Important Safety Information For Fluoxetine
Warning: Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
Suicide is a known risk of depression and certain other psychiatric disorders, and these disorders themselves are the strongest predictors of suicide. In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults under age 24. These studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior with antidepressant use in patients over age 24 there was a reduction in risk in patients 65 and older.
Patients of all ages being treated with antidepressants should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially early during antidepressant treatment and when the dose is adjusted up or down. Families and caregivers of patients should look for the emergence of symptoms on a day-to-day basis, since changes may be abrupt.
What Questions Might Your Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose And Categorize Your Hair Loss
Your healthcare provider might ask about your habits:
- What kinds of hair products do you use?
- What kinds of hair styles do you wear?
- What types of food do you eat ?
- Do you have a habit of pulling your hair out ?
They might ask about your history:
- Has anyone in your immediate family experienced hair loss?
- Is there anything stressful going on in your life?
- What medications and supplements do you take every day?
- Has hair loss ever happened to you before?
- What foods are in your diet?
And, they might ask about your observations:
- How long have you been losing hair?
- Have you been shedding more?
- Have you noticed hair loss in places other than your scalp, like your eyebrows? Leg and arm hair?
- Does anything worsen your hair loss?
- Does anything improve your hair loss?
- Have you noticed hair loss occasionally or has it been going on continuously?
- Have you noticed if your hair growth has changed?
- Has your hair been breaking more often?
Can High Or Low Blood Pressure Cause Hair Loss
Recent studies have shown that hair loss could be correlated with hypertension or hypotension, commonly known as high blood pressure and low blood pressure respectively. While hair loss can be caused by a number of other health problems, as a side effect of certain medications, or in relation to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, some doctors now believe that high or low blood pressure could also be plausible culprits. After all, many physicians believe that the condition of a persons hair is a good indicator of their bodily health therefore, hair loss is an important factor to monitor in patients who are at a high risk of either hypertension or hypotension. Keep reading to learn more about this interesting connection.
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The Claim: High Blood Pressure Will Increase Peoples Risk Of Losing Their Hair
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THE FACTS Hypertension has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and early mortality. But hair loss?
Scientists are not exactly sure why, but a number of studies have suggested a relationship between blood pressure and mens baldness, particularly the early-onset kind.
In a study published in 2007, for example, researchers looked at 250 men ages 35 to 65. After controlling for age, high cholesterol, smoking and other variables, they found that hypertension was strongly associated with male pattern baldness: those with a blood pressure reading above 120 over 80 had twice the risk of the others.
Other studies have suggested a link between baldness and heart disease. For a 2000 study in The Archives of Internal Medicine, for example, researchers analyzed health records for 22,000 male doctors over 11 years, examining many aspects of their health. Men with mild balding of the crown had a 23 percent higher risk for heart disease, and those whose crowns were completely bald had a 36 percent greater risk.
But the relationship is only a correlation. Researchers suspect hair loss could be among many markers of an increased risk of hypertension, caused in part by higher levels of testosterone and other hormones, and more androgen receptors in the scalp.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Studies suggest that hair loss may indicate an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
How Common Is Hair Loss In Women
Many people think that hair loss only affects men. However, it is estimated that more than 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss. The most significant cause of hair loss in women is female-pattern hair loss , which affects about one-third of susceptible women, which equals out to some 30 million women in the United States.
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Whats Hair Loss In Women
Hair loss in women is just that when a woman experiences unexpected, heavy loss of hair. Generally, humans shed between 50 and 100 single hairs per day. Hair shedding is part of a natural balance some hairs fall out while others grow in. When the balance is interrupted when hair falls out and less hair grows in hair loss happens. Hair loss is different than hair shedding. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.
Hair grows on almost all of your skin surfaces not the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, lips or eyelids. Light, fine, short hair is called vellus hair. Terminal/androgenic hair is thicker, darker and longer.
High Blood Pressure And Hair Loss
High blood pressure is a chronic medical condition that can cause heart attacks, strokes and early death. Hair loss is not directly caused by high blood pressure, but all patients must be aware of how certain hypertension medications can affect the hair.
Hypertension can begin in young adulthood, but the older an individual gets, the more likely they will develop high blood pressure. Most cases of hypertension show no symptoms, so the only way to tell is to have regular medical checkups that include a test with a blood pressure cuff. A reading of 120/80 mmHg or higher may indicate some form of hypertension. Only a doctor can diagnose hypertension. Even moderate chronic hypertension can cause problems.
Many cases of hypertension can be alleviated through diet and lifestyle changes. A regular, appropriate exercise routine is crucial. Diet and nutrition must be addressed, including balancing mineral intake , reducing refined sugars, and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. Stress reduction is also important for example, peer-reviewed published research on the Transcendental Meditation technique has demonstrated that it helps lower blood pressure.> Continue reading High Blood Pressure and Hair Loss />
When diet and lifestyle changes are not effective in controlling hypertension, drug treatment may prove to be essential. One of the most commonly prescribed types of antihypertensive drugs are beta blockers.
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New Genes Of Interest
This study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, selected blood pressure as a research criteria because it is a strong indicator of general cardiovascular health.
Cardiologist and co-first author of the study, Lisa de Las Fuentes, emphasises why understanding blood pressure is so important:
Blood pressure involves everything from how well your heart squeezes, to how well your blood vessels relax, to how well your brain signals your adrenal glands telling your kidneys to hold on to saltwater Its a sophisticated and elegant system, and were still working to understand it so we can better treat our patients.
In order to carry out this investigation researchers analysed the smoking status, blood pressure systolic and diastolic and genetic makeup of 610,091 participants.
A diverse patient population was selected, including people with European, African, Asian, Hispanic and Brazilian ancestries.
They discovered lifelong smokers with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, are likely to have a different genetic background to lifelong smokers with normal blood pressure readings.
Furthermore new genes of interest, such as those which are involved with the function and structure of cilia the short, eyelash-like filaments found in tissue cells were identified, which may prove useful when treating hypertension in the future.
Losing Hair You Could Have Hypertension
Hair transplant surgeons often encourage patients to monitor their hair for signs of thinning, shedding, and loss. Keeping tabs on hair health is about more than preserving appearance, however. An ever-growing body of research indicates that hair health is intricately tied to overall mental, physical, and emotional wellness. From stress-related shedding to loss caused by overzealous styling, there are a number of well-documented ways in which lifestyle can negatively affect hair health.
Most recently, researchers have identified a new connection between hair and heart health. A Japanese team of scientists has found a convincing correlation between hair loss and hypertension, a condition more commonly referred to as high blood pressure. The findings are the result of a study of nearly 38,000 men and women in which participants who suffered with hair loss, specifically pattern baldness, were about 32% more likely to also exhibit signs of hypertension .
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How Effective Is Oral Minoxidil
The studies are very small but indicate that about one third of patients will notice a reduction in shedding, and a third will notice improved growth in 6 months or more. This means that up to 2 in 3 people may notice benefits from oral Minoxidil. It is best to take treatment for 6 to 12 months to give it enough time to work.
The only head to head study comparing oral minoxidil to topical minoxidil in women with Female Pattern Hair Loss showed that 1mg of minoxidil gave comparable effects to 5% solution once a day . In this study 26 women received oral minoxidil and 26 women received topical minoxidil. After 24 weeks of treatment, there was a 12% increase in hair density for women on oral minoxidil and 7.2% increase for women applying topical minoxidil. The difference was not statistically significant but the oral minoxidil group also had less hair shedding.
What Are The Cycles Of Hair Growth
Hair goes through three cycles:
- The anagen phase can last from two years to eight years. This phase generally refers to about 85% to 90% of the hair on your head.
- The catagen phase is the time that hair follicles shrink and takes about two to three weeks.
- The telogen phase takes about two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.
Your shorter hairs like eyelashes, arm and leg hair and eyebrows have a short anagen phase about one month. Your scalp hair can last up to six years or even longer.
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What Are The Myths About Hair Loss
Myths about hair loss are widespread. Nothing in the following list is true:
- Youre losing hair because you shampoo it too much, or because youve colored it or gotten a perm.
- Dandruff causes permanent hair loss in women.
- Stress causes permanent hair loss in women.
- If you shave your head, your hair will grow back twice as thick.
- If you stand on your head youll increase circulation, stimulating hair growth.
- If you brush your hair 100 strokes a day that will make your hair healthier.
- Hats and wigs cause hair loss in women.
- Hair loss only affects intellectual women.
Suffering From Hair Loss High Blood Pressure Could Be The Reason Behind This Hair Fall
High blood pressure is not easy to spot. This happens because it has side effects that are common problems and are not taken seriously. Hair loss is one such thing. We end up with hair loss due to a number of things like a poor diet or a poor hair care routine. Hair loss is also a side effect of stressing too much. Now, hypertension or high blood pressure is also co-related to hair loss and other such problems. Researches have shown that people suffering from high blood pressure can also have a hair loss problem. Though the results of these researches don’t clearly specify if the hair loss can happen particularly due to high blood pressure or the medicines that are prescribed for high blood pressure.
High blood pressure can have an impact on your heart and lead to a heart disease which is also associated with hair loss. While hair loss cannot be considered a symptom of high blood pressure per se, but it can be the side effect. Most of the times the real culprit behind this drastic hair loss or receding hairline is the medication. Blood pressure patients are prescribed medications that help keep their blood pressure under control and a lot of these medications contain ingredients that can be the reason behind the hair loss.
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What Are The Most Serious Side Effects That I Or A Caregiver Should Monitor For When Taking Fluoxetine
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention.
These serious side effects are rare, but can occur with fluoxetine. You or a caregiver should carefully monitor for these side effects, especially in the beginning of treatment and with dose changes.
- Serotonin Syndrome: Serotonin syndrome is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when taking too much of an SSRI or SNRI at once or when fluoxetine is taken along with other drugs that increase the activity of serotonin in the central nervous system. These medications may include MAOIs, triptans , tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. Johns Wort. Monitor for symptoms of elevated body temperature, flushing, sweating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, agitation, and a racing heartbeat.
- Allergic Reactions and Rash: Tell your provider if you develop a rash or hives. Discontinue use of fluoxetine and seek emergency care immediately if you have a severe allergic reaction. Signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include swelling of the face, eyes, or mouth, or having trouble breathing.
- Abnormal Bleeding: Tell your provider if you experience any increased or unusual bruising, bleeding, or nose bleed. Fluoxetine may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with NSAIDs , aspirin, or blood thinners such as warfarin .
Thinning On Top It Could Be High Blood Pressure
20:12 EST, 8 April 2013 | Updated:
Life for balding men really is unfair, it seems.
Not only do they have to come to terms with their hair loss, but now new research suggests that theyre much more likely to suffer from heart disease.
Researchers in Japan have found that men going bald on the crown of the head were 52 per cent more likely to have coronary artery disease than those with a full head of hair.
Male hormones seem to be the link between coronary heart disease and baldness – and it’s the more ‘masculine’ men who may suffer most
Men with the dreaded double whammy of hair loss a receding hairline and crown baldness were 69 per cent more likely to suffer from the condition.
Hair loss is a fact of life for most men.
Half have thinning hair by their 50s and 80per cent have a degree of hair loss by the age of 70.
But should they all be anxiously considering their heart health? The Japanese researchers certainly think so.
Cardiovascular risk factors should be assessed carefully in men with vertex baldness and they should be encouraged to improve their cardiovascular risk profile, said lead researcher Dr Tomohide Yamada from the University of Tokyo.
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High Blood Sugar Levels
Uncontrolled or untreated diabetes can result in a persons blood sugar levels becoming too high. Persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to damage in various tissues, organs, and blood vessels within the body.
Damage to blood vessels can restrict blood flow, resulting in certain cells getting less oxygen and nutrients than they need. This deficiency can negatively impact the normal growth cycle of hair follicles, which can lead to hair loss.
Blood Pressure Medications That Do Not Cause Hair Loss
Avapro and Hair Loss I know anything is possible and you will say you can still lose hair on it. Heck you can probably say that about every substance on earth. It is reassuring that these two dont have it listed and I think it would be helpful for your worried readers to look into which medications statistically have the lowest reports. Maybe that is something you can research.
Over 4000 people in the trials and no reports. The problem I find with post-marketing data is there are too many variables like other medications, consumer stress ect ect. Also since 40% of those people who need HPB medication also fall into the 40% of the population who lose hair. So what came first right?? Might be good for your worried readers to talk to their doctors about. I have read a few blogs that claim hair loss in one or two people but those people seemed to be on more than these two drugs and even had been on a beta-blocker recently which clearly states hair loss.
I though I would share my research with you. Also, dont you think having HIGH BP for an extended period of time can cause diffuse hair loss over the entire head?. I have often wondered if my untreated high BP could have caused my diffused thinning over my entire head w/out any real pattern of MPB. That is until now when I have gotten treatment. I guess I will find out if it thickens up. Thanks
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