Day: January 1, 2023

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Topamax, Low-Ogestrel, and Female Hair Loss

I have been taking Topamax sprinkle capsules for my migraines for almost a year (onyl 45 mg per day). After the first few months on the drug, I noticed more hair on the floor in my bathroom and that it was falling out when I ran my fingers through it. In November of this year, I switched my birth control pills to Low Ogestrel,a low dosage monophasic pill so as to keep my hormone levels more stable and keep headaches at bay. After doing this, I noticed an increase in my hair loss. Now, in the shower, there is hair everywhere. Hair on my pillow, and hair on my clothes. I’ve noticed that my hair looks thin at my widows peak and on the sides of my head. It’s frightening. I got off the Topamax two weeks ago and the hair loss has continued. I am going off the birth control this month to see if that stops it.

Just wondering if you’ve ever heard of these drugs causing hair loss? Perhaps the combo of the two has wreaked havoc on my body for some reason? My doctors keep saying “It’s possible, but uncommon.” I’ve had all my bloodwork done and every checked out ok.. I just want this to stop. If it is the pills, how long before it will stop?

Thanks for any help!

Hair loss is associated with each and every one of the medications you use. I am sorry to report this to you, but these things have a cost in side effects and finding the balance can be difficult. Some people may be more sensitive than others. It may take months to see any regrowth after stopping or switching the medications. When medications are used in combination, it makes identifying the problem medication(s) more difficult.


2006-02-20 12:43:47Topamax, Low-Ogestrel, and Female Hair Loss

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Top of My Scalp Is Sore

I am 34 year old African American female. The top of my scalp is sore, thinning and I can not get rid of the dandruff. Is this part of Alopecia? Also, Why do I have soreness at the the top of my scalp and I believe thinning? What can I do for the soreness and thinning? I relax my hair approx every 4 Months. Please help. Thanks.

Chemicals that relax your hair for a long period of time, may cause skin irritation and/or hair loss. Drandruff treatment are found in every pharmacy and you need to experiment with each until you find one that works well for you.


2006-02-23 09:21:07Top of My Scalp Is Sore

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I took finasteride (Propecia) and lost my chest hair, is this common?

Loss of body hair occurs in patients on Propecia (finasteride) but not always. I suspect that the DHT block from the drug finaseride is not very effective on body hair in everyone and that is why different people see varying degrees of body hair loss. It is not unusual to get a decrease in body hair and if you take it long enough, maybe you will see complete loss of your body body hair.

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Took Finasteride for Years And It Didn’t Stop My Hair Loss

I took finasteride 1mg for two years, and it did not stop my hair loss. Five weeks ago, I switched to dutasteride .5mg, and I am still seeing the same level of hair loss. What are some of the possible factors resulting in my continued hair loss? Might it have something to do with the DHT still residing in my scalp?

Also, how much of a decrease in DHT is generally required in the blood and/or scalp in order to stop hair loss?

Male, Age 31

Thank you

Neither dutasteride or finasteride are guaranteed to stop the hair loss. There is a race between your genetics and your attempt to stop the loss and from what you are saying, your genes are winning. If you were to become a Norwood Class 5 balding pattern by the time you are 23 years old, for example, I would doubt that finasteride or dutasteride will stop the progression completely, but it may slow down the process a bit. Do you get what I am saying?

There is no magic DHT level that you must hit as your genes do not seem to care (metaphorically speaking). You are under the illusion that DHT can be controlled, but the issue is with your genes, not DHT levels. Certainly what you are reporting appears that way.


2008-04-03 13:08:35Took Finasteride for Years And It Didn’t Stop My Hair Loss

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Took finasteride and these were my side effects on just a small dose

I started finasteride but my hair loss had progressed a bit over the past few months in the temple recession and has thinned on the top and crown as well. A little over a month ago my GP prescribed me 5mg finasteride to be cut into fourths and taken daily. I cut the pills into 8ths and started taking them every 3 days initially. After three weeks, I could tel my nipples were swollen and looked bigger. I also had penile numbness, and I could not maintain an erection at all. After stopping finasteride, I was back to normal within a week. I am really sad that I was unfortunate enough to get side effects from finasteride… Now it seems my only options are to try topical finasteride, or to wait until I am old enough and my hair loss has halted to get a hair transplant.

We need to talk. Topical finasteride is a reasonable alternative which I can prescribe for you over a telephone consultation.

 


2020-07-21 13:34:32Took finasteride and these were my side effects on just a small dose

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Took Finasteride and lost some beard hair

I was on Minoxidil for six months and got good filling in pretty nice. With its use on my scalp I saw minor improvement. Two months ago, I started to use Finasteride and noticed my beard became patchy again almost like before I started using the Minoxidil. I want hair and a beard. I am not getting any side effects of either drug.

Finasteride is known to reduce beard and body hair in some people. Minoxidil on the beard may help it regrow. You might consider a higher dose if Minoxidil if you can tolerate it.

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I Took Finasteride at 24, and Now I Am 34.

I began taking Finasteride at around age 24 due to perceived hair loss. Due to shifting circumstances in my life, I stopped taking it around age 26. I’m now 34 years old and have seen no additional/acceleration in hair loss. What would you make of this?

I suspect that you were not balding and do not have the genes for balding.


2018-09-19 06:18:52I Took Finasteride at 24, and Now I Am 34.

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Took finasteride 1.5 years ago with no side effects, now want to take it again?

Thanks for your time. I took generic finasteride 1mg about 1.5 years ago for three months. I experienced no sides (only erectile dysfunction but I attribute this to porn habits over finasteride) during or after the treatment but decided to discontinue anyway as the stories I read online scared me out of taking the risk. However, now at 21, my hair has shed extensively and I am thinking of taking it back up again. My question is, if i didn’t experience any sides the first time round, is it likely that any sides/PFS are not going to occur/ much less likely to happen? I appreciate any response as I need to make a decision about finasteride once and for all.

If you really didn’t experience side effects from finasteride the first time you took it, you probably will not experience side effects now; however you said you had erectile dysfunction 1 1/2 years ago, so I would ask isn’t that a side effect? This means that you might experience it again.


2019-02-12 06:41:59Took finasteride 1.5 years ago with no side effects, now want to take it again?

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I Took Cialis and Grew My Hair Back.

I took Cialis, and part of my balding top has started to grow back some hair. Maybe the blood vessels that opened up also started to pump blood around the head (not the small head.. but the other head housing the brain) giving hair growth a boost?

This may be unique to you, but thanks for the comment. Cialis is now prescribed for both prostate enlargement and as an ED treatment. The drug is prescribed as a low dose (5mg/day), so if it helps your hair in addition to the other benefits, that’s great. I wrote about this in 2013 (https://baldingblog.com/2013/04/12/am-i-regrowing-hair-from-cialis/)


2018-06-21 13:13:18I Took Cialis and Grew My Hair Back.