My hairdresser noticed before I did that my hair is thinning. Seems it's a common side effect of Prednisolone.
I bought some folic tablets and after taking the first one this morning I'm feeling nausea and am struggling to stay awake.
Not going to take any more. Can anybody recommend an alternative that won't make me feel so lousy?
Folic acid doesn't usually have that effect - indeed, it is used to reduce nausea in patients on methotrexate!! Strange.
It isn't only pred - PMR/GCA and any other serious systemic illness cam affect your hair and lead to hair loss which often only manifests some 6 months after the illness.
Sorry I can't help with supplements - never taken any for my hair except folic acid after methotrexate was making it fall out in clumps! But do have a look at the Related Posts - top right on a computer, at the bottom on a phone maybe?? Lots about hair loss there.
Hi Hercules307,
As you've quite rightly identified, hair loss can be a common side effect of taking prednisolone.
I personally don't feel that there's anything that can definitively reverse this side effect fully but individuals on here have discovered a variety of 'interventions' they feel have worked for them by minimising the amount of hair loss they experience.
I myself have experienced thinning hair & a reduction of volume of hair rather than actual hair loss, so my approach has been to eat healthily and use natural, gentle products that nourish my scalp and hair so that this will in turn encourage new hair growth.
Look in our FAQ'S section under H for 'Hair'.......this may also give you some useful hints, but try not to worry if you can..... I've found that the lower my pred dose the more the condition of my hair has improved.
I hope you find something that helps your situation and wish you all the best.
Biotin?
Are you sure it is the Folic Acid and it wasn’t something else that happened at the same time?
Hello,I always recommend B6 as I once received injections of this in France when I had a hair loss problem and it was very effective. I know someone who is receiving steroid injections in the UK from the doctor for hair loss, but I don't know how this would affect PMR.
midlandskin.co.uk/condition...
Depends on the reason for the hair loss
It’s worth a try.
I take a huge dose of folic acid on 6 days a week, which is prescribed for me because I am on Methotrexate. I've never felt nauseous, but I take it after my evening meal on a full stomach. Perhaps you could try that and sleep off any tiredness overnight?
My dose is 5mg, which is in excess of any tablets available over the counter, which are usually measured in micrograms. I'm sorry you seem to have been so sensitive to your first dose. I am fortunate, it seems, but I think I should look into whether I could be taking too much! However, it does seem to be preventing any hair associated with MTX.
Since I started folic acid my hair loss has stopped. I have had no side effects. I know nausea is unpleasant, but it might be worth trying again as if you only took one tablet, the nausea may be coincidental.
Dear Hercules, I’ve had the same problem. Having to resort to hair pieces. So, I was told to take Biotine. I buy it on Amazon and you must get 10,000 mg for it to help. (One pill). It takes 2-3 months to take effect. I’m just beginning to see new growth. My hair dresser told me this is the only drug that will help. Good luck. It’s not a pleasant feeling to see your hair fall out 😟
I have taken pred for sometime now on 3.5mg. My hair has thinned quite a lot and doesn't look like it will thicken again. I take folic acid prescribed for low folate in diet, I can't say it makes me feel nauseous so there must be another cause for the sick feeling, not everyone gets the same side affects as I have found out being on this forum,it being very helpful.
I use Rogaine for women 5 mgs (two capfuls rubbed into the scalp area where it is thinning - must do it every night faithfully. Then in 2-3 months I saw the short hair growth coming in). I also take a supplement by Solaray, called Hair Nutrients (2 per day). And this combination made my hair come back.........now with PRM since Dec. , my hair is much dryer, so I have had to use anything to put the moisture back in. But this combination has stopped the hair fall out completely. It just takes 2-3 months of faithful use and continued use. I also have hypo thyroidism and take the typical drugs for that as well. And that was 10 years ago I received that diagnosis which led me to a dr. to address the hair fall out then. Seems everything causes it, but I have to say, these two things, along with the thyroid drugs helped immensely. Biotin alone didn't work, but it does contribute to hair growth - just didn't fill in the fall out. Best of luck!
Hi, I have always had great thick hair then GCA hit! It stopped falling out after 10mg. I now take Hair La Vie supplements and also use Vega more hair treatment. It’s working for me but I know will take another year. I also use Routine shampoo and conditioner for thinning hair. Good luck 👍🍀
On a high Pred dose my hair thinned quite a lot and as it is very fine anyway it looked awful. I saw on here that some folk took Biotin and it really seemed to stop the hair loss quickly and it has now thickened enough for me to have short layered hair style.
I also had hair loss when I was on higher doses of prednisolone; but it may have been due to the reduction. I had noticed a bald patch, but my Rheumatologist didn’t know of any connection between prednisolone and hair loss. Glad to share with you that the hair did grow back. I stopped using anything other than organic products on my hair, and I also stopped using tongs and hair colour. Good luck with yours. I didn’t find any supplements made any difference, but Boots do something called hair skin and nails which may help.
Hallo Hercules307 You have my sympathy.
May I ask why you take folic acid... do not take any more if they cause nausea.
You can get all the iron you need from spinach, broccoli, liver, good dark chocolate etc
And folic acid causes constipation in some folk.
My hair became much thinner long before pmr and preds. If you had lovely thick bouncy hair before and it is now falling out in clumps then you need to seek medical advice.
If your hair has been thinning over the years, as mine has, then it is simply the natural process , or due to other causes whether on pred or not.
Try not to let it worry you.... Find a good shampoo .
And I note others have given you good advice on products to use so hope something works up your b vits .
Good luck.
Freya
Yes true,I used to be given folic acid and iron( ferrous sulphate)
Hence my mistake. ...very senior moment... (increasingly frequent.)
However both caused me distress in the bowel region.
However anything that causes nausea then avoid.
Gut knows best.
I'm sorry to say that I have had hair loss, weight gain and bouts of diarrhoea ever since I've been on prednisolone, over 3 years now.
Doctor and consultants all say they are common side effects, which doesn't help of course!
I've been trying to get off the pred for a while, and it does make a difference if you get onto lower doses- unfortunately when I do reduce the PMR rushes back.
Not sure about folic acid side effects, check the leaflet and chat to the chemist?
Have you tried cutting carbs? Definitely helps with the weight gain.
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