Biotin for hair thinning and loss - dosage advice please?

[Laineydee]

I have read several postings about taking biotin to improve hair condition and regrowth and have looked through the FAQs but am unable to find any help on dosage. It seems that anything from 30 micro grams to 10,000 is available to buy, without any guidelines as to how much is advisable daily. Given the cocktail of drugs I am on for PMR (pred 8 mg, AA, Lansoprazole, vitamin D) I am concerned there may be some negative interaction if taking too high a dose. Can anyone give me advice on this or the benefit of their own experience, please.

As always, truly grateful for the support on this site...

Laineydee

[PMRpro Ambassador]

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I think that it should be more improving diet than taking pills (that's just me) but most of the B vitamins are water soluble and not stored in the body. B12 is the exception and stored in the liver. So once you stop taking the supplement, you get rid of any excess.

30mcg is usually plenty to cover the RDA but up to 5mg seems to be a normal amount recommended for boosting hair and nail growth. 10,000mcg is 10mg and apparently the Mayo clinic says that there have been no adverse effects found at doses up to 10mg/day.

[Laineydee in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that information. I agree about it wanting to add to the pill popping but having looked at the recommended foods which contain biotin, I do eat most of those on a daily basis anyway.Laineydee

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Laineydee]

I'm sure it is worth TRYING the biotin - hair and nails are important aren't they

[Hidden]

Biotin made no difference for me. You might be better with folic acid but it’s all hit and miss really 🙁

[Laineydee in reply to Hidden]

Yes I guess everybody is different and there is no one answer. Thanks for your reply.

[Reader7]

Or just try generic minoxidil...at least it's been proven to regrow hair.

[Lilly-Gee]

Hi Laineydee my hair is very thick but it was falling out in alarming amounts and changed in texture when I started on Pred. I am taking a collagen and biotin vitamin and after about 4 months my hair loss is much less and the texture is a better… but my nails are amazing. They have never been this healthy. Even my toe nails are improving. I think it helps and there seem to be no side effects so I’m going to keep taking it and see how my hair feels in 6 months. I know every one is different but I’m having success just following the dose on the pack. I take it at a different time in the day to my Pred though 😃

[bert403]

When I was on pred my hair was awful, thinning, breaking etc. I did take biotin 5,000 mcg and folic acid 400 mcg and vit C 500mg. I always took Vit D . Think it helped but when I got down to around 7mg of pred I started to see improvement. As you taper down it will get better. I'm off Pred almost 4 yrs. There is a hair growth Vit called VIVISCAL it has several hair vitamins in one pill. It's natural. Check it out and consult with Dr. It's over the counter. Good luck!

[Laineydee in reply to bert403]

Thanks for the advice. I find the cotton wool texture of my hair particularly concerning so will try and follow some of this advice.Many thanks to you all.

[Alchemy8]

I know this is not scientific but my hairdresser is convinced that the reason that my hair breaks off half way is a thyroid issue - she has been in the biz decades and is auto-immune herself and familiar with steroids.

[Laineydee in reply to Alchemy8]

Another perspective. Many thanks.