Drugs (Cause Hair Loss) – Page 37

November 13, 2006

Hair Loss Information6-OXO Steroid Caused Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Your info site is really helpful. I am currently taking a nutritional supplement which is called 6-OXO. It is supposed to increase your testosterone levels. after taking it for 4 weeks, I definitely noticed something, (increased energy, strength, better mood, increased libido, muscle hardness and mass) but I also noticed an excess loss of hair. Now I’m 31 and have a full set of hair, but I’ve noticed this excessive hair loss start about 3 weeks into me taking the 6 OXO. Should I seek medical advice? What doctors specialize in these types of problems, and do you have any referrals in the LA or Orange County area in California.

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The symptoms you present do reflect increased testosterone, including the hair loss you are experiencing. We have offices local to you in Newport Beach and Los Angeles. You should get your scalp mapped out for miniaturization at the time of your visit to shed light on the underlying cause of the hair loss and the possibility that you have a latent genetic balding problem brought on by the increased testosterone.

November 13, 2006

Hair Loss Information » Vitamin A Poisoning? – Balding Blog

Hi,

I am a 21 year old male, and I’ve had a very healthy scalp and a full head of hair, until this month. I started taking multivitamins, which contain what I now see as too much Vitamin A (10,000 IU; my weight is low, so that dose is high for me, I weigh 57kg).

There is now a small bald spot (about 1.5in diameter) on the back of my head, and its onset was sudden enough that I do not think this is male pattern baldness. My hairline has not begun to recede.

I’ve stopped taking the pills today, as I’m quite sure the excess Vitamin A is the cause of this, but I would like to ask you if I am right about this.

Also, in the event that this was Vitamin A poisoning, can you tell me if it’s possible for my hair to start growing in that bald spot again? I’m worried this might be permanent.

Thank you for your time.

Hair loss is seen in both vitamin A deficiency, and vitamin A excess. I think you are right about the fact that your hair loss could be related to overuse of vitamin A. It is good that you stopped taking the pills. You may want to use other multivitamin pills with lower doses of vitamins A in the future or the ones without vitamin A. The hair loss is usually reversible and disappears with discontinuing the medication but one always must be aware that anything that causes hair loss can ‘flip the genetic switch’ and it may not be reversible. Give it a few months and your hair will hopefully grow back if you don’t have any other underlying causes.

November 8, 2006

Hair Loss Potential from Prescription Drugs – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello,
I Have a question regarding prescription based drugs and thier potential to cause accelerated hair loss. For many years I have had a very mild thinning throughout my crown and front (not very noticable). I never really considered going bald, as it is not in my family.

I work out a lot and started using phentermine as an energy booster and to help keep me on a very strick diet. I ended up going a few weeks only eating a small portion of vegetables, rice, and nuts (very little). I was also taking Xanax to help me sleep at night.

During this time I noticed an incredible loss of hair just at the top of my head. Picture a skunk, that is kind of like the very thin line of hair I have right down the top (form front to mid section).

Could this be the drugs? Now that I have stopped, will this possibly grow back?

Thanks

You described some of the causes of hair loss — diet and weight loss, drugs possibly with androgenic bents, drugs known to possibly contribute to hair loss, and stress. You may also have turned on the switch for male pattern hair loss with a thinning pattern on the top of your head. If you triggered the genetic switch, then you should have your scalp hair mapped out for miniaturization. Once your diagnosis of male patterned hair loss is in hand, consider starting on Propecia. If the genetic switch was turned on, you may not get your hair back, but Propecia might help with that agenda. In any event, if you do nothing you will know in less than a year if the hair will grow back by just watching it.

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November 3, 2006

Topomax and Lamictal Causing Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am on Topomax and lamictal for epilepsy and have been experiencing hair loss problems since starting the topomax that seem to be worsening. I have been told it is a side effect of Topomax. Will this stop on its own? Is there anything I can take or anything I can do to mitigate the impact of topomax on my hair?

This is a subject you and your neurologist need to discuss. Many of these medications do cause hair loss. Drugs like minoxidil may work for men and women, and if you are a man, then Propecia may also help, but when the medications are working away at your hair as a side effect of the drug, then alternative drugs may be worth trying. This is a difficult problem, but you can not sacrifice your health for your hair.

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November 2, 2006

Mood Stabilizers and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My husband is 40 and until recently had a head full of thick black hair, I noticed when he turns his head that you can clearly see his scalp and it has thinned out tremendously. He is on mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder and I know these will affect hair and cause hair loss. Will anything help his hair come back if this is related to his medication.

Medications to treat bipolar disorder (such as lithium) can cause hair loss. Just because you stop the offending medication, it does not guarantee that the hair will come back. More importantly, you should discuss any change in medication with your prescribing doctor. Sometimes, these drugs precipitate the genetic hair loss process. A good dermatologist (or a good doctor that specializes in hair, like myself) can make a diagnosis that will define any genetic component of what is happening to him. The drug Propecia (finasteride 1mg) might then help, at least by slowing or stopping the process. Try to surround the diagnosis. Some people who actually have hair loss from genetic causes, do not notice it until it gets more advanced. Could that also be the case?

October 27, 2006

Adderall and Alopecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Can adderall effect alopecia. Because i have alopecia, and tried Adderall a couple times, nothing consistent and i noticed that my hair growth had halted and i began getting new bald spots. I have had alopecia in the past but it always seems to grow back.

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There is a direct relationship between Adderall and alopecia in some people. The rest of your question makes no sense to me. Sorry.

October 19, 2006

Diane-35 and Hair Loss in Women – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,I hope this get to you because I’m at a desperation state for help!! I’m 22, female and have been taking diane-35 for 5 years, as well I have done alot of bleaching to my hair in the past,and just this past year I have been losing massive amount of hair, I’m constantly shedding throughout the day,especially after showers. I know this is not genetic because no one in my family is bald. Do you think this pattern of shedding is due to the pill? and what do you recommend I do?
Thank you for your time

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Hair loss can be genetic without anyone in your family being bald. This is because hair loss gene does not follow a predictable Mendelian genetic inheritance pattern.

Hair loss in women is more complicated than hair loss in men, because it does not manifest itself in a specific pattern. While birth control pills and extensive hair coloring/bleaching may have a contributory factor in your hair loss, there may be other medical issues that should be expored before blaming a pill or a hair treatment. You should see your family doctor for a good physical exam and rule out any medical causes.

October 19, 2006

My Dermatologist Says Amantadine, Aricept, and Adderal Are Causing My Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,

I am a ‘young’ 50’s woman who has lived with Sjogren’s for 20 yrs. along w/the medications to control its symptoms. I’ve had fairly normal hair loss until the last 5 yrs. Since then, the loss has increased at an alarming rate. The biopsy revealed chronic TE. My dermatologist thinks it’s due to 3 of my meds; amantadine, aricept & adderal. I’ve taken these meds forever. I’m going to ask my Rhuematologist to change them. Meanwhile, he told me to discontinue the minoxidil because he doesn’t think it works, but I thought it was helping w/the shorter hair along the face, but… is there anything that helps with the itching that goes hand-in-hand w/the minoxidil? That is almost unbearable on top of the itching from the TE.

When you get a symptom like chronic itching when you are using a medication like minoxidil, your body is telling you that it is not good for you (it could be that you are allergic to the medication). Sounds like you have good doctors, so focus your questions to those who are treating you. Hair loss is complex in your situation, as it coexists with your other problems and treatments.

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October 19, 2006

Scared to Lose My Hair with Chemotherapy – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m a 22 year old girl who will be starting chemo the first week of November ‘07. While the thought of treatment is really scary, what’s scaring me the most is knowing that I’ll be losing my hair outwardly looking ill. I’ve been doing a huge amount of research on any ways to retain my hair during treatment. I keep ending up hitting a product called Thymu-Skin. I can’t find any sites that discuss if there are any side effects to using this product while on chemo.

Can you please help me out with this? I’d really appreciate it!!

thanks

Chemotherapy does not necessarily mean you will lose hair. Hair loss depends on the specific drug used in chemotherapy. Your doctor who will be overseeing your chemotherapy treatment should be able to answer all of your questions and tell you how chemotherapy will affect your health and hair. The good news is that if you lose your hair, it will probably come back strong after the growth cycle is invoked.

To my knowledge, there is no FDA approved product to prevent hair loss from chemotherapy. With respect to ThymuSkin, I have heard of this product from patients and readers like you. Most accounts of its success/failure are based on anecdotal accounts. Despite the claim of ‘research’ and publications, they are rarely in peer reviewed mainstream journals and even if it is, the design of the study needs to be scrutinized for biases in the research. A theme that often echoes here on BaldingBlog is that it is a “buyer beware” market.

Of note, the ThymuSkin website seems to account the expertise of Dr. Morton Walker. Dr Walker is a doctor of podiatry medicine (D.P.M.) I am confused how a foot doctor came to be an expert in hair loss and the thymus.

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October 4, 2006

Minocycline and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hello. I was taking minocycline for about 3 months due to acne. 10mg total a day. I stopped the treatment and through out I noticed that my hair was falling out, but not too much to cause concern. during this past 2 weeks my hair is falling out in big patches and i don’t know what to do? what do you recommend? thank you!

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As I’ve said before, many drugs can cause hair loss, but if you are losing big patches of hair, then you need to be evaluated by a doctor (dermatologist) and can not assume that this is caused from the drug you had taken. You need to get a complete physical exam and history reviewed by this doctor. With all of that being said, I do not know of a direct link between minocycline and hair loss.