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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by psybintea on January 25, 2003, at 21:16:32
is anyone aware of the etiology of this "supposedly" rare side-effect from AD's?
my main concern is if SSRI induced hair loss is in fact transient? I want some opinions from personal experiences. Has anyone here experienced hair loss and regained it after a certain period of time? and did the regrowth occur after discontinuation? From all the cases i've read, it seems like all of them regrew their hair a few months after stopping the AD, but i haven't read anything regarding rather or not the hair will grow back if the medication is continued. Has anyone ever stuck with it and had their hair return without stoppining their meds?
I found this article:
Dr Richard Lee, MD answered: "Hair loss has been reported with essentially all of the drugs used in psychopharmacology, but the incidence of hair loss as a side effect shows a wide variation.
Here’s an edited abstract from an article entitled, “Hair Loss in Psychopharmacology” by Mercke Y, Sheng H, Khan T, and Lippmann S. from the Annals of Clinical Psychiatry 2000 Mar;12(1):35-42 :
Medication-induced alopecia is an occasional side effect of many psychopharmaceuticals. Most of the mood stabilizer and antidepressant drugs can lead to this condition. Some antipsychotic and antianxiety agents induce alopecia. Valproic acid (e.g. Depakene) and/ or divalproex precipitates alopecia in up to 12% of patients in a dose-dependent relationship. Incidences up to 28% are observed with high valproate concentration exposures. These pharmaceuticals also can change hair color and structure. The occurrence of carbamazepine (e.g. Tegretol)-induced alopecia is at or below 6%. Hair loss is less common with other mood stabilizers. Tricyclic antidepressants, maprotilene, trazodone, and virtually all the new generation of antidepressants may on rare occasions lead to alopecia. The same applies to haloperidol, olanzepine, risperidone, clonazepam, and buspirone, but not to other neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, or barbiturates, selected antihistamines, and antiparkinsonians. Discontinuation of the medication or dose reduction almost always leads to complete hair regrowth.
Please don’t allow this daunting list intimidate you. The majority of patients will not experience any hair loss as a result of taking an anti-depressant. Even if a medication does cause hair loss, the loss is almost always completely reversible. Many of the SSRI (Serum Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) are excellent anti-depressants with very good safety records. Be sure to take antidepressants under close medical supervision."
Posted by Mats on January 25, 2003, at 22:00:44
In reply to Etiology of SSRI induced hair loss., posted by psybintea on January 25, 2003, at 21:16:32
My personal experience included hairloss in the begining of treatment with SSRI (Zoloft) as with every dose increase, but it grow back in about 2 month. Now my hair is thicker than it was before taking the drug. I guess its related to the decrease of testosteron witch in my hypothesis will also decrease the dht (dehydrotestosteron), the main hormon that can cause hairloss.
Posted by Tabitha on January 25, 2003, at 23:24:54
In reply to Etiology of SSRI induced hair loss., posted by psybintea on January 25, 2003, at 21:16:32
Try a Google search on 'telogen effluvium'
Posted by IsoM on January 25, 2003, at 23:35:26
In reply to Etiology of SSRI induced hair loss., posted by psybintea on January 25, 2003, at 21:16:32
When I first starting ADs, they were TCAs. I've now been on a few different SSRIs for about 10 years. Yes, all ADs caused me to lose hair. I felt like I was shedding. I still lose tremendous amounts of hair, much more than what's considered normal, but strangely my hair hasn't gotten any thinner.
In my case, it seems that the life span of each hair is shorter (or something else weird going on) but my hair also grows very fast! So despite the increase of hair loss, I have as much as when I started. I hate this constant shedding though. I find hair everywhere, even combing it frequently to remove loose hair. I gave up worrying about it.
Posted by zenclear on January 26, 2003, at 10:45:17
In reply to Re: Etiology of SSRI induced hair loss. » psybintea, posted by IsoM on January 25, 2003, at 23:35:26
Regarding hair loss with the meds:
Wellbutrin, it seems, is now recognized as a med that fairly frequently (for some) causes hair loss. Did for me.
Have others found that the after the initial hairloss, the pattern later reversed while still on the med? I had to stop after about 2 months, and never tested the long-term reversal possibility. I was too afraid of loosing it all!
Posted by psybintea on January 26, 2003, at 18:10:05
In reply to Re: Etiology of hair loss_Wellbutrin, posted by zenclear on January 26, 2003, at 10:45:17
zenclear, did your hair ever grow back after you stopped?
Posted by zenclear on January 26, 2003, at 20:04:12
In reply to Re: Etiology of hair loss_Wellbutrin, posted by psybintea on January 26, 2003, at 18:10:05
> zenclear, did your hair ever grow back after you stopped?
it bounced back a little, but over the long haul, it has thinned out a little worse.
during this time, i've taken about 5-10 mg/dex a day, so this, too, may have had an impact. any of these meds can cause hair loss, but we do know that some meds are worse culprits than others.
Wellbutrin, for the population it affects (not everyone), seems to be one of these meds. but i knew that the loss would be no worse than what it is currently on dex, i would probably give Wellbutrin another try. i was taking a low dose, 100 SR/day, and it certainly had features that appeal to me.
Posted by noa on January 27, 2003, at 4:32:02
In reply to Re: Etiology of hair loss_Wellbutrin, posted by zenclear on January 26, 2003, at 20:04:12
Since starting medications about 8 years ago, my hair has definitely been much thinner--seems especially bad on top and in front, but maybe that is because the hair in back has always been very thick. It is not so bad that I have any bald spots, but it is a cause of concern for me. I have tons of hair falling out all the time--it is a key component of the "dust-bunnies" in my home.
Posted by Tabitha on January 28, 2003, at 3:11:12
In reply to Re: Etiology of hair loss_Wellbutrin, posted by noa on January 27, 2003, at 4:32:02
Check these out. I found the info very reassuring. Consensus is that the hair loss is limited and temporary. I quit worrying so much afer reading this stuff. It's still annoying to have so much hair everywhere though.
http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/telogen_effluvium.html
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/408/10086.html
Posted by sl on January 30, 2003, at 9:33:39
In reply to Re: Etiology of hair loss_Wellbutrin, posted by zenclear on January 26, 2003, at 10:45:17
Ohmy.
I ...really hadn't considered Wellbutrin as a potential cause of my hair-loss. I've been on Wb for years and years, the thinning only started to get really noticeable in the last year or so. Now, it's sorta...I describe it as being sorta like looking into a forest...you can see the trees, but you can also see the ground for quite a ways in. :/So will anything help? :/
Anyone tried Rogaine or Avacore or anything like that for this?Thanks so much for mentioning this on the board, I never would have known if I hadn't been skimming thru!!
sl
Posted by missinglynxx on January 31, 2003, at 9:20:14
In reply to Re: Etiology of hair loss_Wellbutrin(!!!!), posted by sl on January 30, 2003, at 9:33:39
IF I were you I would try mega doses of Pantothenic Acid, Niacinamide, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Magnesium, etc. Possibly Inositol would work, Maybe the drug is binding up ONE particular nutrient.or causing weird deficiencies? Plus They dont cost TOO much per se GOOD health to you. SL
Posted by sl on January 31, 2003, at 9:46:07
In reply to Re: Etiology of hair loss_Wellbutrin(!!!!), posted by missinglynxx on January 31, 2003, at 9:20:14
Hmm. I'm already on a really heavy-duty multivitamin (with "green foods")...maybe I'll check out those vitamins made specifically for hair'n'nails.
thanks for the idea! :)sl
Posted by missliz on January 31, 2003, at 20:41:22
In reply to Re: Etiology of SSRI induced hair loss. » psybintea, posted by IsoM on January 25, 2003, at 23:35:26
Didn't read the whole thread, but this happens with a lot of drugs- lithium is infamous for making your hair fall out and I had the problem on selegiline too. My psydoc says different drugs will cause hair loss in different people but he sees it a lot. He recommended 50mg a day of zinc, the stuff from the vitamin aisle. Worked great for me, stopped the loss pretty quickly and I was losing hair like a chemo patient, handfulls at a time. It was terribly upsetting.
A few years ago, my hair got limp and weird (for me), probably from the meds at the time. My hairdresser had never seen anything like it, she said it looked like I'd had a scalp transplant. The zinc has really helped over the long term, today my hair is back to it's old thick curly self.
'Course I've been helped immensly by fish and flax oil, and other vitamins and supplements too. Your mileage may vary, but zinc has helped a lot of folks at my support group with hair loss. Hope this helps.missliz
Eating better food in general helps with these kinds of symptoms- most psych patients tend to lousy eating habits and the drugs probably screw with nutrient needs and utilization. I wish we had more info on this kind of thing.
Posted by sl on January 31, 2003, at 22:07:46
In reply to Re: Etiology of SSRI induced hair loss., posted by missliz on January 31, 2003, at 20:41:22
> Didn't read the whole thread, but this happens with a lot of drugs- lithium is infamous for making your hair fall out and I had the problem on selegiline too. My psydoc says different drugs will cause hair loss in different people but he sees it a lot. He recommended 50mg a day of zinc, the stuff from the vitamin aisle. Worked great for me, stopped the loss pretty quickly and I was losing hair like a chemo patient, handfulls at a time. It was terribly upsetting.
Heh, my family thought I was overreacting. Then I took a shower while I was visiting and forgot to clean the drain.... :P It's still thin in the front, but it seems to be stabilized...now I just want to get it growing back!
> A few years ago, my hair got limp and weird (for me), probably from the meds at the time. My hairdresser had never seen anything like it, she said it looked like I'd had a scalp transplant. The zinc has really helped over the long term, today my hair is back to it's old thick curly self.
> 'Course I've been helped immensly by fish and flax oil, and other vitamins and supplements too. Your mileage may vary, but zinc has helped a lot of folks at my support group with hair loss. Hope this helps.I take a heavy-duty vitamin with extra stuff, and fish oil, and calcium&vitD, and time-release vitC.
I was taking iron too but I haven't been eating any really big meals and that's what I need to get my stomach to tolerate it. (I know I can tolerate time-release, but I can't afford to go buy it.)
> Eating better food in general helps with these kinds of symptoms- most psych patients tend to lousy eating habits and the drugs probably screw with nutrient needs and utilization. I wish we had more info on this kind of thing.I eat actually pretty healthy. Not much, lately, but pretty healthy when I eat. :P
I'm trying to get myself to eat healthy, cuz since nothing much sounds good anyway, I might as well eat healthy stuff. :P
I'm going to try to scrape together the money for a complete mineral supplement with all the stuff folks have suggested might help. (yes, I'm aware it's only $6-10, but that's a lot to me right now)Thanks for the specific amount of zinc to look for!! I appreciate it!
sl
Posted by missinglynxx on February 2, 2003, at 0:03:03
In reply to Re: Etiology of SSRI induced hair loss., posted by sl on January 31, 2003, at 22:07:46
SL? Maybe we can find a suppliment that will grow huge ammounts of hair on your back in tufts,, some "evil" prescription drug perhaps haha GOOD luck with the Zinc and Vitamins!
Posted by sl on February 3, 2003, at 17:20:38
In reply to Re: Etiology of SSRI induced hair loss., posted by missinglynxx on February 2, 2003, at 0:03:03
*LoL* that idea is even funnier since I'm actually female! ;)
sl
Posted by smslade1 on February 4, 2003, at 19:46:21
In reply to Re: Etiology of SSRI induced hair loss. » missinglynxx, posted by sl on February 3, 2003, at 17:20:38
I, too, lost hair due to ADs. I was on only 10 mg of Prozac due to PMS and within a month I was shedding like crazy. I not only lost a lot of hair on my head, but everywhere. I barely had any hair left on my arms or legs.
I discontinued taking the meds and my hair grew back immediately. From all the research I have done, Prozac is not known to do this, however, I am 100% positive in my case. I have read that this is a common side effect in other ADs however.
This is the end of the thread.
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