Hair loss and buprenorphine tablets?

[Simkin]

As you all know I have been on low dose buprenorphine tablets for one year & I simply cannot believe I have been free of the dreaded RLS for 12 whole months after 40 years of suffering.However, as we have all discussed I am invariably wide awake during 🤨the night & by the afternoons I simply have to sleep for 30 minutes to keep me going for the rest of the day but it is a price worth paying.

Also, like many others I have lost a stone in weight and I hope I don't lose any more.

Now my hairdresser is commenting that my hair appears to be coming out.

She thinks it is drug related.

Is anyone else suffering from hair loss?

[SueJohnson]

What other medicines are you taking?

[Simkin in reply to SueJohnson]

Only 300g gabapentin.

[SueJohnson in reply to Simkin]

It could be the gabapentin.

[Simkin in reply to SueJohnson]

Oh OK. As I am down from 1,200mg to 30mg I might be able to wean myself off gabapentin.

[Joolsg in reply to Simkin]

Gabapentin and pregabalin both caused hair thinning for me 5 years ago when I was on high doses.

[Madlegs1]

Not to be flippant---- But restless legs torment or a wig?

I know which I'd choose!

I know people complain of tooth decay with bup, but I haven't heard of the hair loss.

Hope you get some help here.💚

[Simkin in reply to Madlegs1]

I know. Anything but the torment of RLS!

[SueJohnson]

Don't just stop it though. You need to wean off it very slowly like 100 mg every 2 weeks.

[Simkin]

An yes. OK. Thanks as ever, Sue.

[Moonwalker1967]

I have explained hair loss with 500 mg Gabapentin, too!

[Simkin in reply to Moonwalker1967]

Oh interesting. Thanks.

[Joolsg]

I've been on it for 3 years and no hair loss. However, my MS chemo drug does cause hair thinning so I take biotin, folic acid and B12 and liquid marine collagen and it has reversed the hair thinning.

[Simkin in reply to Joolsg]

Ok thanks Joolsg.

[Zenawarrior73 in reply to Joolsg]

I agree with Jools I take exactly the same supplements but I take double the recommended dose of biotin as my Topamax makes my hair thin -6 months in no hair shedding new hair growth and it feels thick again

Also weleda do a brilliant leave in scalp hair tonic all natural goodness for your hair.

I also eat lots of eggs as they are good for hair

Great advice from Jools

[Simkin in reply to Zenawarrior73]

Thanks Zenawarrior 73. Lots of helpful advice from everyone.

[Ticki]

yes I have been on it for 3 1/2 years and my hair has been thinning. I don’t like that part as well as I love no restless leg.❤️‍🩹

[Simkin in reply to Ticki]

Interesting to hear that Ticki.

[Typicallygaslit]

I never knew it could be pregabalin/gabapentin but I did have thin hair while I was on it a long time ago. Recently I’ve started to have thinner hair also but I’m now 58! I think it’s just normal ageing in my case. I’ve been on Bup for two years now.

[Simkin in reply to Typicallygaslit]

58! What a young thing you are! Being somewhat older mine well be age related as well.I had thought of that!

[Typicallygaslit in reply to Simkin]

Haha, I wish I could feel that young though ❤️

[SueJohnson in reply to Typicallygaslit]

Don't we all!😀

[Simkin in reply to SueJohnson]

Quite Sue!!

[amrob123]

My hair has thinned on pregabalin. On the upside, now I no longer have to have it thinned out at the hair salon!

[Simkin in reply to amrob123]

That made me laugh!

[SueJohnson in reply to Simkin]

Me too - my laugh for the day!😀😀😀

[Shumbah]

Organic castor oil, you can put it on 20 minutes prior to washing your hair or over night. You will be stunned at how thick and healthy your hair grows back.

I use hair dressing bottle / comb applicator and run it through the scalp .

Do NOT pour it on and use like shampoo

To much and you will get a headache secondly when you wash your hair if you have way to much castor oil rinsing off into your shower it will be dangerously

I have never heard of bup causing hair loss,

Ps if you Google castor oil for hair regrowth you will finds heaps of info . Castor oil is used in hair growth products even eyelash serum .

[Simkin in reply to Shumbah]

Tx so much for the tip Shumbah.

[Sunshine458 in reply to Shumbah]

Thank you I will try this for sure

[Zenawarrior73 in reply to Sunshine458]

Also castor oil soaked in cotton wool pads placed in socks on your feet in night can help with the nocturnal leg pain associated with RLS

[Arizonajan]

yes I too got hair loss. It is a side effect. Now trying to deal with that. It never ends does it?!

[Simkin in reply to Arizonajan]

I think the thing that keeps us going is the unending support we get on this forum.