Hair loss on semaglutide — is this real?
3 months on semaglutide and I'm noticing more hair in the shower drain than usual. Did some research and clinical trials show 3% incidence of hair loss vs 1% placebo. That's statistically significant but still pretty rare. Anyone else experience this? Does it stop? Is it the drug or just the caloric deficit?
Replies (2)
This is likely telogen effluvium — temporary hair shedding triggered by rapid weight loss, caloric deficit, or metabolic stress. It's not unique to semaglutide; it happens with any significant weight loss method. The good news: it's almost always temporary. Hair growth cycles take 3-6 months, so shedding typically resolves within 6-12 months. Make sure you're getting adequate protein, iron, biotin, and zinc.
I had this around month 2-3 as well. It was alarming but it did slow down by month 5. I started taking a biotin supplement and made sure to hit protein targets. It's stressful but it does seem to be temporary for most people.