HELP, My hair is falling out at an alarming rate

[Guest guest]

Hi to the RA People:

Ugh, so my RA is under control. I am on Methotrexate, Enbrel, prednisone and

Opana for Pain, the newest drug my doc put me on is Nuvagel for the exhaustion.

I am better than I was one year ago, that is for sure....but at what price

eventually is the scary part?

My hair has begun to fall out at an alarming rate. Right now it looks like I

got a hair cut, but everyday I comb my hair alot falls out, its thinning more

and more by the day. I find my hair everywhere, all over the place. At night I

have to put a scarf on when I cook so hair doesnt fall in the food, right now at

my desk typing this, i see hair on my computer....

My hairdresser friends gave me NIOXIN shampoo and conditioner and also CAROLS

DAUGHTER to try to stop it, both very expensive products, in the hopes it would.

I am calling the Rhemy today though, cause I am really concerned.

Does anyone think taking the methotrexate maybe every other week would make a

difference? Has anyone had this experience.

Would my RA flare if I only took it at that rate (I take 8 pills every friday).

I am not a vain women by any means, but since I have to be on this med forever,

i am not prepared to be bald either. Here I am at 52 worrying about how much

gray am I gonna get and look - L0L:))

Gulp....

OKD

[Guest guest]

Kate, how much folic acid do you take to help prevent hair loss? I am on four

methotrexate pills a week and have thinning hair. I am on 1 mg of folic acid

daily. Can you take too much folic acid? Thank you.

Jody

Schaumburg, IL

________________________________

From: Kate -Behan <microminimalist@...>

Sent: Tue, June 15, 2010 9:01:08 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] HELP, My hair is falling out at an alarming rate

Are you taking a folic acid supplement with your MTX? If not, you should be.

If you are, you may need to be taking more. Vitamins E and D can help too, but

folic acid is the big one with MTX.

Thyroid problems can also cause hair loss, sometimes severe. I would definitely

talk to your doctor. It's not vain to be concerned about your hair falling out,

it can be a big source of anxiety for people, whether it is drug induced or not.

If it bothers you, it should be dealt with.

I had bad hair loss the first year I took MTX, but upping my folic acid helped.

My hair definitely isn't the same, but it's not patchy like it was. I found a

young hairdresser who is a cancer patient, so she " got " what I was talking

about, and was able to cut my hair to cover the bald patches.

Glad to hear you've had improvement on the medication, though!

Kate P-B, STL MO

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Guest guest]

i was on mtx my hair was falling out like yours,it also caused breathing

problems

i stopped. now on orencia hoping it will work.talk to your dr about it

 

ann

From: Kate -Behan <microminimalist@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] HELP, My hair is falling out at an alarming rate

Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 10:01 AM

 

Are you taking a folic acid supplement with your MTX? If not, you should be. If

you are, you may need to be taking more. Vitamins E and D can help too, but

folic acid is the big one with MTX.

Thyroid problems can also cause hair loss, sometimes severe. I would definitely

talk to your doctor. It's not vain to be concerned about your hair falling out,

it can be a big source of anxiety for people, whether it is drug induced or not.

If it bothers you, it should be dealt with.

I had bad hair loss the first year I took MTX, but upping my folic acid helped.

My hair definitely isn't the same, but it's not patchy like it was. I found a

young hairdresser who is a cancer patient, so she " got " what I was talking

about, and was able to cut my hair to cover the bald patches.

Glad to hear you've had improvement on the medication, though!

Kate P-B, STL MO

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry