Prednisone and Metroprolol Causing Hair Loss?

I have been on Prednisone since November 2007 for polymyalgia.   I have also been on metropolol (50 mg) since April, 2008.   I stopped the metropolol for 2 months since I experienced major hair loss however, I have to get back on it for blood pressure.   Which one is most likely to cause balding?   I am devastated.

Steroids like prednisone and high blood pressure drugs including Lopressor (Metroprolol) have been identified to cause hair loss in some patients.   There is no real way to measure which medication you will be more susceptible to.

However, you appear to need to be on medication of some kind for Polymyalgia and high blood pressure.   Therefore, I don’t recommend stopping any medication without consulting a physician.   But, you may want to talk with him/her about alternative medication that don’t potentially induce  thinning and balding.

Bill
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, balding, prednisone, high blood pressure, Lopressor, Metroprolol