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Does losartan cause hair loss?

Why some people taking blood pressure medication may experience this rare side effect
Sarah Bradley writer headshot
By | Dec. 31, 2024 Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD
A comb and a brush: Does losartan cause hair loss?

Key takeaways

  • Losartan is a blood pressure medication in the angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) class of drugs.

  • It’s not typically associated with hair loss, and case reports of hair loss in people taking losartan are rare.

  • The cause of any hair loss while taking losartan could be other medications or vitamin deficiencies.

  • Anyone experiencing hair loss on losartan (or any medication) should talk to their healthcare provider to investigate and see if there is an alternative medication.

In this article:

Losartan is a generic medication used to treat a variety of conditions. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetic nephropathy. It also has several off-label uses (uses not approved by the FDA), such as treating heart failure. Although many people with hypertension take medications like losartan, which is available as brand-name Cozaar, they do come with some common side effects, namely headache, dizziness, and upset stomach. But there have been some unexpected reports of hair loss on losartan, even though this isn’t a typical side effect of the drug, and experts are still working to understand if or how it might be related. Here’s what to know if you’re taking losartan and experiencing hair loss. 

How does losartan work?

Losartan belongs to a class of medications called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). These medications work by blocking the effects of the angiotensin II hormone and preventing the hormone from sending your body the message to increase blood pressure and blood volume. As a result, the blood vessels relax, remain open, and allow blood to flow more easily. 

Losartan starts to work within the first week of treatment for many patients, but some people may not see results for up to six weeks. 

What’s the connection between losartan and hair loss?

At the moment, there isn’t much of a connection between losartan and hair loss. According to University of Missouri Health Care cardiologist Brian Bostick, MD, there have only been a few reports in scientific literature of hair loss with losartan. Furthermore, researchers can’t find any mechanism for why losartan would cause hair loss, so the findings in these rare reports are confusing even to the experts.

Experts speculate that the cause of losartan hair loss may actually be its affiliation with other blood pressure medications. Joanna Lewis, Pharm.D., founder of The Pharmacist’s Guide, says hair loss has been found in some case reports of people taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Dr. Bostick notes this as well, pointing out that losartan and lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) both affect the angiotensin hormones, and lisinopril has been reported to cause hair loss in rare cases, such as a 2017 case study in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice. However, in that same case study, the singular patient experiencing hair loss while taking lisinopril was switched to losartan, and the hair loss stopped after four weeks. 

RELATED: Losartan vs. lisinopril

Other blood pressure medications taken in combination with losartan could also contribute to hair loss. Some research suggests that it may be beneficial to take more than one type of hypertension medication to lower your blood pressure, and Dr. Bostick says the common class of hypertension drugs called beta blockers could be the source of hair loss instead. Beta blockers like metoprolol and propranolol slow down the heart rate and make your heart beat less forcefully. However, they have been found in scientific literature to potentially cause hair loss because of their damaging effects on hair follicles. If you’re taking losartan and another blood pressure medication, it could actually be the other drug instead of the losartan causing your hair loss.

Other losartan side effects

Losartan has many of the same side effects as other blood pressure medications, including:

  • Dizziness
  • Upset stomach
  • Increased upper respiratory infections
  • Fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Back pain

Like all prescription drugs, losartan carries a risk of potentially serious side effects. Losartan’s side effects include:

  • Kidney problems
  • Liver disease
  • Low blood pressure (hypotension)
  • High potassium levels (hyperkalemia)
  • Severe allergic reaction

How to manage losartan side effects

If you experience hair loss on losartan, Dr. Bostick says you should talk to your healthcare provider. While losartan probably isn’t the cause, don’t ignore this symptom.

“It’s more likely for someone who experiences hair loss while on losartan to be suffering from a vitamin or mineral deficiency, like low zinc levels,” Dr. Bostick says. Your healthcare provider may talk to you about your diet—including whether or not you eat enough vegetables, fruits, and healthy proteins—and may want to order additional tests to see if you have any nutritional or vitamin deficiencies.

In addition to your diet, Dr. Lewis says hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including aging, genetics, and stress. The relationship between stress and hair loss has been well-studied, with researchers finding that stress hormones inhibit hair growth, among other changes. Finally, other factors like hormonal imbalance, autoimmune conditions, and fungal scalp infections can cause hair loss. Some of these causes can be treated, helping you regrow your hair again at a healthy rate, so it’s worth contacting your healthcare provider no matter what you think may be the cause.

Losartan alternatives for blood pressure

Dr. Bostick says there are typically alternatives to any medication you’re taking if it’s causing hair loss, so don’t hesitate to talk to your healthcare provider about your options. He says there are alternatives to losartan, such as valsartan and azilsartan, that are in the same class of drugs. Although this class of hypertension medications is less likely to cause hair loss than beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, everyone is different, and some medications may cause more or less side effects for you than others.

If you think you may need a hypertension medication that’s not an ARB, talk with your healthcare provider, who may recommend one of the following medications:

RELATED: Losartan vs. amlodipine │Losartan vs. metoprolol

Don’t stop taking losartan without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping a blood pressure medication suddenly could cause a sudden spike in blood pressure. Your healthcare provider will let you know how to stop taking losartan safely and start taking the new medication.

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