Thyroid treatment causing major hair loss

[Czza]

Does anyone have a solution to my constant hair loss because of thyroid meds?

[Tlflom]

It is not likely the meds but the thyroid condition that caused hair loss. Biotin completely resolved my hair loss. You have to play with the dose. What worked for me is 10 micrograms in BOTH AM and PM. Anyone else my have a completely different dose. I test my dose from time to time as I am always looking for the lowest effective dose.

[Czza in reply to Tlflom]

Thanks for your help, I'll look into Biotin too. I'm glad it worked for you, gives me some hope.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Czza]

If you do decide to take biotin, have a read here:

helvella - Biotin supplementation and testing

A short article about how and why biotin can affect blood tests. Includes information about how to avoid any problems.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[PinkSkittles in reply to Tlflom]

Just looking into biotin for myself. Do you mean 10 mcg? That's a really tiny dose.

[Tlflom in reply to PinkSkittles]

Sorry, 10k

[greygoose]

It's true that sometimes levo can cause testosterone to convert to the bad form - whatever that's called, I can't remember - which causes hair loss. But, it should be only temporary. What you can do if that is the case is take Evening Primrose oil and Borage oil. But I don't know how well it works.

[Czza in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for help, I'll definitely try taking the oils. It's been years of hair loss. I've changed thyroid medication 3 times, but it hasn't helped.

[greygoose in reply to Czza]

How's your ferritin? Have you had that tested recently. If that's low, it will cause hair-loss.

[Czza in reply to greygoose]

Thanks, no one has mentioned that to me. I'll ask the GP to test it.

[greygoose in reply to Czza]

Good idea.

[Tlflom in reply to greygoose]

I take Levo and if I miss a few days my hair resumes shedding. I do text periodically to see if a lower dose with work. So far the answer for me is NO.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low iron often linked to hair loss

You need full iron panel including ferritin tested

What are your most recent TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 and do you have autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s)

Also test vitamin D, folate, B12

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

If on NDT or T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

if in U.K.

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Czza in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow, your reply is amazing, Thank you so much.