Hair loss update

[Guest guest]

God, give me patience with my health care providers! I called my

rheumy's office to report my hair loss on sulfasalazine. Communications

there typically seem slow, repetitive and bungled; I really hate to

call unless I have to. Doc is on vacation, but her nurse talked to

another rheumy who could come up with no reason for sulfasalazine to be

affecting my hair.

Funny, after wrote that the med can be a folic acid antagonist I

Googled the med + folic acid and found LOTS of info linking the med to

hair loss! I shared this with the nurse, but she continued to say

things like: " talk to your beautician " and " don't run your hand through

your hair. " All I can say is THANK HEAVENS for the Internet. It's

empowering.

And thank you for pointing me in a helpful direction. I've been

taking my folic acid and it does seem to be helping the hair. Energy

level has shot up, too. This med reminds me of MTX...

Sierra

[Guest guest]

You're welcome, Sierra.

Sorry to hear that calling in is such a trial. I'm filing the " don't run

your hand though your hair " advice away for future humorous (or maybe not)

reference. And physicians wonder why people self-medicate or are

noncompliant.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Hair loss update

> God, give me patience with my health care providers! I called my

> rheumy's office to report my hair loss on sulfasalazine. Communications

> there typically seem slow, repetitive and bungled; I really hate to

> call unless I have to. Doc is on vacation, but her nurse talked to

> another rheumy who could come up with no reason for sulfasalazine to be

> affecting my hair.

> Funny, after wrote that the med can be a folic acid antagonist I

> Googled the med + folic acid and found LOTS of info linking the med to

> hair loss! I shared this with the nurse, but she continued to say

> things like: " talk to your beautician " and " don't run your hand through

> your hair. " All I can say is THANK HEAVENS for the Internet. It's

> empowering.

> And thank you for pointing me in a helpful direction. I've been

> taking my folic acid and it does seem to be helping the hair. Energy

> level has shot up, too. This med reminds me of MTX...

>

> Sierra

[Guest guest]

Sierra,

So why isn't it possible that you're one of the 3%?????

a

On Sep 2, 2006, at 9:43 AM, snowdrift52003 wrote:

> Hello,

> My rheumy came back from vacation and told a nurse to call me and say

> that it's unlikely my hair loss was caused by sulfasalazine because

> that only happens to 3% of the people who take it.

>

> I found this on AboutArthritis and am now wndering if it was the

> Arava. The time frame fits. Fortunately, the hair loss is minor and I

> have a lot of it to start with. I will breathe easier when it stops,

> though.

>

> Sierra

[Guest guest]

I work in public relations, so I need to look decent. I hope this

stops before I'm due for a highlight...that could be a disaster, but

dark roots are no good either...

Sierra

> >

> > Hello,

> > My rheumy came back from vacation and told a nurse to call me and

> say

> > that it's unlikely my hair loss was caused by sulfasalazine

because

> > that only happens to 3% of the people who take it.

> >

> > I found this on AboutArthritis and am now wndering if it was the

> > Arava. The time frame fits. Fortunately, the hair loss is minor

and

> I

> > have a lot of it to start with. I will breathe easier when it

> stops,

> > though.

> >

> > Sierra

> >

> > -----------------------------------------------------------------

> >

> > What Types Of Medications Can Cause Hair Loss?

> > Many different types of medication are associated with hair loss.

> > Examples of arthritis medications that can contribute to this

> problem

> > include:

> >

> > Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)

> > Arava (leflunomide)

> > Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine)

> > nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

> >

> > What Actually Causes The Hair Loss?

> > Hair loss from arthritis medication is typically secondary to

what

> is

> > called telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss occurs when some

> > stress, such as a medication, causes hair roots to be pushed

> > prematurely into a resting state, called telogen. Abrupt diffuse

> hair

> > loss will typically be noticed after two or more months from the

> time

> > the stress occurred (e.g. time the medication was started).

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sierra,

WHen my hair was falling out I didn't dare do my usual

dye job for occasional grey hairs...I was afraid that

it would turn some awful color because of all the meds

in my system. I started Humira today and have decided

that if my hair starts to fall out again I am just

going to have it cut really short and get a wig!! I am

not going thru that hassle again! And it is so hard on

us women psychologically when our hair is falling out

in great clumps! Life is too short to look awful or

feel awful because of your hair! And they have some

great wigs out there now!!.......jenna

When you lose a loved one, you gain an angel whos' name you know !

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