Nucala side effects

[Bubblemum]

After 3 months of using Nucala my hair started thinning. No better after 4th and 5th doses. Has this happened to anyone else and if so did your hair thicken/grow back?

[So97]

Hi Bubblemum, I’ve been on Nucala injections since June 2019. I used to have gorgeously thick hair and now I’m left with probably half the amount of hair I used to have. Unfortunately, it’s something I’ll put up with to not be in and out of hospital😳

I always thought this was down to steroids prior to Nucala but my asthma nurse visit last year told me otherwise🙈

[Bubblemum in reply to So97]

Thanks So97,So sorry to hear that. Are you currently still losing more hair than normal?

I also constantly ache all over and am doing my best to put up with it. Do you have any other ongoing side effects?

[janet65]

Hi Bubblemum, I've been on Nucala since July 2020. I have long naturally blonde hair which is uncut since 1993. I've certainly got less of it but not to be unduly worried at aged 72. Also during this time I've been well enough not to need and abs or steroids, maybe that has helped.

[hoven]

Hi, I was on Nucala too but had to stop after a few months because of muscle aches. I find nobody accepts what you say in relation to side effects. there was back pain too, which stopped when the Nucala was stopped. I have seen other mentions of hair loss. some of the reviews for it are particularly enlightening. If you google Nucala reviews 'ask a patient' that should be useful. I am now on Fasenra, which is also causing shakiness but decided to accept it.

[Bubblemum in reply to hoven]

Hi hoven. Thanks for your reply. I also get shakiness. Have you experienced any other symptoms whilst on Fasenra?I'm tempted to ask for a different biologic but they all seem to have some awful side effects.

[Ravotrina in reply to hoven]

How bad was your pain from 1 to 10? I’m feeling joint pain all day (not that bad), and back pain the ruins my sleep (7/10 the worst).

[hoven in reply to Ravotrina]

Hi Ravotrina, bad day today, legs aching and balance off kilter. have just been for a head scan and due an MRI, due to leg weakness. I know it's the side effects but they just won't hear of it. wish I c ould stop it but there is no alternative and inhalers certainly aren't enough. also recently started with high blood pressure which I have a feeling is connected. the meds are notoriously awful and this is making things a lot worse. also very high CK and CRP levels which is worrying. pain is 7. no back pain, that was on Nucala.

[hoven]

Hi Bubblemum, it also impacted on my sleep. some people have no side effects at all which is great for them! I have been told that there's nothing else to offer me so have to stick with it. the best thing I find is that I can speak normally without croaking and constantly having to clear my throat! good luck

[Bubblemum in reply to hoven]

I certainly hope the situation improves for you. Thanks again for your response.

[SJL2]

Hello Bubblemum, I was on Nucala abdominal injections from Nov, 2021 until Feb, 2023 when my Advantage plan finances ran out...

Yes, besides weight gain, headaches and level 4 to 5 out of 10 muscular discomfort, most people will have a noticeable amount of hair loss usually after about the 3rd or 4th injection!

When it started happening to me, I got online researching it, and initially found a forum from the UK where people were asking the very same thing! Also how I found this site!

The average amount of hair loss seems to be about 1/4 to about 1/3. I got on Dutasteride 0.5 mg daily 5 mo ago. With the combination of the Dutasteride and almost 2 months off the Nucala, I have noticeable denser hair!

Women not planning on getting pregnant or are beyond childbearing years can safely take Dutasteride for thinning hair. Like Finasteride, (a competing drug for men's prostates) it is known to cause birth defects in newborns. I also read that it was mainly in male infants, but just not sure of that.

[SJL2 in reply to SJL2]

Let me add that when I questioned this with the specialty pharmacy, Accredo and the manufacturer, GSK, I got the same response; "We're making notes and documenting your statements, but so far, no proof of hair loss." When I mentioned researching reputable Medical websites stating that Biologics in general can and do cause hair loss, and the UK medical forum comments, I got the same response...

[Bubblemum in reply to SJL2]

Thank you for taking the time to respond SJL2. The information you've provided is really helpful.

[SJL2 in reply to Bubblemum]

Glad to hopefully help a little! Good luck! 😊