Hello All,
I just found this message board and I have read a few threads about hair loss. I just took my first dose of MXT and I know the side effects include hair loss. I did some searches trying to find out what I might try if I lose lots of hair. My hair is thin already and color treated. Is there anything anyone has tried with success to keep hair from falling out? I have finally grown mine out and it has been looking good for the first time in a long time, so I don't really want to cut it or have my scalp showing.
Thanks,
ladyd
One of the side effects is "Possible Hair Loss". It may not effect you that way; it doesn' t me. Make sure your doctor has prescribed folic acid along with your MTX. That should help with several possible side effects.
Welcome to AI. Glad you're here....hope you're stick around.
Hi ladyd. Welcome to the boards. As Lovie says, not everyone has hair loss with mtx, but I think from what I've read most people do at least to some degree. Folic Acid is I think, the only thing that will help with that even though it made no difference for me. Prescription folic acid is stronger than over-the-counter supplements. Good luck.Welcome to the board!!! The hairloss that you would expierence if you do expierence it at all is VERY minimal, in my case at least. I actually found that when i had to stop taking Mtx, I was loosing more hair being off it then when I was on it. I dunno I react really weird w/ meds anyway. Hi and welcome. This is a great place to be for support and encouragement so please reach out whenever you need help.Good advice from Cordelia, about not worrying till it happens!
I take MTX and I thought at first that I was losing a ton of hair, but I never really noticed how much I lost before MTX, ya know? I don't know how much is MTX and what's just my natural shedding of hair. Anyhow, I haven't noticed any thinning, my hair stylist says it isn't getting thinner, and my RD said that even though you may lose some, it's being replaced. So I say, try not to worry. It might not even be a thing for you.
Why can't these meds cause weight loss instead of hair loss? J/k, I'm not even overweight or taking the med lol.
They have specialized vitamins for hair, nails and skin, I'd look into taking those too..ie...vitE
Hi and welcome to the board.
Everyone had great suggestions. Your stylist can also recommend you a shampoo to help with the hair loss if it happens. I have had hair loss but I have real thick hair and it is only noticeable in one place. I don't really stress about it because I would rather have the some hair loss than not be on my meds.
You will find a lot of support here from very wonderful and caring people. Hope to hear more from you soon!
I was getting my hair cut, colored, and highlighted on a regular basis (on top of mtx and all the other meds) and I noticed my hair getting thinner. I asked my hairdresser if coloring and highlighting was hard on hair and she said absolutely. I made the decision not to do any more to my hair except cut it. Yikes it's hard! I mostly worry about what people will think who haven't seen me in a while and suddenly I am all gray. I'm only a month past needing a coloring and I'm getting very very self-conscious about it. I truly don't know if I am doing the right thing.
Thanks all for the advice and warm welcome! I do have the folic acid prescribed and I'm glad to hear that it will help. I have vitamins for hair, skin and nails and I'm going to look into a vitamin called Biotin that I heard about while doing a search. Just looking around, I noticed some really nice wigs that look just like my hair. I am not going to worry, since I could try that even though they are pretty pricey. Right now I am just thankful to have what I have been taking for granted. I'm always wanting something better than what I have and now I really appreciate what I do have. Sounds funny, but it is true.
[QUOTE=newbb]Why can't these meds cause weight loss instead of hair loss? J/k, I'm not even overweight or taking the med lol.
[/QUOTE]
A bit of weight loss would go down just fine here. lol.
I actually am enjoying not having to shave my legs. My hair was thin to start with and my hair dresser says it IS thinner but I live with it. If it gets too bad I'll get myself a wig. If this drug stops the damage from the arthritis I'm more than happy to put up with some side effects.
I hair is coming out, but fortunately for me, I had an abundance of hair, I could have shared with several people. I still have alot, but it is thinner than it was. I like not shaving my legs. I am just taking a multivitamin I get from puritan's pride for women.I guess I am different than everyone else, when my Mthx was upped to 8 tablets I had a huge hairloss. I had bald spots==not little spots--pretty good size. The hair laying on the floor was amazing--it got stuck in the vac. cleaner! I found you need the folic acid--that is a given. Then ask your dr. for Leucovorin Calcium. You take that once a week. However, it takes a long time for the hair to come back. I found layering my hair helped, I used hair thickening products. I actually went out a bought 2 wigs--I have never worn either--I hate them. It is still not as thick as it was but it is MUCH better than it was. Your hairdresser might be able to help with a style that hids the loss until it comes back in. I am very concerned about my appearance--I work in a prof. capacity and, of course, you are judged by how you look. Good luckI was on 25mgs of methotrexate for 12 years and never experienced any hair loss, so I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens.
I was just talking about this with my sister yesterday, about my hair falling out on the methotrexate. I have very long hair. I haven't had it cut except to get a slight trim once or twice a year, in 20 years. I also color my hair. Guess I should think seriously about getting my hair cut. And talk to my hairdresser about the coloring too. If I get it cut, I guess I could donate my hair to Locks for Love.