Re: Methotrexate or Arava and Hair Loss

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/3/2009 7:47:52 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

a-hildebrand@... writes:

My question to the group is has anyone had hair loss issues with the

Methotrexate? I have and I stopped it and the swelling started coming back so

now the Dr. has me on Arava which also has side effects of hair loss but he

said not as much. Is anyone also taking Arava and experiencing hair loss?

I've always had thin hair but this has taken me to a new level of thinness

and I almost feel like shaving it off and getting a wig because it's become

so dry and brittle and limpless and seems like it's never going to get back

to the way it used to be. >>

I started with 8 Mtx tablets a week and had some hair loss. Then we added

Arava and my hair started falling out seriously. I also had some other side

effects and really hated Arava. (but it may work for you).

I am now down to 4 Mtx tablets a week and having Remicade infusions every 8

weeks. My hair is coming back in. My beautician said it's coming in

curlier than before.

I also upped my Folic Acid from 1.3 to 2.1 mg a day. Then I was starting to

run out and went back to 1.3 for awhile. I had my hair done and it was

like straw. I upped it again and the next time I went in it was like night and

day. My beautician asked what I was doing differently and I didn't think

there was anything, but then I remembered the Folic Acid.

dd

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[Guest guest]

I have terrible hair loss on the Arava but didn't have any on the Methotrexate.

Everyone is different and meds react different to each person so give it a try

and see what happens.

>

> Hi, I've been a member for a long time but never posted. I was diagnosed with

RA about 4-5 years ago. I'm now on Humira shots once a week and was also taking

Methotrexate by shot once a week because the oral dose wasn't absorbing as well

since I had a gastric bypass.

>

> My question to the group is has anyone had hair loss issues with the

Methotrexate? I have and I stopped it and the swelling started coming back so

now the Dr. has me on Arava which also has side effects of hair loss but he said

not as much. Is anyone also taking Arava and experiencing hair loss? I've

always had thin hair but this has taken me to a new level of thinness and I

almost feel like shaving it off and getting a wig because it's become so dry and

brittle and limpless and seems like it's never going to get back to the way it

used to be.

>

> April

>

[Guest guest]

I had taken MTX for years and had some hir loss at diff times. Stopped taking

because they thought it was not working any more..Started taking Arava years

later and lost alot of hair. Stopped taking arava and it started to grow back..I

am now taking MTX again after a few years and it does not seem to be falling out

much from that just stress..

Hope that helped

Pamela

> >

> > Hi, I've been a member for a long time but never posted. I was diagnosed

with RA about 4-5 years ago. I'm now on Humira shots once a week and was also

taking Methotrexate by shot once a week because the oral dose wasn't absorbing

as well since I had a gastric bypass.

> >

> > My question to the group is has anyone had hair loss issues with the

Methotrexate? I have and I stopped it and the swelling started coming back so

now the Dr. has me on Arava which also has side effects of hair loss but he said

not as much. Is anyone also taking Arava and experiencing hair loss? I've

always had thin hair but this has taken me to a new level of thinness and I

almost feel like shaving it off and getting a wig because it's become so dry and

brittle and limpless and seems like it's never going to get back to the way it

used to be.

> >

> > April

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi April,

I'm on mtx weekly, and humira bi-weekly. I have problems with my hair

also, its very common in most of the RA drugs. With the mtx, there is

some hair loss, but after awhile, it's not as much. I have thick hair,

so I've been fairly lucky.

The problem I have is the dry and damaged hair. Never had the problem

before, so of course I blame it on the meds. I've cut my hair short, it

didn't do much good. I try to do all I can to get my hair healthy, and

of course nothing works.

I don't have much options, so I take the meds. I wish you a lot of luck

with the Arava. That is one med, I haven't tried. Keep us posted

though, it would be nice to hear a positive word.

Good luck, Tawny

> Hi, I've been a member for a long time but never posted. I was

diagnosed with RA about 4-5 years ago. I'm now on Humira shots once a

week and was also taking Methotrexate by shot once a week because the

oral dose wasn't absorbing as well since I had a gastric bypass.

>

> My question to the group is has anyone had hair loss issues with the

Methotrexate? I have and I stopped it and the swelling started coming

back so now the Dr. has me on Arava which also has side effects of hair

loss but he said not as much. Is anyone also taking Arava and

experiencing hair loss? I've always had thin hair but this has taken me

to a new level of thinness and I almost feel like shaving it off and

getting a wig because it's become so dry and brittle and limpless and

seems like it's never going to get back to the way it used to be.

>

> April

>

[Guest guest]

Hi!  About 6 yrs. ago I took Methotrexate in small doses for my R.A. (WEEKLY); 

at that time - I did not notice any hair loss.  I only took the Methotrexate for

7 weeks.   I have always had very thin and fine hair!  I feel like shaving my

head and getting a wig, also!  In past few months -I've been on generic

Synthroid for slightly low thyroid and I'm shedding More hair than usual.  I

read that persons can have this side effect WITH low thyroid AND also with

taking the Synthroid (misspelled?). 

       Hope things get better for you and Have a Nice day.  p.s. All I've been

taking for my R.A. - the past several years is: two (2) 200 mg. of  otc

ibuprofen DAILY.  So I've been lucky, it seems!  But recently my R.A. is a

little worse. I think my Cholesterol Med OR / and my thyroid med is causing my

nerves to be worse and that in turn might be causing my R.A. - to become

worse?  

       Also, worth noting -  when i took the Methotrexate - I did not have much

nausea -at all ---thank goodness!  I assume that was due to Small doses of the

Methotrexate.

       Hope things get better for you and Have a nice day.  I'm new in this

group and really glad that I joinned this group!          Judy B./  GA. (USA).

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy - just curious - why did you only take the MTX for 7 weeks and why did

you stop? Also - was your RA diagnosed via bloodwork or a Rheumatologist? It

seems strange (to me) that 2 OTC Ibuprophen is keeping RA under control. Are you

sure its not OA?

Welcome to the group.....Doreen

Hi!  About 6 yrs. ago I took Methotrexate in small doses for my R.A. (WEEKLY); 

at that time - I did not notice any hair loss.  I only took the Methotrexate for

7 weeks.   I have always had very thin and fine hair!  I feel like shaving my

head and getting a wig, also!  In past few months -I've been on generic

Synthroid for slightly low thyroid and I'm shedding More hair than usual.  I

read that persons can have this side effect WITH low thyroid AND also with

taking the Synthroid (misspelled?). 

Hope things get better for you and Have a Nice day.  p.s. All I've been taking

for my R.A. - the past several years is: two (2) 200 mg. of  otc ibuprofen

DAILY.  So I've been lucky, it seems!  But recently my R.A. is a little worse. I

think my Cholesterol Med OR / and my thyroid med is causing my nerves to be

worse and that in turn might be causing my R.A. - to become worse?  

Also, worth noting -  when i took the Methotrexate - I did not have much nausea

-at all ---thank goodness!  I assume that was due to Small doses of the

Methotrexate.

Hope things get better for you and Have a nice day.  I'm new in this group and

really glad that I joinned this group!          Judy B./  GA. (USA).

[Guest guest]

Hi Doreen!  My Doc and my Rheumatolgist both told me that I had R.A.; this was

about 6 or 7 years ago. Both my wrists had severe flares; redness and swelling

and WHAT I CALL:  'unbearable'  pain (on occasions);  The swelling remained in

one of my wrists for several years and has gone completely away in past year or

two!  It's been 5 or 6 years   ago -- since I saw my Rheumatologist.  Upon my

obtaining my doc's records from another, former Doc, -- it stated in my Records

that I had Pulmonary fibrosis ----yet Doc's never had told me NOR treated me for

it!     Well - the Rheumatolgist put me on the Methotrexate and had Not even

mentioned to me -anything about my possibly having Pulmonary fibrosis (a fatal

disease -- i believe); my cousin died last year with Pulmonary fibrosis, after

being diagnosed a few yrs. earlier. (Note: in my good,  Medical Book - it

states: there are 2 types of Pulmonary fibrosis and that one type usually kills

a person in

about One year (I think : one yr.?) and the other type --did not say the

expected amount of Time - before a person Dies from the Pulmonary Fibrosis.

(There is one or 2 other  'medical names, also which means: " pulmonary fibrosis "

) ; one of those medical names - begins with letter  ' I  " -- I  think -

perhaps:  " Interstitus " or 'something like that " , (  & it seems there might be

another WORD after that word -that starts with the letter -  " I " .

     Anyway, My Rheumatologist started me on Methotrexate (I don't remember how

many mg's/ units or 'whatever'  I had to take it once per wk. and I took it

every Saturday afternoon.  Doc had me to  use needle (syringe)  to draw it out

of that little bottle and put it in water (or juice/) but i think ' water' - in

about 2 to 4 ? ounces AND To drink it - once per week, as I  just mentioned.  

The Rheumatolgist  Talked -- as tho he was going to prescribe me Steroids, 

(Predisone (mis-spelled ?) --- along with the Methtrexate, but upon my telling

him the past side effects that I'd had on the Steroids, prior to That - when i

was prescribed Steroids ( corti-steriods) for bronchitis ------ he seemed to

change his mind and Not put me on the Steroids!  ( My past side-effects of the

Steroids were:  very red and nearly Purple colored FACE and heart beating Far

too fast, too;  (I had  felt as if  I was gonna have a stroke or something; or a

'heart attack " ---  when prescibed the Steroids for the bronchitis!  I don't

know how many mg's of the cortsteriods that i'd been prescribed, which I took.

(I was required to take several the first day, then one or two less each day --/

tappering them down to only about 2 or 3  the last day; entire length of time

was:  about 4 to 5 days, i believe it was). ( I don't know if I've worded this

for your 'easy reading' ; I meant that I'd Only taken the Steroids for

bronchitis (prior to my visit to the Rheumotoligist). 

        Anyway,  I thought I had a lung infection and my Rheumatologist was

about to start me on Enbrel.  Upon my researching Enbrel and also the

Methotrexate -  I decided I was afraid to take the Enbrel.  It seems that I read

on the Warnings /  papers/ Insert that my Pharmacist  gave to me about  Enbrel

and also about  the Methotrexate (chemo --in low doses (which I took for 7

weeks);  (once per wk. as I mentioned above)  ----that one (or both) ?   of

those Meds === could be   Dangerous and could even be fatal - if you have

certain ? types of Infections and I think they both ?   or at least the Enbrel

info. stated that IT could even  be Fatal  - to

take - if you have certain? lung troubles,  i.e. -pulmonary fibrosis. 

Therefore,  I was sort of afraid to take either of those two (2) med's!  So I 

tappered off the Methotrexate and quit taking it and Wrote a letter to my 

Rheumatologist - explaining to him Why I was going to Stop going to see him, but

that I had appreciated his Trying to help me with my R.A.

He had x-rayed by hands and I think my feet, also and said  that he did not see

any

Significant amount of damage ---to my joints and bones.    Another reason  that

I did not know whether to Trust him with my health:  he had,  after 1st Visit to

him ---- had  me to go to my local  Hospital  to get  lung x-rays WHICH I DID 

and after at least 2 More  visits to see him (my rheumatologist) - he still had

not Even received my lung x-ray Results from my local hospital!  ---Yet he had

already started me on the Methotrexate. (I'm not sure if the Boxed warnings,

etc. which came with the Methotrexate (from the Pharmacist) and on Internet

search ) - state that

Warning Info THAT I mentioned Above, or not (I need to look that up again

SOON).  Perhaps I'd just read that  ' dangerous'  Sounding info about the Enbrel

(and other med's

such as Enbrel and perhaps I did not Read that same WARNING about the

Methotrexate (I'm not sure!)  ; is Enbrel one of the bio-logics  (or something

like that); I have forgotten now and need to do research Again; ( I did not have

Internet at the time that I was going to the Rheumatologist.).    My

Rheumatologist  was about One hour drive from Me and I can't drive in that

Large  City ( Athens, GA.);  -- SO MY daughter had to transport me to that Doc -

and back home. We almost had a wreck, due to other driver's actions and my

daughter's twin girls,( one blind and both born 3 months premature and almost

did not survive - upon birth; they both had to stay in 2 separate hospitals for

about 3 mo's ea.).

      Anyway - after we did make it home, without an accident -  I decided I'd

take my chances for the future  - with my R.A. ---and Stop going to the

Rheumologist --- as  I was afraid my daughter and her twins ( & me, also)  Might

be involved  in a car accident while having to travel to Athens-- and back home,

so I decided to Stop going to that Rheumotologist, for This Reason Plus the

other reasons I mentioned Above.

       That Rheumologist, after reading the letter I'd written him -*(

explaining that I appreciated his trying to help me with my R.A. -but that I'd

decided that I did Not wish to take those Dangerous med's UNTIL  I did more

research about the meds.) etc.  -----   

        My Reumologist than sent  my local Regular Doc - some paper work and

mentioned that my previous Doc had mentioned in their Records - that I had:

Pulmonary Fibrosis, (which I don't think I have, but I've never seen a Lung

Specialist  to this date!).  --

         I didn't intend to write so much, but didn't know what to omit!     

Several yrs. ago I had: severe, unbearable pain in both wrists -with big

swelling and redness and the severe Pain would last for 12 to 15 hours Straight,

causing me to have tears; I could not use my Arm, due to Whatever it was (R.A. -

I assume); it did that on several different occasions!  I could not even put a

pony-tail holder in my hair.  I am and was bipolar, but was not hallucinating! (

I have seldom hallucinated - except with Huge amounts of Lost sleep)!     My

neighbor and daughter saw the bad swelling and redness in my wrists!  I had no

tel. and No vehicle -at the time OR   I  would have called  9 1 1  - due to the

seemingly ' unbearable' pain on those occasions.  (I could not even open my

doors of my Apt - on those occasions)!  I read, after those incidences - that 

bone cancer and gout could cause 'unbearable' ( or severe ?) pain and that a

person often would awake during the middle of the night --with the Severe

Pain===such as I did on SEVERAL occasions! !  I still wonder if it was not Gout

or bone cancer --because I would awake in the Middle of the Night with that

Seemingly Un-bearable Pain!   Perhaps it was Gout OR  Bone Cancer and perhaps

The  Good Lord  Might have sort of healed Whatever it was (and I Did Pray Very

Hard -with That Severe Pain!     note:  The large swelling remained in my right

hand, close to my wrist for a few yrs. but this  year   --that swelling has

finally Gone away.  But I know that the Severe pain/ flares could Return at any

moment! 

         I still don't know if I have pulmonary fibrosis or not, but hopefully

not.  I had my lungs x-rayed  about One  year  ago  & my  Doc --- told me that

she did not see any pulmonary fibrosis in my lungs.  (But I have since read,

upon research - that sometimes (or usually?) that the only way to get a correct

diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis - is to go to a Lung Specialist and that they

Might be required   to Insert  something down into the persons  throat and into

the Lungs - to do a

biopsy (I think --is the way it read)  OR  either to look down thru it - INTO

the lungs.    Therefore, since my oxygen level remains 94 and 95

the past few yrs. --  I have just thought that maybe I do Not have Pulmonary

Fibrosis, hopefully!  (and another reason:  I'd have to travel about 1 to 1 1/2

hr. drive - to go to that lung  Specialist.). 

         About one year ago, upon my seeing one particular  Doc (not a

Rheumotologist)  - here locally, in my home-town ---for broncitis,

she was hateful to me and told me that I should go to another Rheumotologist ( 3

hrs. from here,  and she told me:    " the two,  200 mg. of ibuprofen, daily -

which You are taking,  - is only helping the swelling,  somewhat " .  And this Doc

told me that my other Doc was No longer in Athens, GA. ;  and she also told me: 

" your R.A. will get worse " !    (  All I know is that I've not had much pain at

all---  during the past  few years.  I don't think my Pain stopped around the

time that I took the chemo in low doses (the Methotrexate).  I have only slight

pain Sometimes, fortunately, but I know that my good luck on this - could change

- at any moment!  But I don't see me  taking  Meds that could have bad (or

dangerous) side effects  - as long as I'm not in bad pain due to my R.A. ; and I

don't have the swelling and/ or the redness -- as I did several years ago,

apparently due to R.A. 

         I think I read in my Medical Book (a good book, now approx. 7 to 10

years?) old --that sometimes R.A. could Reach  to a certain point and Remain the

same.  ;  Well - I've had no bad pain with my R.A. in several years now and all

I've been taking Most of these past

several years is:  two (2) 200 mg. Daily of  'over-the-counter'  ibuprofen (the

cheapest ones I can find, locally) ;    2.5 mg. (Low dose)  daily of Zyprexa

(for my bipolar) ; one - 500 mg. of cheap vitamin C (daily -  most days);  one 

325 mg. cheap aspirin Daily.  I seldom have taken Omega 3's; I don't eat

near enough fish.     

             As I think I've already mentioned in a separate email ---   my R.A.

is somewhat worse lately - since being on:  generic synthroid Plus a statin drug

(simvastin). It's my

understanding  that Stress and " nerves "   can cause R.A. to get Worse OR help

bring the R.A. flares ON!   Well the Thyroid Med. seems to cause me to be more

fidgety and is even causing me to Not sleep enough Recently; or not sleep long

enough each time that I sleep.

My Doc says the thyroid med can have this side effect and she has already cut my

dosage down to half of what she 1st prescribed me.  (She had told me that my

thyroid level was a little low and prescribed to me, the thyroid med ); I took

it 2 or 3? months and then my Doc told me it was now normal (fortunately). 

        Also, please note:  I took Bextra (for Arthritis)  for 3 years (I'm

fairly certain it was 3 yrs).   Have been off it for several years now; I

stopped taking it - just before it was taken off the market!  During the 3 year

period --while I was taking it - I had lots of Pain (mostly in my hands and

wrists; my left foot, and sometimes other places on my body; the pain was bad

enough to awaken me from sleep and to keep me awake --YET  it was not  extra

severe OR unbearable pain - as I'd had previous to that period of time.  The

Interesting OR  wierd thing is:  I quit having much pain - at all -- AFTER  I

stopped taking the Bextra, and I took no other Meds for my arthritis - AFTER 

then, except just  two (2) ibuprophen (mispelled) ?

            Thanks for welcoming me to this Group;  Have a Nice Day!   I sure

did not intend to write a Book-- here, but I just did Not know  What to leave

out!  Sorry!   Email me anytime! and I'll try not write so much in the future!  

   Judy in GA. ;  age: in upper 50's.         

From: Mimi <mimi212@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: Methotrexate or Arava and Hair Loss

Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009, 8:42 AM

Hi Judy - just curious - why did you only take the MTX for 7 weeks and why

did you stop? Also - was your RA diagnosed via bloodwork or a Rheumatologist?

It seems strange (to me) that 2 OTC Ibuprophen is keeping RA under control. Are

you sure its not OA?

Welcome to the group.....Doreen

Hi!  About 6 yrs. ago I took Methotrexate in small doses for my R.A. (WEEKLY); 

at that time - I did not notice any hair loss.  I only took the Methotrexate for

7 weeks.   I have always had very thin and fine hair!  I feel like shaving my

head and getting a wig, also!  In past few months -I've been on generic

Synthroid for slightly low thyroid and I'm shedding More hair than usual.  I

read that persons can have this side effect WITH low thyroid AND also with

taking the Synthroid (misspelled? ). 

Hope things get better for you and Have a Nice day.  p.s. All I've been taking

for my R.A. - the past several years is: two (2) 200 mg. of  otc ibuprofen

DAILY.  So I've been lucky, it seems!  But recently my R.A. is a little worse. I

think my Cholesterol Med OR / and my thyroid med is causing my nerves to be

worse and that in turn might be causing my R.A. - to become worse?  

Also, worth noting -  when i took the Methotrexate - I did not have much nausea

-at all ---thank goodness!  I assume that was due to Small doses of the

Methotrexate.

Hope things get better for you and Have a nice day.  I'm new in this group and

really glad that I joinned this group!          Judy B./  GA. (USA).

[Guest guest]

DD and Others,

Thanks for responding to my questions about Methotrexate and Arava. It seems

like there is a lot of mixed results with these two medications and you just

can't tell how each persons body will react to the medications. Lets hope in my

case I have better luck with the Arava. Though if you ever read the warning

label it will scare the bejeebies out of you!

DD - I too take the prescribed folic acid/Leucovorcian (sp?). Maybe I need to

get that dosage up a little more. Right now I'm taking 5 mg twice a week.

I've also had a gastric bypass and I'm supposed to take megadoses of vitamins;

which I haven't in the last few month. I wonder too if since I haven't taken

them if they're are affecting my hair loss. Hmm...

Thanks again everyone for respondng!

April