Does Ozempic (semaglutide) cause hair loss?

Semaglutide (Ozempic) and Hair Loss

Semaglutide (Ozempic) is not specifically associated with hair loss as a common or documented side effect in current clinical guidelines or FDA labeling.

Common Side Effects of Semaglutide

• The most frequently reported adverse effects of semaglutide are gastrointestinal in nature, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain 1
• These gastrointestinal side effects are typically dose-dependent and more pronounced during initial treatment or dose escalation 1
• Other documented side effects include:
  • Risk of pancreatitis 1, 2
  • Gallbladder disease and cholelithiasis 1, 2
  • Potential for delayed gastric emptying 1
  • Risk of hypoglycemia when used with insulin or insulin secretagogues 1
  • Injection site reactions 2

Hair Loss and Medications

• Hair loss can occur as a side effect of certain medications through various mechanisms including anagen arrest, telogen effluvium, or accentuation of androgenetic alopecia 3
• When evaluating medication-induced hair loss, it's important to exclude other potential triggers such as fever, severe illness, stress, and hormonal changes 3
• While some psychopharmaceuticals, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants have been associated with hair loss, GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide are not specifically mentioned in this context 4

Semaglutide Clinical Trials and Safety Data

• In large clinical trials such as the STEP trials and SELECT trial, which followed patients for up to 4 years, hair loss was not reported as a significant adverse effect 5, 6
• The most comprehensive safety data from these trials focuses on:
  • Gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) 6
  • Serious adverse events (which were actually lower in the semaglutide group compared to placebo across BMI categories) 5
  • Discontinuation rates due to adverse effects 6

Monitoring and Management

• When starting semaglutide, patients should be monitored for the known side effects, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms 1, 2
• Gradual dose titration helps mitigate gastrointestinal side effects 2
• Regular monitoring of renal function, signs of pancreatitis, and gallbladder disease is advised 1

Clinical Implications

• If a patient experiences hair loss while taking semaglutide, consider other potential causes before attributing it to the medication 3
• Alternative explanations for hair loss should be explored, including stress, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, or other medications 3
• Weight loss itself, regardless of method, can sometimes trigger telogen effluvium (temporary hair shedding), which typically resolves within 6-12 months 3

In conclusion, while many medications can cause hair loss as a side effect, semaglutide (Ozempic) is not specifically associated with this adverse effect based on current clinical guidelines and research evidence. If hair loss occurs during semaglutide treatment, other causes should be investigated.