can anyone help?

[Kate2628]

l’ve been on Benepali, Etanercept, for 6 months, lve had a lot of hair loss also my nails seem to break of in chunks, l read the side effects it says less common side effects are hair lose, just wondered if anyone else has experienced this and does it get better, love Kate x

[Slinkyminx]

hi Kate. I’ve been on Benepali for nine weeks and have noticed my hair thinning I was on it a few years ago and didn’t notice it that time. I hope it stops soon. I was on tocilizimab before and that did the same thing. In the plus side my RA symptoms are much improved.

[Kate2628 in reply to Slinkyminx]

Thanks for your reply, my RA is so much better, maybe it’s a price I’ll have to pay, thanks again for your reply , hope you’re hair improves Kate x

[Slinkyminx in reply to Kate2628]

Did you gain weight whilst taking it? I’ve managed to taper steroids but still the weight piles on.

[Kate2628 in reply to Slinkyminx]

I was off medication for about 5 months, RA was really bad so I lost quite a bit of weight, but now seem to be putting some on Kate x

[Runrig01]

I’ve been on benepali for 7.5yr, I started methotrexate at the same time, so not certain which of the 2 caused hair thinning. I’m fortunate that I had a lot of hair, so although it’s thinner, it’s not noticeable. It did stabilise eventually and now I don’t get any side effects from either. I think most biologics and dmards have the potential to affect hair unfortunately. Both do wonders for my pains.

[Jackie1947]

Yes my hair became thinner but my RA improved immensely. Sadly after 2 years I had a reaction and had to stop it. I'm now in-between this and starting something else. Not an anti TNF that Beni is but a biological. Boy does my body miss the Beni.

[Deeb1764]

get some biotin for the hair and marine collagen for skin and nails. Had major issues losing hair and nails so brittle and within 3months all better. Nails just not good but least better than they were. Lots on here done this too!

[Matilda_1922]

hi I haven’t noticed any hair loss since being on general’s for 7 years but did when I started methotrexate

[Bethany02]

I didnt have it but I have very thick hair and regularly use castor oil on it and my nails although to be fair I'm not on it now stopped working for me unfortunately rosemary oil is also supposed to be good superdrug do it and another one

[oldtimer2]

Don't forget that hair loss has been started about twelve weeks before it drops out, so anything more recent is unlikely to be a cause. The hair follicle stops the hair growth and the hair eventually falls out, usually then repalced by a new hair. Most hair does this on a regular cycle but severe illness tends to stop lots of follicles at the same time - and you get noticeable hair loss. It's the same as happens after childbirth with the change in hormone levels.

[KittyJ]

6 years Benepali and no hair loss( well no more than is usual) Stress can cause hair loss so have you thought about what else it could be?