I am a 39 year old female experiencing hairloss all over, with more concentration in the frontal area. I became infertile with low estrogen in my early 30s, went on testosterone cream supplement for 8-9 months after that, but primarily suspect that my hair loss is due to the L-tryptophan I’ve been taking for the last 2 years for my mood, which has worked wonderfully for me as an antidepressant (from 1000 mg to 2500 mg.).
If I get off the Tryptophan will my hair grow back? Otherwise, I may need a referral for a doctor in the San Jose or San Francisco Bay Area, and to find another anti-depressant…that doesn’t cause hair loss???
Thank you
There are some suggestions that tryptophan can cause hair loss and yet other suggestions that it does not effect hair loss. As a metabolic intermediate in the conversion of tryptophan into serotonin (5-HTP), some believe that in selective sensitive patients it may cause hair loss in its derivative form. Chemotoxicity is not my specialty and this is frankly beyond my skills and knowledge. Your conclusions on finding a doctor that can manage your anti-depressant medications is appropriate, but I do not have a referral for you. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
