplement to promote hair growth and decrease shedding in women with self-perceived thinning hair.Dermatol Res Pract.2015;2015:841570. doi:10.1155/2015/841570
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