Amlodipine is a drug used to treat high blood pressure. Amlodipine has been linked with hair loss, being noted as a side effect by multiple regulatory agencies. [1-2]. However, hair loss due to amlodipine treatment is very rare, affecting 0.1-1% of users. If you are losing hair, it’s more likely to be due to a more common cause of hair loss (such as male pattern baldness).
Discover the potential (but rare) link between amlodipine and hair loss here. Learn why hair thinning may occur, how amlodipine can affect your hormones, and the difference between amlodipine and minoxidil, which is used to treat both high blood pressure and hair loss. Plus, get expert guidance on safely managing or reversing medication-related hair loss.
Key takeaways
Amlodipine is a prescription drug used to treat high blood pressure. It’s a calcium channel blocker, so it works by suppressing movement of calcium into the heart and blood vessel muscle cells. Muscles need calcium to contract, so blocking calcium reduces muscle contraction and lets the muscles relax. This allows the blood vessels to widen, lowering your blood pressure.
Amlodipine is also used to treat angina and some causes of heart arrhythmia.
Hair loss linked with amlodipine treatment is very uncommon. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes the incidence rate at less than 0.1%, while the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says amlodipine-related hair loss is uncommon, affecting up to 1 in 100 people [1-2].
One extensive review of the adverse events reported among amlodipine users didn’t list alopecia as a reported event [3]. This review looked at 18,886 reports where amlodipine was considered the primary suspect for the adverse event. This suggests that hair loss is a very rare occurrence among amlodipine users.
But there have been some recorded instances of amlodipine-induced hair loss. So why does it happen?
The exact mechanism through which amlodipine can make your hair fall out isn’t yet known. One theory is that amlodipine triggers a stress response (it has been linked with shock and suicide attempts) [3]. Stress is a known cause of hair loss, so it’s possible that your hair could fall out as a result of worry, anxiety, or depression caused by amlodipine. Stress and anxiety-related hair loss is known as telogen effluvium.
If you start taking a high dose of amlodipine that leads to a sudden drop in blood pressure, your body may also temporarily compensate for its effects. It can trigger a baroreceptor reflex, which causes the blood vessels to constrict and your heart rate to increase to counteract the drop in blood pressure. However, this reflex only lasts a few hours before your body starts to adapt to the medication, so it’s unlikely to cause significant hair loss.
Some sites suggest that amlodipine causes hair loss by disrupting the blood supply to the follicles, or causing the blood vessels to constrict. In healthy patients, this is extremely unlikely; amlodipine is designed to dilate the blood vessels and increase blood flow. If you do experience restricted blood flow when taking amlodipine, it’s more likely to be due to external factors (such as extreme cold exposure) or taking drugs that constrict the blood vessels (such as some decongestants) at the same time.
One animal study found amlodipine could lower testosterone levels, potentially resulting in lower dihydrotestosterone levels (although this wasn’t measured as part of the study) [4]. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a key hormone involved in the development of male pattern baldness, so lower DHT levels may actually be beneficial for your hair.
No studies have yet examined the link between amlodipine and DHT levels, though one has found that amlodipine can reduce testosterone levels in rats [4]. This may correlate with DHT levels, as testosterone is metabolised to DHT — so the less testosterone you have, the less that can be converted to DHT.
If amlodipine can reduce DHT, can it be used as a treatment for hair loss? It’s unlikely. For one thing, the DHT reduction theory is based on an animal study. So we can’t know for sure the effect would be the same in humans.
Some other evidence suggests amlodipine may have potential as a treatment for hair loss. A (now inactive) patent for a ‘method to prevent and treat alopecia by calcium channel blockers’ was filed in 2020 [5]. The application claims that amlodipine and certain other calcium channel blockers are “very effective drugs for the treatment or prevention of alopecia and alopecia related syndromes” when applied topically (though no medical studies have yet proven this).
One research paper has shown that calcium channel blockers may help reduce alopecia symptoms associated with long COVID in women [6].
Like amlodipine, minoxidil is a drug originally designed to treat high blood pressure. They both encourage the blood vessels to dilate, allowing blood to flow more freely.
But minoxidil is now proven and licensed as a hair loss treatment in several countries, whereas alopecia is generally considered a side effect of amlodipine. So what’s the difference between minoxidil and amlodipine?
Minoxidil is a potassium channel opener, which means it can extend the growth phase of the hair cycle, and helps form new blood vessels around the hair follicles [7]. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker, so while it also helps with blood vessel dilation, it doesn’t have the other direct hair growth benefits that minoxidil has.
If you’re considering a treatment for hair loss, minoxidil is one of the most effective options. Apply topical minoxidil to your scalp every day to maintain your results.
Some medications can cause hair loss, so it is possible that amlodipine is to blame for sudden onset of hair loss soon after you start taking it. But before jumping to any conclusions (or stopping medication), it’s best to get a professional opinion from a trichologist.
A hair doctor can establish your actual cause of hair loss, and help you find ways to manage and mitigate this without compromising your overall health. Because the prevalence of amlodipine-induced hair loss is so low, it’s best to get assessed for more likely causes of hair loss first.
No. A hair transplant isn’t normally a suitable treatment for medication-related hair loss, or any kind of reversible alopecia. In these cases, hair loss is temporary — if you stop taking the medications (or find an effective hair loss treatment) your hair will regrow.
Hair transplants are only suitable in cases of permanent hair loss, as they involve surgically replacing dead hair follicles that will no longer produce hair. Hair transplants are normally reserved for people with male or female pattern hair loss.
At our award-winning hair transplant clinic, you can get a hair loss diagnosis from our highly qualified trichology team. Following a thorough assessment of your hair loss, we can devise a highly personalised treatment plan to help you maintain your hair without compromising your health.
We have hair loss clinic locations around the UK, so you can get an assessment at your most convenient clinic. Book a consultation to arrange an appointment with our expert trichologists.
Find out more about amlodipine and hair loss in these frequently asked questions.
It’s unlikely that amlodipine would cause permanent baldness, although hair loss may continue for as long as you’re taking the medication. If you’re concerned about this or any other side effect, speak to your GP about managing these.
If your hair is affected by a new medication, it will likely start falling out a few weeks or months after starting treatment. The exact length of time depends on how long your typical hair growth cycle lasts.
It depends on the type of drug. There are many different types of medicines that can reduce blood pressure, including calcium channel blockers, potassium channel openers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics. Check the packaging of your medication or ask your prescribing doctor to find out if alopecia is a side effect.
If you’re finding it hard to cope with the side effects of your medication, speak to your doctor. If necessary, they may be able to adjust your medication or dosage to reduce the severity of hair loss.
Yes — medication-related hair loss is usually reversible. If you stop taking the medication, your hair will regrow. However, we advise that you don’t stop any medication without first consulting your doctor, as it could adversely affect your health.
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Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Harpreet Kalra is a hair transplant specialist and GP based in our Newcastle hair transplant clinic. Born in Scandinavia, Dr Kalra qualified as a doctor in Denmark in 2007, and was subsequently trained as a hair transplant surgeon by Dr Kapil Dua in 2012 (President of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery). He is registered with the General Medical Council (7126076).
Dr Kalra is an expert hair transplant surgeon with a comprehensive grasp of advanced hair restoration techniques, including FUE and FUT. With his profound commitment to patient welfare, medical innovation, and professional development, Dr Kalra has restored the confidence of hundreds of patients struggling with hair loss.
In addition to his role as a hair transplant consultant at the Wimpole Clinic, Dr Kalra is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) and a practising GP in the UK. Beyond clinical practice, he is an active participant in medical seminars, conferences and workshops, underscoring his dedication to advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes across the UK.
