Hair loss and methatrexate ?

[DeeDB185]

I'm on 10mg of methatrexate and refuse to increase the dose (per the doctor) but I feel pretty good. BUT.... My hair is seriously thinning out & I am really very upset about this. Dr told me to increase the folic acid to 2 tablets (2,000mg) I just started 1,000 of Biotin and hope that helps. Anybody have any suggestions ???/

[nomoreheels]

I had some thinning when I first started MTX & with increase in dose, be assured it does grow back but it had a benefit, the new growth is curly & my hairdresser cut it so I no longer need to style it. Maybe similar will happen with you, I know of one other member who this also happened to. Previously my hairdresser cut it so it looked thicker, I have fine hair but a lot of it & nobody ever noticed it had thinned.

Otherwise increasing folic acid should help, but you're on 2000mg? Are you sure that's correct? Folic acid tablet doses are either 1mg or 5 mg. I understand in the US only 1mg tablets daily are prescribed whereas here in the UK 5mg daily are prescribed. For example I'm prescribed it 6 days a week so that's a total per week of 30mg, you see why I query you being on 2000mg.

Biotin may help if you're deficient, other symptoms include a scaly rash around the eyes, nose & mouth, neuralgia (arms & legs) & depression. I didn't buy biotin because I was aware it can affect how some meds are broken down in the liver, specifically MTX & might even increase side effects. I would definitely check with your GP or Rheumy though, just because it's a supplement doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to take with your meds. There's also no definite dose, most everywhere you'll read there's insufficient evidence on recommended dosing. Have you thought about trying to eat food with natural biotin, check on line which they are.

[Hidden]

Hi

I was lucky 🍀 only lost my hair below the neckline, like gone, nothing, my nurse said that women pay thousands for that. Have some fine hair now that I am off methotrexate

[Nsmith13]

Yes it does thin out but it comes back just a bit slower and I had mine cut and it's quite curly now

[Jackadoodle]

Yes it does thin out the hair I have found as a male I have been able to cope with a short haircut now, however I do understand the concerns of females on MTX.

[Hidden in reply to Jackadoodle]

Have a full head of hair but that is it, nothing below the neckline, I am sure that I had more hair when I was first born and no sign of it ever growing back

[gradyjackjacob]

I was taken off mtx because my hair went really thin,i had a bob at the time but had it cut short ,my doctor put me on azathrioprene instead.

[Hidden in reply to gradyjackjacob]

Us men can get away with it but not as easy for the ladies

[roseyx]

Same as Nsmith for me. It seems to stop coming out after a few months and grow back curlier but it's very disturbing when it's happening because you don't know how much hair you are going to lose. I also take B12 every day now as well as folic acid 6 days a week. it's good you are doing well though on a low dose of MTX.

[Hidden]

Is your hair actually falling out or is it just a different texture? I thought my OH was losing hair on Mtx but none on the pillow or anywhere else. It is just rather 'waxy' and previously very curly, now quite straight. Baby shampoo helps a bit. MUCH harder for a women to have hair issues I think.

[helixhelix]

Like others, my hair thinned and fell out to start with but it stabilised after 3 or 4 months and is now back to normal with a slightly finer texture. So if you've just started MTX it could be temporary. But if you've been on it for a long while then flag this up to your team as there are other drugs you could try. Some people also find taking folic acid 6 days a week helps.

[hedgehog45]

Same hppened to me a couple of years ago. I was devastated at the time because of the hair thinning but also because methotrexate is the only drug that seemed to suppress my symptoms. My rheumatology took me off it and I’m now on sulfasalazine and leflunomide with no side effects but still struggling with flares. Hope you can get it sorted.

[Gnarli]

I stated MTX at 15mg titrating to 25mg and yes, mine fell out temporarily but now almost back to normal. It is perhaps slightly finer but nothing major. Unlike others it's gone straight for only the third time ever!

J

[Flatstanley]

Like others have already commented, my hair did thin a little for the first few months since starting MTX, but it’s now grown much thicker and has gone very wavy and curly ! X

[Hidden]

I've been on and off Mtx a few times at varying strengths. I've tried tablets and injections. Each time Ive been ok at first then after a few months my hair gets very dry and hard to comb. I found I'd have to throw handfuls of it in the bin at each wash or comb.

I used Biotin tablets, Nioxin shampoo, increased folic acid but nothing helped except stopping mtx. This last time I was on 10mg injections but have stopped about 3 weeks ago as my hair looks terrible. My body hair also became very scant. I wish there was more guidance on this as I was made to feel I was being dramatic to get upset. When I sit in front of a mirror and see the sunlight shining through my thin hair I think I'm entitled to be upset. Im now praying my Actemra works on its own as the mtx leaves my system.

I hope you are helped by the Biotin Dee. My consultant had no problem with me taking it. x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

When I went o see my consultant I took all of my clothes off for him to see I was bald but had other problems with methotrexate so it was put down to something else I am sure

[Barrister]

I inject 10mg MTX weekly and my hair is falling out terribly. On the plus side, what’s left is curly. I always wanted to look like Shirley Temple when I was a little girl, lol!

Clemmie

[kellienix]

I have experienced significant hair loss, which was attributed to years (24) of mtx therapy, Arava, and Rituxan infusions. It has been devastating to me, and unfortunately I haven’t had the growth back like other people in the replies. I have taken Folic acid for years, tried biotin, and even Rogaine. I recently told my dr I don’t want to take MTX and Arava and see if it grows back some. I’ve recently started using essential oils like Rosemary & clary sage in my shampoo, and massaging organic castor oil on my scalp. I’m 49 and have more hair loss than my husband 😢. I hope you’ll have the results the others have had.

[smadley]

I’m on methotrexate injections and my hair texture has changed from straight to very curly but it does break easily

[Mmrr]

I'm on 12.5 MGS MTX and have had some slight hair loss. But my hair is a different texture, very thin and almost transparent.