Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 892232

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Lamictal and hair loss

Posted by whitmore on April 22, 2009, at 20:18:25

I'm thinking of asking my doctor for another trial of lamictal--my last one ended with mouth ulcers and itchy eyes, but not the dreaded rash, so it might be worth another shot. But i'm frightened, (terrified, actually) of hair loss. i'm 58 and a woman and all the anecdotal information re hair loss and this drug seems to occur in this group. Anyone in this demographic(post-meno, female) NOT experience hair loss when taking it? I take bioidentical estradiol and progesterone, which may help the situation, or hinder it, I don't know.

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss » whitmore

Posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2009, at 20:31:46

In reply to Lamictal and hair loss, posted by whitmore on April 22, 2009, at 20:18:25

Please see the thread about to post. Stay on the bioidenticals and try the lamictal if worked. Love Phillipa

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss

Posted by Zana on April 23, 2009, at 8:59:51

In reply to Lamictal and hair loss, posted by whitmore on April 22, 2009, at 20:18:25

My sister who is in her 50's takes 400mgs of lamictal and has had no hair loss.
Good luck with it.

Zana

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss

Posted by zzzz7 on April 23, 2009, at 9:52:48

In reply to Lamictal and hair loss, posted by whitmore on April 22, 2009, at 20:18:25

There are a number of posts here on hair loss with Lamictal (though not with respect to your demographic, I don't think). Add zinc and selenium, and if you do get hair loss you can just taper off the drug.

Good luck!

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss

Posted by desolationrower on April 24, 2009, at 14:45:03

In reply to Lamictal and hair loss, posted by whitmore on April 22, 2009, at 20:18:25

is your hair thinning now? i'm not sure the mechanism for purported (not to discount your skepticism, just that i've not seen evidencee of it myself so don't want to scare others) hair loss on the drug. my guess from looking into male hair loss is that it woudl be pretty easy to avoid, as estrogens have a pretty strong protective effect on scalp follicles; of course if you're thinning anyway, it reduces number of targets to attack. things i used that woudl help for women are green tea extract which i add to shampoo (add a bit of acid too to stabilize it, i use some lemon juice) and tea tree oil which i add to my conditioner. i assume also you've talked to your endo about what level you are targeting for hormones?

-d/r

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss » desolationrower

Posted by Phillipa on April 24, 2009, at 20:45:32

In reply to Re: Lamictal and hair loss, posted by desolationrower on April 24, 2009, at 14:45:03

d/r that's what the hormone doc said my hair may get thicker and grow quicker again which means more money for hair care. But what the heck? Love Phillipa

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss » desolationrower

Posted by fattoush on April 27, 2009, at 18:58:08

In reply to Re: Lamictal and hair loss, posted by desolationrower on April 24, 2009, at 14:45:03

I don't understand the estrogen role. I did not understand any of the hormonal talk. Would you mind explaining? I am also a post-menopausal woman who lost a lot of hair on Lamictal. I had hair loss when on Lithium and on Depakote. I, too, have been entertaining going back on Lamictal, because nothing is working on my depression.

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss » fattoush

Posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2009, at 22:08:19

In reply to Re: Lamictal and hair loss » desolationrower, posted by fattoush on April 27, 2009, at 18:58:08

After menopause a woman's hair tends to thin especially if she has thyroid disease. Bioidentical hormones are estriol, progesterone, testorerone. Visit my docs site wwwcarolinahealthspan.com. Should explain a bit. Phillipa

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss

Posted by desolationrower on April 27, 2009, at 22:51:40

In reply to Re: Lamictal and hair loss » desolationrower, posted by fattoush on April 27, 2009, at 18:58:08

well my undersetanding is just androgens and estrogens play antagonistic roles. on the scalp, androgens cause immune system activation/inflammation and i think direct apoptotic pathyways to be activated, shrinking follicles, shortening growth phase, causing fibrosis, etc. estrogen receptor activation is opposite and is protective. on most of the rest of the body, the reverse is true: androgens turn vellus hair ('peach fuzz') into real hair, promotes growth, and estrogens shrink.

-d/r

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss

Posted by fattoush on April 29, 2009, at 6:42:53

In reply to Re: Lamictal and hair loss, posted by desolationrower on April 27, 2009, at 22:51:40

> well my undersetanding is just androgens and estrogens play antagonistic roles. on the scalp, androgens cause immune system activation/inflammation and i think direct apoptotic pathyways to be activated, shrinking follicles, shortening growth phase, causing fibrosis, etc. estrogen receptor activation is opposite and is protective. on most of the rest of the body, the reverse is true: androgens turn vellus hair ('peach fuzz') into real hair, promotes growth, and estrogens shrink.
>
> -d/r

Okay, I'll take this to the doc because it is still too technical for me.
What kind of doctor should I see?

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss

Posted by desolationrower on April 30, 2009, at 0:39:38

In reply to Re: Lamictal and hair loss, posted by fattoush on April 29, 2009, at 6:42:53

> > well my undersetanding is just androgens and estrogens play antagonistic roles. on the scalp, androgens cause immune system activation/inflammation and i think direct apoptotic pathyways to be activated, shrinking follicles, shortening growth phase, causing fibrosis, etc. estrogen receptor activation is opposite and is protective. on most of the rest of the body, the reverse is true: androgens turn vellus hair ('peach fuzz') into real hair, promotes growth, and estrogens shrink.
> >
> > -d/r
>
> Okay, I'll take this to the doc because it is still too technical for me.
> What kind of doctor should I see?

sorry, its hard to balance explaining things thoroughly while also not being redundant or patronizing (while also only saying thing i'm pretty sure are accurate, which is extra hard since theres lots i don't know). i'll try to answer your questions if you want. but the doctor to see would probably be an endo, or one who specializes in menopause/hormone replacement. possibly dermatologist, as i think they do hair loss.

-d/r

-d/r

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss » desolationrower

Posted by fattoush on April 30, 2009, at 5:58:05

In reply to Re: Lamictal and hair loss, posted by desolationrower on April 30, 2009, at 0:39:38

Thanks.
Going to my endo in two weeks for hypothyroidism monitoring anyway. I'll ask.

 

Re: Lamictal and hair loss » fattoush

Posted by Phillipa on April 30, 2009, at 21:34:12

In reply to Re: Lamictal and hair loss » desolationrower, posted by fattoush on April 30, 2009, at 5:58:05

Male or Female and if either get hormones changed as they thin hair as one ages or if hormones off. Phillipa


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