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I was on Diovan HCTZ for a number of years for my high blood pres...

Posted at 5:39 PM on Jan 30, 2009 by cgalio01, #38521
I was on Diovan HCTZ for a number of years for my high blood pressure. It worked pretty well, keeping my b/p to around 130/80, it had been 158/90. The Diovan, since no generic is available, is expensive but I did have a prescription plan at the time. I recently retired and asked my doctor to switch me over to a generic medication to cut my cost. He put me on lisinopril hctz 20/12.5mg. I took it once a day and had great results with lowering my blood pressure. No side effects until the third month, I then began to notice a great deal of hair loss. Since I am 58, 15 years post menopausal, dye my hair, I thought maybe it was the dye (unusual since I have been using the same product for years). I started washing my hair every other day instead of daily. This did not help, I still had to vacumm my bathroom floor daily. At this point I looked up on the internet and found this site about the connection of lisinopril and hair loss. Being an RN I decided to cut the pills in half for a week and see what happened. Sure enough, my hair loss stopped. I then went to my doctor equipt with this information. I am now on HCTZ 25mg daily and taking my blood pressure 2x/day. My b/p stays around 140/80. I know I have to go back to the doctor next week to discuss what to do next because this is not working. Luckily I HAD very thick hair otherwise I would be bald. Does the hair grow back? Does anyone have any other medication they can suggest that does not have this side effect? Too bad, I was doing so good on the lisinopril with my b/p and it did not make me tired like the diovan did.
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Reply 9 months ago on Jan 30, 2009 by teebyrd51, #16600

I am taking Lisinopril 10mg along with Diovan 320mg daily and I have been doing so for the last 3 years. I am never feeling normal. Always in a daze throughout the day. I have to take both at night, because I can't function during the day if I am on it. I have to think about my moves during day and how I'm gonna climb stairs and negotiate just general walking. And I drive a truck for a living. I am fine while driving but have to be careful entering and exiting the vehicle. I have read some of the posts here and am gonna try to stop the lisin. and see how I feel then. Thanks for all of your information. I am glad I found this site.

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Reply 9 months ago on Feb 23, 2009 by shaygirl, #17370

I am also experiencing sudden and severe hair loss. Every time I shower and wash my hair the floor of the shower is covered with hair. I'm really concerned since it seems most of the loss is right on top where everyone can see my scalp peeking through. I have been taking Lisnopril/HCTZ 20/12.5 since December, 2008 (3 months). If I continue with the meds, I fear baldness before the year is up! I also would like to know if the hair will grow back with discontinuation of this medication. Shaygirl

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Reply 9 months ago on Feb 23, 2009 by cgalio01, #17373

I posted my comments on this site 1/30/09 (see previous). I am happy to say that I am now on Norvasc. My blood pressure is doing fine and the hair loss has completely stopped. I even see new hair growth around my hairline. Thanks to this site I have both my b/p in control as well as my hair. To answer the question of growing back hair, apparently yes it does.

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