Ozempic, an FDA-approved medication for type 2 diabetes, is widely recognized for its effectiveness in promoting weight loss. It has come to attention that certain individuals on social media have mentioned the possibility of hair loss as a potential side effect. While it is worth noting that hair loss is not commonly associated with this drug, there have been reports from Redditors who claimed to have experienced severe and sudden hair loss. Thus, it raises the question of how prevalent this issue truly is.
How Drugs Affect Hair Loss
According to Robert Finney, a professional cosmetic dermatologist and specialist in hair restoration located in New York, it's important to bear in mind that, while unlikely, every medication has the potential to cause hair loss in principle. He further highlighted that the prevailing type of medication-induced hair loss is telogen effluvium. This condition arises when a significant number of hairs enter the resting phase simultaneously, causing excessive shedding, as perceived by the patient.
Although these factors could explain the benefits observed in certain Ozempic users, Dr. Finney stressed that it can be challenging to definitively rule out other plausible reasons. Determining whether the issue is caused by stress, medication, underlying medical conditions, or seasonal shedding may prove to be difficult, he noted.
How to Determine Whether Ozempic Leads to Hair Loss
In order to ascertain whether the drug is the root cause, he advises conducting a quick experiment at home. According to him, if shedding begins shortly after receiving pharmacological treatment, stopping the medication and observing whether shedding returns to normal before restarting the medication can provide clarity.
Finney also made the observation that Ozempic may not be the only cause of hair loss. He also highlighted the use of medications, malnourishment, and considerable and quick weight loss as causes of hair loss. He claims that under these circumstances, the body neglects non-essential processes like hair development in favor of crucial organs. Thus, he hypothesized that in Ozempic's instance, this is most probably the cause of the rise in shedding that individuals are reporting.
Dr. Finney indicated that if you suspect that your hair loss is due to a medication, such as Ozempic, or losing weight rapidly, it may result in increased hair shedding for the duration of taking the prescription or following the diet, likely due to telogen effluvium.
He also mentioned that the positive aspect is that not all instances of telogen effluvium are permanent. According to him, once the patient's weight stabilizes, and they adhere to a well-balanced and nutritious diet., their hair typically regrows. However, in the less common scenario where the shedding is directly brought about by the medication, it will persist until the prescription is stopped.