I'm new here and looking for help!

[seasailor]

Diagnosed in Nov 2019 with psoriatic arthritis affecting my hips, started 15 mg of methotrexate in Feb 2020 I'd say its been great working about 98% of the time with no side effects. However after taking this drug for 18 weeks I am lnow having excess hair shedding - its worrying - What to Do? Any advice? change to injections? change to sulfasalazine or keep going in the hope it solves itslelf?

[allanah]

Hello and welcome. I did get a period where my hair came out but it soon stopped and was quite soon after starting medication in my case, and also quite quickly went back to normal.

However there are lots of causes of hair loss so personally I would contact the rheumy team in case they want to check your bloods xx

Nice to see you here x

[seasailor in reply to allanah]

Thank you allanah, I spoke to my team and they are leaving it up to me!!! I'm thinking of keeping going until my next app in July and monitor the hair loss as the reduced pain level in my hips has been great. That's good to hear your hair loss stopped after a bit. take care x

[allanah in reply to seasailor]

I'm sure others will comment too but I know quite a few people have had similar experience to me .

[allanah]

Just a thought , are you taking your folic acid on a different day to your methotrexate x

[seasailor in reply to allanah]

Hi Allanah yes I take folic acid every day apart from the day I take the methodtrexate x

[Gnarli]

Yup. Had startling hair loss at the beginning of taking MTX and, to a lesser degree, with each increase in dose. It has settled down now and has grown back.

[seasailor in reply to Gnarli]

Thanks that's good to know

[springcross]

Hi seasailor. I was started on MTX 15 mg injections last September and did quite well on it for seven months (not one hair lost) but beginning of March the rheumy doctor did ultra sound on one of my feet and said the disease (RA) was still active and increased it to 20 mg. That was when my gross hair loss started and has continued. He rang me last Friday and we had a conversation about the hair loss. He feels it is the MTX that is doing it as all my bloods were fine, even extra bloods which were taken were fine. He has now decreased the dose back down to 15 mg and has added Sulfasalazine into it too so I have to see how it goes (I have not started the Sulf yet). I have also started taking marine collagen and biotin so I am hoping that they will help too. I will say though that a lot of those who experience hair loss find that it's a temporary thing so hang on in there as you may be one of the lucky ones. Good luck. x