User Tag List

Likes Likes:  0
Page 4 of 4 FirstFirst ... 234
Results 31 to 40 of 40

Thread: Hair Loss

  1. #31
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    England
    Posts
    829
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    38 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    When WG first presented itself 20 years ago I was on CTX for just a short period as I could not tolerate it. I lost pretty much all my hair due to CTX. Since then I've been on Azathioprine for most of my life without any hair loss issues. That was until earlier this year. I asked my Dr if it was due to my meds, but he thought it was just a result of my body being unwell (WG relapse).
    The strange thing is I've only just started Folic acid earlier this year, just about the same time as my hair has started to thin significantly. I'm not suggesting that this is proof that Folic acid doesn't help hair loss as, maybe, my hair loss would be even worse if I wasn't already on folic acid.
    Diagnosed April 1995

  2. #32
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Olympia, Washington
    Posts
    6,992
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    24 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    My impression has been that folic acid helps with hair loss brought on by use of MTX, but not necessarily with other meds or in general. If it was that easy to stave off any kind of hair loss with folic acid, men and women all over the world would be buying it all the time, as it is cheap and available OTC. I don't know why this would be, though, that it only works with MTX, or even if it is true.
    Anne, dx'ed April 2011

  3. #33
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Connecticut (From: DC metro area)
    Posts
    187
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    I was prescribed folic acid when I started taking methotrexate but still experienced hair loss. My rheumatologist then switched my folic acid for leucovorin to help with hair loss (and other side effects?) of methotrexate. I'm on 25mg of MTX 1x/week now and 5mg leucovorin calcium 1x/week within 12-24 hours of taking MTX. I no longer have major hair loss but I still lose more hair in my brush and comb than I did before starting MTX. Folic acid is supposed to be very helpful for healthy nails too.

  4. #34
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    near Phx, AZ
    Posts
    1,809
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    7 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Triple your dose of folic; that's when mine began to work properly. It's a vitamin, can't hurt you.
    Knowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who only know what to think. -NdT


  5. #35
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    West Virginia
    Posts
    55
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Dear Danica,
    The same thing has started happening to me too and I think it might be my shampoo/conditioner. I have been using a designer cleansing conditioner called Wen by Chaz Dean and noticed that it was really coming out when I brushed it. (The idea was that it did not strip the hair of natural oils with the chemicals of the shampoo. It is "all natural" too so I decided with all the chemicals in my body this was a good idea. ) However when I started looking on line and saw that hair loss was happening to a lot of people so I have stopped using it all together. So maybe a switch in your hair care products is in order.

    Coincidentally Dr. Oz (a talk show in US) had a segment on hair loss yesterday and said it could be hormonal, inflammation, thyroid, and diabetic symptoms. You might mention this to your doctor. I know that cytoxan can make the hair thin but have never know Methotrexate to do it. As for a "cure" he suggested high fiber and protein diet, Vitamin D, Biotin, and lower the bad carbs to help from the inside out. With this disease you really need to mention this to your doc. I think that some hair loss is normal especially for women and our hormones but day after day after day there is a problem. I hope I caught mine early to reverse the damage done. Keep me up to date and good luck.

    V.

  6. #36
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Suburban Columbus, Ohio, USA
    Posts
    2,371
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    20 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    I know that cytoxan can make the hair thin but have never know Methotrexate to do it.

    V.
    I think you have cytoxan and methotrexate reversed here. When I was put on mtx, hair loss was explicitly stated as a side effect, and I was Rxed folic acid to combat it. I was on ctx for 16 months and didn't have any abnormal hair loss.
    Pete
    dx 1/11

    "Every day is a good day. Some are better than others." - unknown

    "Take your meds as directed and live your life as fully as you can." - Michael Chacey, MD

  7. #37
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Ridgecrest, CA
    Posts
    34
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    When I started MT I was put in folic acid. I am still losing a lot though. I am anxious...

  8. #38
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Olympia, Washington
    Posts
    6,992
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    24 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete View Post
    I think you have cytoxan and methotrexate reversed here. When I was put on mtx, hair loss was explicitly stated as a side effect, and I was Rxed folic acid to combat it. I was on ctx for 16 months and didn't have any abnormal hair loss.
    I'm not sure about this, as I think they both can cause hair loss. I had definite hair loss when I was on CTX. Now that I'm on MTX with folic acid, it has slowed way down. The one question I can't get answered is whether folic acid would work against the hair loss from CTX, or if it only works with MTX that way. I have only heard of it being used with MTX and was not prescribed it with CTX. Also I got the feeling that there were other reasons besides hair loss to use it with MTX, that it works against some other negative effects of the drug. Anyone?
    Anne, dx'ed April 2011

  9. #39
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Suburban Columbus, Ohio, USA
    Posts
    2,371
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    20 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Good question, Anne. I was speaking from my own experience with ctx. Docs never mentioned it as a side effect, but they weren't wegs specialists either. Seems like we learn something new about our dumb disease and it's treatments every day. Big sigh...
    Pete
    dx 1/11

    "Every day is a good day. Some are better than others." - unknown

    "Take your meds as directed and live your life as fully as you can." - Michael Chacey, MD

  10. #40
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Olympia, Washington
    Posts
    6,992
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    24 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete View Post
    Good question, Anne. I was speaking from my own experience with ctx. Docs never mentioned it as a side effect, but they weren't wegs specialists either. Seems like we learn something new about our dumb disease and it's treatments every day. Big sigh...
    I'm glad you didn't have hair loss from CTX, but I'm sure I've read of others here who have. There's a lot the docs don't mention. Mine isn't a specialist either and never mentioned hair loss, that I remember, but when he prescribed the MTX, I'm assuming he found out folic acid was usually prescribed with it, and he only mentioned it would "help with side effects" but didn't say which ones. I'd already read about it helping with hair loss on here, so possibly knew more than he did. Yep, it's a dumb disease, for sure.
    Anne, dx'ed April 2011

Page 4 of 4 FirstFirst ... 234

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •