Hair loss is also a potential rare side effect of other ADHD medications. For example, there have been 4 cases of people experiencing hair shedding from Ritalin, a related medication that's also used to treat ADHD.
Methylphenidate is a stimulant drug considered the first-choice medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although drug-induced alopecia is a common adverse effect with a variety of medications, alopecia with methylphenidate is a rarely reported side effect.
[3] A few case reports have concluded that alopecia can be caused by stimulants. [4,5] In this case, we want to emphasize that methylphenidate can cause hair loss and that this side effect should be noted in clinical practice.
Hair loss is an uncommon but possible side effect of taking Adderall. People who experience hair loss or other concerning side effects while taking Adderall should seek medical advice. A doctor may recommend lowering the dosage or switching to another treatment, such as behavior therapy or an alternative medication.
Methylphenidate may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or changes in vision. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Methylphenidate may cause serious heart or blood vessel problems. This may be more likely in patients who have a family history of heart disease.
Nervousness, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, weight loss, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or headache may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
People who misuse high doses of Ritalin every day can become paranoid or hallucinate. This seems to go away when they stop using the drug but this may take some time. Sometimes these effects don't completely go away.
Hair loss is a relatively rare side effect, but a variety of medications may cause it: beta-blockers, blood thinners, antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs, certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hormone-related drugs like thyroid meds, hormone replacement therapies or steroids.
Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. This type of baldness is not usually caused by a disease. It is related to aging, heredity, and changes in the hormone testosterone. Inherited, or pattern baldness, affects many more men than women.
Treatment of drug-induced alopecia
Once that drug has been ceased, hair shedding settles, although this may take up to 6 months. Evidence of hair regrowth is usually seen within 3–6 months but can take 12–18 months to recover cosmetically.
Hair loss isn't a common side effect of Concerta. And it usually improves once you've stopped taking the drug. However, if you notice that your hair is thinning or you're losing hair while taking Concerta, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to manage this side effect.
Headache, appetite loss, and insomnia are the most common side effects. [3] This drug has also some ocular side effects including dry eyes, blurred vision, pupil dilatation, and accommodation disorders.
Sometimes the medicines most often used to treat ADHD can cause weight loss. Stimulant drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) make you less hungry and make your body burn calories faster than usual.
Systematic reviews have provided similar results: methylphenidate slows growth by about 1 to 1.5 cm per year. Catch-up growth usually occurs during a 2-year period after methylphenidate withdrawal.
A person who experiences drug-induced alopecia will usually notice thinning hair as opposed to patchy hair loss. However, the hair loss may be more apparent on the top of the scalp. Other early signs of alopecia include a noticeable increase in the number of shed hairs in hairbrushes and shower drains and on pillows.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
the SSRI most commonly reported in the literature to cause hair loss was fluoxetine, followed by sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine and paroxetine.
Drug-induced hair loss is usually reversible after interruption of treatment. The prevalence and severity of alopecia depend on the drug as well as on individual predisposition.
You should not use methylphenidate if you are allergic to it, or if you have: Stimulants have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in certain people. Tell your doctor if you have: Becoming dependent on this medicine during pregnancy can cause premature birth or low birth weight.
Your child may need to take methylphenidate for several months or even years. They will not usually need to take it for the rest of their life. Your child will have regular check-ups, usually every 6 months or so. Your doctor may recommend stopping methylphenidate for a while, or reducing the dose.
By their final weigh in, people treated with ADHD medication lost on average about 12% of their body weight (about 15kg), while the controls gained an average of about 3% of their body weight (about 3kg).