Meds and hair loss?

[madamevicky]

I am 61 and have always had very thick hair and good nails. About 4 years ago I noticed vertical ridging in my fingernails. A manicurist said she had seen similar ridging in a client and it was due to medication. Sometime during this last year I lost hair normally, but it wasn't replaced. No hair growing back. It has been getting thinner and thinner. I have read on several sights that all 3 of the meds I take can cause it-zoloft, zocor, and zestoretic. My GP thinks it is unlikely and has consulted with a dermatologist who has recommended blood tests-hormone and thyroid and maybe some others. They are expensive ,and I haven't met my deductable yet. Are they worth it? Anyone else been on any of these meds and had hair loss?
I am very depressed about this.

[VictoriaG]

Hi - since my hair loss started, I've also noticed very obvious vertical ridging on some of my nails, and at the time, I wasn't taking any medication. I have definitely heard that zoloft can cause hair loss. I have not heard it about zocor (which doesn't mean anything), and I'm not familiar with the third med. The blood tests are a good idea, they can rule out and/or find something to try to treat. They may be expensive, but it could quite possibly give you an answer. Good luck to you.

[madamevicky]

Thanks,Vicki. This is terrible for me. My family is supportive and encouraging. That helps, but I want an answer. As I read the posts here, I see that there are not always answers.
My other 2 meds are for blood pressure and chloresterol.(can't ever spell it)

[VictoriaG]

Family support is huge, you are lucky for that. As for the blood pressure medication - there's a med called spironolactone (we all refer to it as spiro) that supposedly can slow hair loss if you have high testosterone levels. It's actually a potassium-sparing diuretic used to treat high blood pressure, and this beneficial side effect was found by accident. Maybe you can ask your doctor about it.