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Does Dexamethasone Cause Hair Loss?

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Posted on Mon, 30 Sep 2013
Question: Does dexamethasone cause hair loss? I have been on it since Dec of last year and have severe hair loss.
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Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

Dexamethasone causes thinning of the scalp hair, though not a very commonly observed side effect. You may want to consider talking to your doctor if the hair loss is bothersome to you. There is probably a substitute out there to this drug for the condition you are being treated for and he may as well consider changing it.

I don't understand the second follow up of "Sorry but your answer do not go through. Please try again".

I hope this addresses your query fully.
Please, feel free to ask for clarifications.
I wish you well.
Dr. Ditah, MD


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (8 minutes later)
Thank you very much for your answer. I'm only on .25 and thinking its time to stop taking it. Your help was greatly appreciated.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Thank you, too!

Detailed Answer:
Thank you so much for having offered me the opportunity to address your health query today.

Stopping dexamethasone should be progressive and not an abrupt process to avoid adrenal crisis. I cannot advice you directly to stop without talking to your doctor. Please, talk to your doctor.

Though your doses look very small to maybe cause serious withdrawal crisis, the duration imposes some caution. I will suggest that you do it progressively. You may want to start by .25mg every 2days for a week, then .25mg/4days for another week, and finally .25mg/week before getting off it completely.

I wish you well.
If you have no me follow up questions, please consider closing the discussion at this point and writing a short review to permit us better serve you next time.

Dr. Ditah, MD
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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Does Dexamethasone Cause Hair Loss?

Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

Dexamethasone causes thinning of the scalp hair, though not a very commonly observed side effect. You may want to consider talking to your doctor if the hair loss is bothersome to you. There is probably a substitute out there to this drug for the condition you are being treated for and he may as well consider changing it.

I don't understand the second follow up of "Sorry but your answer do not go through. Please try again".

I hope this addresses your query fully.
Please, feel free to ask for clarifications.
I wish you well.
Dr. Ditah, MD