Here’s what the doc said ( Hair Loss) | Arthritis Information

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I'm taking 10mg of MTX and 1 mg every day of Folic acid.

I asked the doc what Icould do about my hair loss . It's seems to be more and more in the sink.

Keep taking 7mg of folic acid a week. However,
try to take 4mg of folic acid the day after mtx and the spread the other 3mgs over the rest of the week like every other day not to exceed 7 mgs.

Ok, I'll try anything.

has anyone noticed a decrease in hair loss by increasing folic acid? I'm on 5 mg/week of mtx and quit taking folic acid as I didn't really see any change.  But, then, as I think about it, my hair seems to be thinner!

What say you all?

Susan

Did you quit taking the folic acid upon advice of your doc?  Mtx causes a folic acid deficiency that could be dangerous.  i take 800 micrograms (i think that's what it says) but I'm on Arava. I have finally noticed a little improvement with the hairloss. It was really bad there for a while. I was like Eddie Munster with the weird hairline. Thinkthin. I also have thinning hair from both the plaquinil and I think
from the RA itself as it started long before I started the plaq. I'm not one to
promote medication bet I do know that Aldactone is being used for hair
loss with good results. My hair is baby fine and straight. I'm going next
week to do the unthinkable....get it dyed because my stylist told me if I
damage it a bit, it will have more body. [QUOTE=lorster]Thinkthin. I also have thinning hair from both the plaquinil and I think
from the RA itself as it started long before I started the plaq. I'm not one to
promote medication bet I do know that Aldactone is being used for hair
loss with good results. My hair is baby fine and straight. I'm going next
week to do the unthinkable....get it dyed because my stylist told me if I
damage it a bit, it will have more body. [/QUOTE]

That is so true! Damaged hair minds better too! I have never colored my hair except for a henna many years ago. I got my
hair cut today and she talked me into it as I was complaining of the thin fine
hair. My hair is dark so she is going to make it a bit darker with some red
highlights. Should be interesting. We are leaving for Phoenix and then NYC
next Friday so it will be something nice for my trip. Hows the potty training
going? That is a hard stage. I think I have heard boys are a bit harder than
girls but then, I'm not sure. I have to work a 12 tomorrow so hopefully I'll
be on tomorrow noc.I color my hair as well. My hair got very unruly when I decided to go gray. So, I had to color it just to be able to style it decently,otherwise my hair was all over the place.
I really wish I could have a little gray hair because I'm 60 and I think it looks weird to have no gray. And I have dark hair with highligts now.
I would look pretty weird as a blond

Doesn't too much folic acid counter act the effects of the MTX? Why am I thinking that?

I took MTX for a long time without Folic Acid. I didn't have that many bothersome side effects and I didn't want to take another prescription medication. My doctor said it was ok if I didn't want to. Eventually I started having some other problems with my legs. A numbness type of thing that more than likely was unrelated but my doctor suggested adding it. I did. He tested me that same day to see if I was lacking Folic Acid and if that could maybe be the problem and it wasn't. Mine was normal.

I'm not suggesting that anyone not take it. There's really no reason not to and many reason to......BUT I just wanted to say that I didn't think it was really all that dangerous not to. Two doctors gave me to OK to do without it. THe original dr. that prescribed MTX and  my current RD.

I've gotten out of the habit of taking it every day, mainly just because sometimes I forget and I'm not feeling bad. I took the MTX yesterday and didn't feel great this morning, so today I took the FA. I dunno. If it does help with the thinning hair, I may keep taking it, otherwise, I don't feel like spending the money on it (not that it's much, but every bit helps.)

That was my original reason for mot taking it Teresa. Lord knows we spend enough on medication as it is! Truth is though it's not expensive and a prescription is creaper than OTC.

I use a 7 day pill box that helps me remember to take my meds. I'd be a mess without it.

I think the mtx/folic debate will go on and on. I can live with differing amounts but it doesn't instill confidence to have one doc say take it on mtx day and another say skip mtx day or in my case don't take folic until 48 hours after as it will interfere with the mtx.

Either the two conflict or they don't! I guess it must be rocket science.

Anyway...as a guy the hair loss thing IS a big deal thing for me.  Call it vain...call petty...but pychologically it's important to 'me'.  It's bad enough that at 48 years old I sometimes walk like I'm 100...I just don't want to look older.  So far...I haven't had any side effects from MTX (and I do take FA)...I've even lost wieight since I've gotten RA...
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