Re: Humira, MTX, Plaquenil, Predisone cocktail and Hair Loss - PLEASE HELP ME

[Guest guest]

> so I'm spending my fortune

> on hair volumizing shampoos, etc., these days!

>

What works the best, do you think?

Or at all? I need all the help I can get. My hair is thin, dry, dull, and

fly-away.

Thanks,

Pris

[Guest guest]

The hair loss is probably due to the MTX, not the Humira. Are you on

folic acid or Leucovorin? Tell the doctor about the hair loss, you

probably need a larger dose of one of these. But you may not be able

to stop it completely. MTX is a chemo drug and it kills off rapidly

multiplying cells -- including those in our hair follicles -- just

like chemo does. The dose is much lower, but many of us take it for

years without a break, which cancer patients don't do.

>

> I've been in this group for quite some time, but I don't believe

I've

> ever posted or asked a question. I was diagnosed in March 2006 with

> Rheumatoid Arthritis after thinking for 3 yrs that it was PR. I

> started immediately on MTX and was up to 8 pills a week, then by

June

> he had added Plaquenil and Humira. After starting the Humira I

> discovered that each day after day I was loosing more and more

hair.

> I have very long blonde hair and am getting ready to turn 50 so I've

> had it a long time and I'm not happy about the loss. My Rheumy

backed

> me down to 6 MTX a week and 5mg day of Predisone as he felt it was

> probably the MTX that was causing the hair loss. Well, I THOUGHT it

> had gotten better but in the last week or so, it's worse than it was

> in the beginning. You should see my clothes and inside of my car.

> The bathroom sink is horrible as each time I brush my hair, I have

to

> clean out the hair!!! Has anyone else had this problem and could

> Humira be the culprit???

>

> I honestly don't know if the Humira is helping me. To tell you the

> truth I'm on so many different medications as I suffer from several

> diseases and I've had 2 failed spine fusions so I'm in constant

pain.

> In the last month my back has been giving me fits!!! We've tried

> addt'l meds and even have some Lidocane patches to put on the sore

> spots. When I was at my DR office yesterday, she noted that there

> were several areas of my back that were " on fire " . I told her that

> was where I was hurting........and she suggested a new med to add to

> my cocktail. The next step will be having a CT scan but I'm sure

she

> has to exhaust all options for the pain before Medicare will cover a

> CT scan.

>

> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

>

> I need Help!

> Lyn

>

[Guest guest]

I have hair loss with the MTX also, so my rheumy put me on Leucovorin the

day after I take the MTX, and 1 mg of folic acid every day. The hair loss

slowed, but didn't completely go away. Starting Humira didn't change the

hair situation either way. I was taking 20mg of MTX (8 pills) but have been

able recently to go down to 10 mg. Still no change in the hair situation.

I'm in my late 50s, have always had thin hair, so I'm spending my fortune

on hair volumizing shampoos, etc., these days!

On 1/9/07, Lyn <skybluetn@...> wrote:

>

> I've been in this group for quite some time, but I don't believe I've

> ever posted or asked a question. I was diagnosed in March 2006 with

> Rheumatoid Arthritis after thinking for 3 yrs that it was PR. I

> started immediately on MTX and was up to 8 pills a week, then by June

> he had added Plaquenil and Humira. After starting the Humira I

> discovered that each day after day I was loosing more and more hair.

> I have very long blonde hair and am getting ready to turn 50 so I've

> had it a long time and I'm not happy about the loss. My Rheumy backed

> me down to 6 MTX a week and 5mg day of Predisone as he felt it was

> probably the MTX that was causing the hair loss. Well, I THOUGHT it

> had gotten better but in the last week or so, it's worse than it was

> in the beginning. You should see my clothes and inside of my car.

> The bathroom sink is horrible as each time I brush my hair, I have to

> clean out the hair!!! Has anyone else had this problem and could

> Humira be the culprit???

>

> I honestly don't know if the Humira is helping me. To tell you the

> truth I'm on so many different medications as I suffer from several

> diseases and I've had 2 failed spine fusions so I'm in constant pain.

> In the last month my back has been giving me fits!!! We've tried

> addt'l meds and even have some Lidocane patches to put on the sore

> spots. When I was at my DR office yesterday, she noted that there

> were several areas of my back that were " on fire " . I told her that

> was where I was hurting........and she suggested a new med to add to

> my cocktail. The next step will be having a CT scan but I'm sure she

> has to exhaust all options for the pain before Medicare will cover a

> CT scan.

>

> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

>

> I need Help!

> Lyn

>

>

--

Shoreview, MN, until April! brrrr!

South Pasadena, CA

You can see my galleries at http://www.pbase.com/arenared986

[Guest guest]

I am having problems with hair loss as well. I am on MTX, Plaquenil

and Enbrel. I am thinking that it is the MTX as well. I told my

doc about it, and all he could say is that I am not on a large

enough dosage that it should be a problem. Try being 36 with your

scalp showing! One more reason to be self concious.

Hope you have a peaceful painless evening.

Annie

> >

> > I've been in this group for quite some time, but I don't believe

> I've

> > ever posted or asked a question. I was diagnosed in March 2006

with

> > Rheumatoid Arthritis after thinking for 3 yrs that it was PR. I

> > started immediately on MTX and was up to 8 pills a week, then by

> June

> > he had added Plaquenil and Humira. After starting the Humira I

> > discovered that each day after day I was loosing more and more

> hair.

> > I have very long blonde hair and am getting ready to turn 50 so

I've

> > had it a long time and I'm not happy about the loss. My Rheumy

> backed

> > me down to 6 MTX a week and 5mg day of Predisone as he felt it

was

> > probably the MTX that was causing the hair loss. Well, I

THOUGHT it

> > had gotten better but in the last week or so, it's worse than it

was

> > in the beginning. You should see my clothes and inside of my

car.

> > The bathroom sink is horrible as each time I brush my hair, I

have

> to

> > clean out the hair!!! Has anyone else had this problem and could

> > Humira be the culprit???

> >

> > I honestly don't know if the Humira is helping me. To tell you

the

> > truth I'm on so many different medications as I suffer from

several

> > diseases and I've had 2 failed spine fusions so I'm in constant

> pain.

> > In the last month my back has been giving me fits!!! We've

tried

> > addt'l meds and even have some Lidocane patches to put on the

sore

> > spots. When I was at my DR office yesterday, she noted that

there

> > were several areas of my back that were " on fire " . I told her

that

> > was where I was hurting........and she suggested a new med to

add to

> > my cocktail. The next step will be having a CT scan but I'm

sure

> she

> > has to exhaust all options for the pain before Medicare will

cover a

> > CT scan.

> >

> > Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

> >

> > I need Help!

> > Lyn

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I will turn 50 in just

a couple of weeks and one of my positives in my life has been my nice

thick blonde hair......My scalp is showing in the front and I hate

it!!!!!!

I know I shouldn't be so vain, but I just don't feel like the meds

are helping enough to put up with this!!! WE backed down my

MTX....but I think it's the Humira!

Thanks!

Lyn

>

>

>

>

>

> > so I'm spending my fortune

> > on hair volumizing shampoos, etc., these days!

> >

>

> What works the best, do you think?

> Or at all? I need all the help I can get. My hair is thin, dry,

dull, and

> fly-away.

> Thanks,

> Pris

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Lyn,

You said you were having lossof hair. How much Mtx are you taking? I read

that can cause hair loss.

Sincerely,

Bunny

[Guest guest]

I turn 50 on the 4th of February and I guarantee you that my hair is

so much thinner in the last 6 months since starting Humira that I look

about 10 yrs older than last year!!! I HATE loosing my hair. I know

that's vain, but I'm also in so much pain that I can't even have a

good day!!!

Thanks for the responses.

> >

> > I've been in this group for quite some time, but I don't believe I've

> > ever posted or asked a question. I was diagnosed in March 2006 with

> > Rheumatoid Arthritis after thinking for 3 yrs that it was PR. I

> > started immediately on MTX and was up to 8 pills a week, then by June

> > he had added Plaquenil and Humira. After starting the Humira I

> > discovered that each day after day I was loosing more and more hair.

> > I have very long blonde hair and am getting ready to turn 50 so I've

> > had it a long time and I'm not happy about the loss. My Rheumy backed

> > me down to 6 MTX a week and 5mg day of Predisone as he felt it was

> > probably the MTX that was causing the hair loss. Well, I THOUGHT it

> > had gotten better but in the last week or so, it's worse than it was

> > in the beginning. You should see my clothes and inside of my car.

> > The bathroom sink is horrible as each time I brush my hair, I have to

> > clean out the hair!!! Has anyone else had this problem and could

> > Humira be the culprit???

> >

> > I honestly don't know if the Humira is helping me. To tell you the

> > truth I'm on so many different medications as I suffer from several

> > diseases and I've had 2 failed spine fusions so I'm in constant pain.

> > In the last month my back has been giving me fits!!! We've tried

> > addt'l meds and even have some Lidocane patches to put on the sore

> > spots. When I was at my DR office yesterday, she noted that there

> > were several areas of my back that were " on fire " . I told her that

> > was where I was hurting........and she suggested a new med to add to

> > my cocktail. The next step will be having a CT scan but I'm sure she

> > has to exhaust all options for the pain before Medicare will cover a

> > CT scan.

> >

> > Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

> >

> > I need Help!

> > Lyn

> >

> >

>

>

> --

>

> Shoreview, MN, until April! brrrr!

> South Pasadena, CA

> You can see my galleries at http://www.pbase.com/arenared986

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well, sorry to say, I haven't found anything that works wonders. I do find

that weather affects the way my hair looks - indoors, with the hear on,

everything is drying out and lots of static electricity. My hair does

better on damp days, but my body certainly doesn't! I also find that

whatever product I'm using, it helps to use something like Neutrogenia basic

shampoo every now and then, just to clear all the old stuff off my hair.

And to always try to not overdo it, weighting my hair down with mousses and

gels just makes everything worse. I keep my hair cut just below the ears,

or even shorter - less weight! I only wash my hair a couple of times a

week, it dries out so easily. Right now I'm using Thermasilk volumizing

shampoo and conditioner, is working as well or better than anything else -

for the moment, anyway. I also keep my hair colored - my hairdresser does

that - it not only keeps the gray away, but does seem to make my hair feel

thicker. She gives me a cut that's kinda fluffy, too.

I was at the doctor's for acupuncture recently. She's, IMHO, a beautiful

woman, of African-American heritage. She was putting the needles in my

scalp and started going on about how nice my hair was, so soft and shiny!

Oh, well, sometimes I wonder if any of us really like our hair.

On 1/10/07, NELLIESTAR@... <NELLIESTAR@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> > so I'm spending my fortune

> > on hair volumizing shampoos, etc., these days!

> >

>

> What works the best, do you think?

> Or at all? I need all the help I can get. My hair is thin, dry, dull, and

> fly-away.

> Thanks,

> Pris

>

>

>

--

Shoreview, MN, until April! brrrr!

South Pasadena, CA

You can see my galleries at http://www.pbase.com/arenared986