I took Leucorvin and it was better than the Folic Acid for the mouth sores but did nothing to help with my thinning hair. Methotreate is a cancer drug and if taken at full strength for cancer, you would have lost all your hair.
When I was DX'd with RA and put on Methotrexate. I was told about possible hair thinning or hair loss. Having had BC and losing my hair to chemotherapy, I thought I was over the vanity need for having beautiful hair...WRONG...I could not except that fate again so I went to a hair stylist who looked at the my hair type, color, structure and the way my hair grew and he designed a hair style that would look well on me but not put as much stress on my hair as I was doing by trying to cover up the bald spots. It can cost a bit more than going to a regular hairstylist but under our extraordinary circumstances, I think it is money well spent. and the truth is, that we do owe it to ourselves to make us feel as good as we can and if that means making sure we have good looking hair,to accomplish that...Do what ever it takes.
Now that I am off Methotrexate, I have found that my hair is beginning to fill back in. It will take some time to come back to normal but it is worth the wait and when it does, I will then be able to have the hair styles I once enjoyed.
Hope you are enjoying the day..
Waddles
Hello,
HI AMISH,
I'VE BEEN ON MTX FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND MY HAIR HAS THINNED. WHEN IT STARTED I MENTIONED IT TO THE DOC AND ASKED HIM IF HE'D PRESCRIBE SOME FOLIC ACID. HE TOLD ME THE FOLIC ACID WEAKENS THE AFFECT OF THE MTX AND TALKED ME OUT OF TAKING IT. MY HAIR IS THINNER BUT MY RA IS SOMEWHAT UNDER CONTROL.
WHO KNOWS??????? LOL
GOOD LUCK, DON
At what dose are you guys taking MTX that it's causing this hair loss problem. I haven't really had that problem (Thank goodness) and I'm just curious if you guys are taking larger doses than me? I take 22.5mg a week and have for about three years now (Not at that high of a dose...but definately that high for more than a year now).
The only reason I was able to tolerate MTX was the leucovorin calcium. I don't know about hair, but it helped settle my gut as well as easing headache and fatigue. Please do try it.Toni and Waddles,
How is it that you went off MtX? I'm on Arava and losing hair. I see my Rheumy tomorrow and want to try something else. I would try remicade if I could stop Arava, but he has told me you need both.
Jodi Girl
Hi Jodi,
The reason I am off the Methotrexate is because I am taking INH and Vit B6 for latent TB. My Rheumatologist took me off MTX, so as not to put more stress on my liver, since the INH messes with the liver too. I was taking 20 mg of MTX, every Friday, 2000 mg of Azulfidine a day, 400mg of Placquenil a day, Leucovorin and all the Tramadol I could eat ( 4 to 6 a day when needed) and still could not stop the inflammation, slow the flares down or the fatigue and the gnawing pain...I am going on Enbrel the end of this month and I don't really want to, but it may be the one thing that will work for me and it will be with out MTX, if it does not work well with out it, then I will be adding it to the Enbrel, when I am done with the INH. I hope I don't have to...
If the Arava is working for you and keeping the bone deformity down, I think I would stay with it for awhile...It's hell to have to have our hair thin out. We are women and we want to look as good as we can but and there is always a but...MTX may not work as well as the ARAVA and you still may have hair loss.
Has the Doc. talked with you about using a biologic other than Remicade? You might want to discuss the use of Enbrel or Humira with your doc. on your visit with her/him tomorrow..
To take Remicade, you do need MTX. A lot of people are glad to take it...Seems like it is the one drug that really works but to take Remicade you have to be a very hard core case to take it...I can't take it...something about me having had chemo before...not sure why it is...
I wish you luck on your visit to the Rheumy tomorow...Hope everything is going well and you get some answers to your queations...
Have a good night...and a good Rheumy visit tomorrow.
Toni ...AKA...Waddles
Thanks Toni,
I need to research the biologics. It would be great to have one work alone. I don't consider myself hardcore because xrays haven't shown joint damage, even though I still have pain and swelling. My Rheumy has told me he prefers Remicade because it is administered in the office and therefore in a controlled environment. I didn't ask questions because I am very queasy with shots!
I know I shouldn't be so vain about my hair.It seems trivial when I read posts like yours. I really hope the Embrel works for you!
I take Humira and I do think it requires MTX; which I also take. I have recently heard that Enbrel does not require it. Remicade can be taken alone as well I think.
No apology needed Jodi....I am vain about my hair and I do not apologize for it....Neither should you feel you have to either....My post was not to tell you how bad ( because I am one of the lucky ones who has not yet had any deformities happening) I may have it. I am OK with the RA, just don't like taking all the medications that we are required to use...and I understand your reason for "less is better" attitude. It is my motto but I can't always live by it....LOL.
Giving myself the Enbrel shot, is part of my reluctance to going on it. I can go to the doctors office and have them administer it but that's just to time consuming and then I would really feel like "Chicken Little" ...LOL.
Let us know how your doctors visit went...
Toni
When I first started on all my meds about 4-1/2 years ago, I did notice thinning hair. It was kinda skeery, I always had a lot of hair on my brush or comb. But I think that side effect has gone away (or at least I don't notice it anymore). Hopefully things will calm down for you. Like we don't have enough problems, we have to worry about going bald!!! :)
Lois
I don't know what I did, but my post went under the wrong category. It has nothing to do with this post. Sorry!All the biologics have been tested with mtx. The combo works better than than either drug alone.I suffer for hair loss. My hair falls out in hand fulls, remember, MTX is chemo. So you are bound to have hair loss. The Rd has gicen me all the folic acid and leucovor he can give at this time. He wants to add Enbrel ,but of course it is an insurance fight. He told me he would add the Enbrel and maybe lower the MTX (20.5 mg per week,now) and maybe that will help. Daydreamer, I hope you get your Enbrel soon. It is amazing how much better it has made me feel. Toni, I was chicken little also but you know what - I swear - the injection is a breeze. Once you do it you wonder why you were scared. The needle goes in very easy and it really is not painful. Good luck you guys. I personally hate mtx but my rd is putting me back on low dose. Even with all the nasty side effects
Hi DEB...
Since I have been off the MTX my hair is starting to look and feel better but the best thing, is now my eyelashes are getting thicker. HALLELUIAH!!!!...Now maybe I can wear some mascara.
Oh, I am very aware the MTX is a chemo drug and that you can loose hair with it, in larger doses, which means that some of us may show signs of hair lose and thinning...I hope that I never have to go back on MTX but if I have to, then I hope only in a low dose.
The Folic Acid and Leucovorin, helped some what with the hair but mostly help me with mouth sores and upset stomach and that basically was from the Leucovorin.
Hello Roxy...
DO ya think I can do it?...LOL. I hope so, cause I really need it now and being a chicken little is not going to help me....so I guess I am going to have to bite the bullet and JUST DO IT
Hope both of ya ladies are having a sunshinny day...
Waddles