Guest guest Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 God, give me patience with my health care providers! I called my rheumy's office to report my hair loss on sulfasalazine. Communications there typically seem slow, repetitive and bungled; I really hate to call unless I have to. Doc is on vacation, but her nurse talked to another rheumy who could come up with no reason for sulfasalazine to be affecting my hair. Funny, after wrote that the med can be a folic acid antagonist I Googled the med + folic acid and found LOTS of info linking the med to hair loss! I shared this with the nurse, but she continued to say things like: " talk to your beautician " and " don't run your hand through your hair. " All I can say is THANK HEAVENS for the Internet. It's empowering. And thank you for pointing me in a helpful direction. I've been taking my folic acid and it does seem to be helping the hair. Energy level has shot up, too. This med reminds me of MTX... Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 You're welcome, Sierra. Sorry to hear that calling in is such a trial. I'm filing the " don't run your hand though your hair " advice away for future humorous (or maybe not) reference. And physicians wonder why people self-medicate or are noncompliant. Not an MD I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] Hair loss update > God, give me patience with my health care providers! I called my > rheumy's office to report my hair loss on sulfasalazine. Communications > there typically seem slow, repetitive and bungled; I really hate to > call unless I have to. Doc is on vacation, but her nurse talked to > another rheumy who could come up with no reason for sulfasalazine to be > affecting my hair. > Funny, after wrote that the med can be a folic acid antagonist I > Googled the med + folic acid and found LOTS of info linking the med to > hair loss! I shared this with the nurse, but she continued to say > things like: " talk to your beautician " and " don't run your hand through > your hair. " All I can say is THANK HEAVENS for the Internet. It's > empowering. > And thank you for pointing me in a helpful direction. I've been > taking my folic acid and it does seem to be helping the hair. Energy > level has shot up, too. This med reminds me of MTX... > > Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2006 Report Share Posted September 2, 2006 Sierra, So why isn't it possible that you're one of the 3%????? a On Sep 2, 2006, at 9:43 AM, snowdrift52003 wrote: > Hello, > My rheumy came back from vacation and told a nurse to call me and say > that it's unlikely my hair loss was caused by sulfasalazine because > that only happens to 3% of the people who take it. > > I found this on AboutArthritis and am now wndering if it was the > Arava. The time frame fits. Fortunately, the hair loss is minor and I > have a lot of it to start with. I will breathe easier when it stops, > though. > > Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2006 Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 I work in public relations, so I need to look decent. I hope this stops before I'm due for a highlight...that could be a disaster, but dark roots are no good either... Sierra > > > > Hello, > > My rheumy came back from vacation and told a nurse to call me and > say > > that it's unlikely my hair loss was caused by sulfasalazine because > > that only happens to 3% of the people who take it. > > > > I found this on AboutArthritis and am now wndering if it was the > > Arava. The time frame fits. Fortunately, the hair loss is minor and > I > > have a lot of it to start with. I will breathe easier when it > stops, > > though. > > > > Sierra > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > What Types Of Medications Can Cause Hair Loss? > > Many different types of medication are associated with hair loss. > > Examples of arthritis medications that can contribute to this > problem > > include: > > > > Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) > > Arava (leflunomide) > > Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) > > nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs > > > > What Actually Causes The Hair Loss? > > Hair loss from arthritis medication is typically secondary to what > is > > called telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss occurs when some > > stress, such as a medication, causes hair roots to be pushed > > prematurely into a resting state, called telogen. Abrupt diffuse > hair > > loss will typically be noticed after two or more months from the > time > > the stress occurred (e.g. time the medication was started). > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Sierra, WHen my hair was falling out I didn't dare do my usual dye job for occasional grey hairs...I was afraid that it would turn some awful color because of all the meds in my system. I started Humira today and have decided that if my hair starts to fall out again I am just going to have it cut really short and get a wig!! I am not going thru that hassle again! And it is so hard on us women psychologically when our hair is falling out in great clumps! Life is too short to look awful or feel awful because of your hair! And they have some great wigs out there now!!.......jenna When you lose a loved one, you gain an angel whos' name you know ! __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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