hair loss

[Jakey2020]

since taking methotrexate my hair loss is more.. is there any tips for this??

[Deeb1764]

Myself included had this issue Marine Collagen (mine i got from Amazon) and it was a saviour hair grew back in the bald patches and now hair back to thick and better than before. My niece a hairdresser recommended it as did a few on here too .

[Jakey2020 in reply to Deeb1764]

Thankyou Deeb I’ll try that!! X

[weathervane in reply to Deeb1764]

Hi Deeb , great you have had good results, i was wondering what strength of marine collagen you used as they appear to differ. My hair has thinned since I’ve been on rituximab.

[Deeb1764 in reply to weathervane]

Advanced Marine Collagen Capsules | 1735mg Superfood were the ones I used 🥰

[K9910 in reply to Deeb1764]

May I know how many 1745mg capsules you took per day? Amazon’s listing is saying three…

[Deeb1764 in reply to K9910]

I only took one

[Deeb1764 in reply to weathervane]

Also IF you buy one that has biotin in it you might not need to buy biotin separately if the level of mg is high enough

[weathervane in reply to Deeb1764]

Thank you Deeb , there are so many different ones I wasn’t sure😊

[Evie3 in reply to Deeb1764]

Just checking is that ok to take whilst on Rituximab….was always instilled in me……dont take even health food shop pills etc without checking safe 😭

[KittyJ in reply to Evie3]

You need to check with your doctors before taking any supplements in case there are contraindications.

[Deeb1764 in reply to Evie3]

I checked and they had no issue with me taking them the only thing I had a strict no no one was turmeric with black pepper as the pepper was causing issues ie cough

[2bichons in reply to Deeb1764]

wow Deeb1764 thank you so much for this info!! Diagnosed with RA 3 years ago, dr put me on 15 mg of Methotrexate p/week and my once thick hair immediately thinned out. Been trying everything I hear of to turn this around . . . loved reading this, will def try asap!

[Gnarli]

Many people recommend biotin to help damaged hair recover its healthy fullness.

[Jakey2020]

thanks , just been looking it up online so sending for some!!! X

[KittyJ in reply to Jakey2020]

Check it’s ok for you to use it with your meds before taking it. Don’t rely on people here to tell you it’s ok, they don’t know you and aren’t medics😊

[paulogribiz]

Mines thinning nicely too, as it gets more grey in it. I just plan on getting a leccy "head Razor" soon

[helixhelix]

mine thinned for first 6 months and then stabilised, but remains finer than it used to be.

[greynot in reply to helixhelix]

Mine too. Biotin helps it looking fuller and in better condition though.

[Jakey2020]

I’m going to try the biotin but might take a while to work x

[Deeb1764 in reply to Jakey2020]

That I used too brain fog could not remedy the name with the marine collagen really worked

[SEAgran3]

mine has thinned,been on methotrexate for over 30 years, have a lovely hairdresser,who is sympathetic.

[Trees17]

I take folic acid 6 days a week to help with side effects of methotrexate. It seems to work for me. Good luck.

[virtualreality]

I had this too, I lost more than half of my hair, partly due to the disease process itself and partly methotrexate. Are you prescribed folic acid to help with methotrexate side effects? Sometimes people are started on a one-a-week 5mg dose, but it can really help to increase up to 5mg six days a week (not methotrexate day). I also use supplements - vitamin B complex (which includes biotin and B12), vitamin D3, iron - and use good quality hair repair products to improve the condition of my hair (mainly Olaplex). My hair's back to normal fullness and length now but it'a taken a while - about 12-18 months. I hope you find something that's helpful for you.

[Sheila_G]

It is common with mxt but mine settled down once my body got used to the drug.

[BMCV]

Mine really thinned so in addition to the folic acid, my doctor then prescribed folinoic acid (which the pharmacist initially found it difficult to source) and that had a brilliant effect. Hair immediately started improving.

[Spin1959]

Mine has never really recovered and I’ve been on methotrexate for 5 years. I do take biotin, have folic acid 6 days a week but will definitely try marine collagen.

[Runrig01]

I had very thick hair on starting MTX. I have more hair per mm than most so didn’t get any bald patches. It was so thin it doesn’t stay in its style. It has stopped worsening after about 6 months. I haven’t tried anything as I’m on 25 meds and worry about the supplement interacting with my meds.

[Kati66]

I was just about to do a post about hair loss!! Since being on methotrexate, I’ve lost about 50% of my hair 😕😕. I’m seeing the consultant next month so will mention it

[oldtimer]

I'm not a fan of supplements as long term readers will know. But I do take marine collagen and think it has improved my thin hair and skin. There is some evidence but not good quality studies.

[Nuttyshirlz]

hi I’ve a post on my page about the same thing few years ago when I also started to take it. I use Philip Kingsley and have done for years. I can safely say when it happens it’s scary but it does stop. My nurse put my folic acid to 6 days a week. But if you go on google it happens with all Dmards.

[CagneysMum]

Hi. Biotin tablets helped stop my excessive hair loss over a period of about 8 months and I then started with marine collagen but mines in powder form (looks like powdered milk in a tub). I stir a heaped spoonful into a cup of coffee once a day and it’s made such a positive difference to my hair, nails and skin. About £28 a tub on Amazon and lasts around 3 months or so.

[Cazzie52]

I also had hair loss due to methotextrate. I take Marine Collagen with Biotin(Forever Aloe , the best) . I also take Viviscal, a hair supplement, tablets, shampoo, conditioner and serum. I only take the tablets now as my hair is thick and back to its usual glossiness.

[greynot]

On the plus side, I have much less leg hair!!

[liveinwoods]

I also lost a lot of hair due to Methatexate and it was very fine to start with so I started wearing scarves and a wig. I asked my rheumatologist about switching to another medication and he put me on Leflunomide which works for me. I also use biotin As well as Nioxin shampoo and conditioner which I buy from Amazon.

[Welshwomanprestatyn]

I had tbe same problem on methotrexate i took biotin high strength which really helped takes a while to work

[Doryza]

Unfortunately, I also had this problem, starting with Methotrexate and ending with biological treatment... it's clear that it's toxic, but if it's good for the joints, we take it. Also try vitamin C, in higher concentration and we need to reduce the stress level as much as possible

[BonesY2K]

I began methotrexate with a largish dose. The more I took, the worse the side effects. Hair loss constant crushing headache, brain fog, blurred vision, concrete limbs- awful. That was eventually on 25mg sub cutaneous. Eventually had to call a stop to it. I called up GP and Rheumatology helpline- genuinely thought it might kill me!! Now just take 7.5mg per week to maintain my biologic. Initially stopped totally but then my biologic stopped working. Now (a couple of years later) I take 7.5mg methotrexate, 162mg Tocilizumab, 200mg hydroxychloroquine, 5 mg folic acid 6 days a week and 30-60mg per day etoricoxib. Rheumatology consultants and HP both very proactive. Hair regrown and full, headaches rare, brain fog not there unless I have overdone it. Inflammation mostly under control - flexibility with etoricoxib helps.

My best advice is talk to your consultants and rheumatology team. Keep in touch with GP and do not underestimate the importance of quality of life.

Good luck 💕

[Jakey2020 in reply to BonesY2K]

Thanks Bones!! It’s a confusing journey and so glad to have you all sharing yours. I have days when I’m tired then days I am bright but hate seeing hairs in my brush.. especially when I wash it!! I’m using a shampoo with Biotin in it but no difference yet xxx