Does Glimepiride cause hair loss?
By
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii, PhD, is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drug Design and Development, Enzymes, Molecular Modelling, and Photodynamic Therapy. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii’s Highlights:
- Postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo, emphasizing therapy of neglected diseases using light.
- PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Six months as an international researcher at the Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (University of California San Diego)
- Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes – São Paulo / Brazil
Professional Experience:
2012 – 2018 Project manager at University of São Paulo – Pharmacy Department
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii has worked with computational studies, synthesis, biological evaluation, design, and development of new inhibitor candidates for Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis.
2017 – 2017 International research fellow at University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences – Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases.
She used Virtual Screening (VS) and High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Integration in the Discovery of new drugs against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
2018 – 2019 Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy, teaching the subjects of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Development.
2019 – 2021 Researcher in Biochemistry University of São Paulo – Biochemistry Department
She applied Photodynamic Therapy in Leishmaniasis Treatment, mentored undergraduate students in scientific activities, and wrote, executed, translated, and reported scientific projects with funding agencies.
2023-2023 UniPiaget – University Center.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a Biology, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy professor.
Education:
2018 -2021 Postdoctoral at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo
2013 -2018 PhD of Science: Drugs and Medicines at Department of Pharmacy at University of São Paulo
2012 -2013 M.Sc. of Sciences: Drugs and Medicines at the Department of Pharmacy at the University of São Paulo
2005-2008 Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes
The leading publications of Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii are:
Vital-Fujii, D.G, Baptista, M.S. (2021). Progress in the photodynamic therapy treatment of Leishmaniasis. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 54, 1-11.
Gatti, F. M., Gomes, R.A., da Fonseca, A.L., Lima, E.J.C., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Taranto, A.G., Varotti, F.P., Trossini, G.H.G. (2020). Antiplasmodial activity of sulfonylhydrazones: in vitro and in silico approaches. Future medicinal chemistry, 13, 233-250.
Silva, E.J., Bezerra-Souza, A., Passero, L.F., Laurenti, M.D., Ferreira, G.M., Fujii, D.G.V., et al. (2018). Synthesis, leishmanicidal activity, structural descriptors and structure-activity relationship of quinoline derivatives. Future medicinal chemistry, 10, 2069-2085.
Leite, F.H.A., Froes, T.Q., da Silva, S.G., de Souza, E.I.M., Vital-Fuji,i D.G., Trossini, G.H.G., et al. (2017). An integrated approach towards the discovery of novel non-nucleoside Leishmania major pteridine reductase 1 inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 132, 322-332.
Vital, D.G., Damasceno, F.S., Rapado, L.N., Silber, A.M., Vilella, F.S., Ferreira, R.S., et al. (2017). Application of bioisosterism in design of the semicarbazone derivatives as cruzain inhibitors: a theoretical and experimental study. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 35, 1244–1259.
Mello, J. F.R., Gomes, R.A., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Ferreira, G.M., Trossini, G.H.G. (2017). Fragment-based drug discovery as alternative strategy to the drug development for neglected diseases. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, 90, 1067-1078.
Pantaleao, S.Q., Fujii, D.G.V., Maltarollo, V.G., da C. Silva, D., Trossini, G.H.G., Weber, K.C., et al. (2017). The Role of QSAR and Virtual Screening Studies in Type 2 Diabetes Drug Discovery. Medicinal Chemistry, 13, 706-720.
Vital, D., Arribas, M., Trossini, G. (2014). Molecular Modeling and Docking Application to Evaluate Cruzain Inhibitory Activity by Chalcones and Hydrazides. Letters in Drug Design and Discovery, 11, 249-255.
Blau, L., Menegon, R.F., Trossini, G.H.G., Molino, J.V.D., Vital, D.G., Cicarelli, R.M.B., et al. (2013). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new aryl thiosemicarbazone as antichagasic candidates. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67, 142-151.
You can view some of Dr Drielli’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9270-0466
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Drielli-Gomes-Vital-Fujii
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55829534000
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=F9U50AEAAAAJ&hl=pt-BR
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/driellivital
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/6101380/drielli-gomes-vital
CDIPD: https://cdipd.org/index.php/about-us/visiting-scientists
Does Glimepiride cause hair loss?
Glimepiride may or may not cause hair loss. This side effect is not common, but it could still affect some people. The exact reason why the medication may make some people lose hair has yet to be fully discovered.
However, experts believe that there could be some factors responsible for your hair loss, including diabetes itself- as this chronic disease is known for causing hair loss. Other factors like another underlying condition or use of the drug with incompatible drugs can also contribute to hair loss.
Many such cases were reported where Glimepiride was paired with an incompatible medication, which opened doors for side effects which were not commonly observed.
What does research indicate?
There is limited research on Glimepiride-induced hair loss and it is not a commonly reported side effect of Glimepiride (1). However, individual cases of hair loss have been reported with its use.
On the other hand, several research studies indicate that diabetes can cause hair loss. A 2016 research study showed that hair loss could be an early symptom of type-2 diabetes, as the disease can start affecting hair follicles and trigger hair loss. (2)
Another study found that type 2 diabetes is associated with a higher risk of severe central scalp hair loss in African American women. The study followed a group of participants and observed 850 cases of severe hair loss during the follow-up period. (3)
The hazard ratio for severe hair loss associated with diabetes was 1.68 overall and 2.05 for diabetes duration of 10 years or more. Based on these findings, it is recommended that patients with type 2 diabetes should be closely monitored for central scalp hair loss and offered appropriate treatment.
In general, antidiabetics are not that commonly associated with hair loss as compared to other drugs, including antihypertensives – especially beta-blockers like Labetalol, Bisoprolol, etc.
What to do if Glimepiride causes hair loss?
It’s best to talk to your healthcare provider if you think Glimepiride is causing hair loss or hair thinning. Your doctor will determine the most appropriate way to prevent this side effect.
If Glimepiride is indeed the one making you lose hair, your doctor might opt for dose reduction, which does work in a lot of cases. However, if your side effect persists, your doctor may switch you to another medication. Make sure you continue using Glimepiride until your doctor tells you otherwise.
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References
1.-
Trerattanavong K, Tadi P. Glimepiride. 2023 May 31. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 32119487.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32119487/
2.-
Miranda JJ, Taype-Rondan A, Tapia JC, Gastanadui-Gonzalez MG, Roman-Carpio R. Hair follicle characteristics as early marker of Type 2 Diabetes. Med Hypotheses. 2016 Oct;95:39-44. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2016.08.009. Epub 2016 Aug 16. PMID: 27692164; PMCID: PMC5073072. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5073072/
3.-
Coogan PF, Bethea TN, Cozier YC, Bertrand KA, Palmer JR, Rosenberg L, Lenzy Y. Association of type 2 diabetes with central-scalp hair loss in a large cohort study of African American women. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019 Jun 6;5(4):261-266. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.05.010. PMID: 31700983; PMCID: PMC6831789. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31700983/
