Topa HAIR LOSS??! :(

[EK]

Hi there fellow MWO's, I'm so thrilled to be here, and I wouldn't trade it, but I'm suffering right now: I need some feedback.

I have been moderating for a month, with good results if you look away for 4 nights during that four week period. Proof that I've been overall good is my overall headaches! I've lost about five pounds too!

I've also lost hair and it's just killing me. Anyone else lose hair on Topa? I'm on 200mg and wanting to increase to 250. Hesitating because I'm so bare on top its humiliating. :upset: :upset: :upset:

I'm female by the way.

[Accountable for Me]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

I've noticed no one has replied to your post yet. So I will although I don't take Topamax. Apparently a few people noticed hairloss while being on it. If you search through these threads in this section, you will come read similar experiences with it.

Hang in there!!!

[morrison]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

EK. Sorry to hear about this. I've been on meds that state that some of the side effects were hair loss. Doctors will often recommend Zinc and Selenium (over the counter suppliments) to counteract this effect. I'm a male, 34 years old, and I have the classic receding hairline. Anyway, I take Selenium, and get my zinc from a multivitamin. The recommended Selenium intake is 200 mcg a day (it is usually sold by 200mcg pills in a bottle.). It is recommended not to take more than that, as it could expedite hair loss. I don't know how much Zinc you should take off the top of my head (no pun intended), but you could probably find that out with a google search. I take Lamictal and Seroquel for my mood swings, and hairloss occurs to some people taking the Lamictal. I started to shed pretty bad when I started taking it, and it slowed down. I also use Nioxen shampoo sometimes, and an anti-dandruff shampoo sometimes. I also use the 5% minoxidal as well. yeah, I know this sounds like a lot of maintenence, but it seems to work for me. My hairline looks the same now as it did a year ago. It appears as the receding has halted. I'm not a specialist in this by any means, but I just wanted to throw some stuff out there for you to look into. I hope you find somethings that helps. Good luck, and congratulations on your month of mod. :goodjob:

[EK]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

Thanks Accountable and Morrison for your quick bandaids to my bleeding, I am definitely in need and thank you! Every patch helps! I am taking zinc for hair now, and selenium for bp already. Lamictal I have not yet heard of, however. Is that a topa alternative that dosn't lose hair? seems to be a similar drug? Does it work for alcohol craving? I'd be interested if it worked and hair was not sac'd. Thanks.

[Paddy]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

Dear EK,

Sorry to hear that. I'm a male, not suffering from that Topa effect as yet, but I guess if that's what it'd take to get rid of the addiction, well so be it. But I really feel for you YOU. It must be most humiliating to sacrifice your beautiful hair. I did hear this happen as a result of Topa intake.

To date, there is no other medication that really tackles cravings the way Topa does. For whatever reason, the medical community does not seem to have taken the workings of Topa on board as yet. Maybe because it is used to treat migraines and the like, and not alcohol addiction. I suggest you hang in there for a while and try the vitamins. Maybe you should see a dermatologist in parallel and tell him/her about the fact that you are taking Topa and see whether hair loss can be treated using some alternatives?

Best of luck,

[soccermom]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

EK--
Biotin is also supposed to help--another over the counter supp.
Good Luck!

[Jenn]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

EK,
I don't know if Lamictal is indicated for reducing alcohol intake. I have a niece who takes it to moderate her Prozac as prescribed by her dr. When I was having thyroid problems and serious hair loss I found a supplent online called Thymuskin that helped. You should be able to find it with an online search. Best of luck!
Jenn

[EK]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

THANK YOU LOVELY PEOPLE

Hi All,

Thanks for the suggestions. I confess I was already experiencing female hair thinning but the topa made it MUCH worse very rapidly, (4 WEEKS).

In fact, I'm taking a whole range of supplements just for hair (massive doses of folic acid (8mg) and biotin (3-5mg) under naturalpatic supervision plus high quality other supplements which include a multi with selenium, iron, zinc, etc. I'm also on the kudzu, thistle, primrose, fish oil, glutamine, taurine, etc. I've been delinquent on the ONE because mostly I'm focusing on all this other stuff.

Thyroid rx was started this past week, I'm on day 5 of that. The topa impact took me by surprise because I was really looking for a positive, opposite effect this past 4 months with the supplements I've been on. I have been really researching and working at growing HAIR! @#$*&^%

I'm going to purchase the actual name brand Rogaine in foam today, just to know I did something topically that I could control the application of. Rogaine never worked for me before (I've had hair loss due to beta-blockers and/or stress, who knows?). But never this bad. I'm really reacting to the topa.

By the way, why does the Hair Club for Men think I would buy a plug from THEM? for MEN? Hallo? Marketing people, recommend drop "for men" to sell the ladies! duh..... hair club for men unless you are a bald lady with credit card ..... der. ... :nutso:

[mombytheocean]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

Hi EK,

Do you happen to know if your hair loss will cease once you are off Topa? I should be receiving mine any time now and am scared to death that I will suffer from the "lovely" side effect of hair loss. I have thin hair now and can't afford to lose much more.

Thanks and good luck to you. If you find something that works, please pass it on.

[EK]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

Hi Mombytheocean,

I don't know if the hair will come back, probably it will but then the topa can't help us. In fact, this week - I went off the topa and back to the wine. I'm ashamed to say. I'm going to focus on the supplements and make sure to exercise today, take the kudzu etc, and see if I can moderate.

I have fine thin shiny hair and now in the mirror, I also see shiny scalp without trying to see it. That's severe hair loss.

If I thought the hair loss would stop like the confusion did, I'd ride this out. The mental confusion side effect was minimal for me and stopped quickly. The hair thing though, being female, is intolerable. I didn't have much hair to begin with, as you can see by my prior posts. It seems to be ridiculously vulnerable to meds, like the rest of my body. (Wah!)

[mombytheocean]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

Thanks EK,

Good luck with the mods and the hair!! My hair is finally starting to come back after the birth of my second daughter (who is now 4) and the whole hair loss thing is starting to freak me out. Maybe I am anticipating problems -- anyway, would love to try and topa, but don't know how I will deal the side effects.

[Saint Jude]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

I was on topa for just over a year, @ 100mg a day. I quit taking it about 3 weeks ago, because of hair loss. I'm also taking selenium, biotin,and a vitamineral green supp. Haven't noticed a difference yet since I quit taking topa... but hoping my hair will get back to it's healthier, thicker stage.

Best of luck. This does suck though.

[mombytheocean]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

Hi Saint Jude,

How long were you on Topa when you noticed your hair loss? Was it a significant amount? It does suck. Good luck on your regrowth.

[EK]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

I was so shocked, my hair fell out! Or not...

Hey Saint Jude, tell me, how bad is your hair thinning from the topa? Just a little, or did people comment/stare like they do at my head? Can you tell your pony tail is half the size or some measure like that?

The reason I ask is this: I was not only 2 weeks into Topa when it suddenly seemed like my Merrill Streep was turning very Dr Phil: I was also 2.5 weeks into being laid off, ie, my job was eliminated and I saw visions of the foreclosure man dancing through my apparently fickle follicles.

One would hope all the folic acid, fish oils, biotin, vits, etc I had been dosing on, would help me avoid the shock-shed effect, but maybe between the shock and the topa, it was a matchpoint - its hard to say. I hope and hope and hope but still, I become almost bald. My scalp is half full. It's difficult to be optimistic about that.

I'm trying to judge just how much was shock and how much was topa. I feel both are to blame. I've had some thinning as a result of a similar shock some 10 years ago, but nothing nearly this scalp exposing. That grew back ... but I'd like to take the topa.

Also, can you tell me, you said you were on the topa longer term. do you feel you still need it, or was the year long enough? Is it worth it? It's a big trade off but if you get your life back, it's worth being bald for a while. Since I'm already there, I guess I could just haltingly do it. It feels like dragging a mule though, to pop a topa given the hair situation, after all I've been doing to grow hair.

Sorry to go on and on.... thanks for your advice and sharing.

EK:l

[EK]

Topa HAIR LOSS??!

Hi again, from RJ MWO Leader, some good news for us:

Hello! Just wanted to let you know I posted something recently on my blog regarding hair loss, as it's come up before. I know how upsetting it can be.

I'm not sure the information I've posted will be helpful, but I thought you may want to take a look. We try to keep up with the latest developments in all areas. You'll find the article here: www.mywayout.org/blog .

Feel free to share on the board if you think others would find it useful.

So you know, I experienced hair thinning when I rist started taking Topamax and it did eventually go away. No fun while it fell out, though! I think it takes a while for our bodies to adjust to the medication.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, what I'm hearing is the hair loss goes away. Saint Jude, you didn't experience that it seems. I guess we all react differently. It's got to be a choice between hair and balance. Maybe the hair loss is temporary. Saint Jude, please post in 3-6 months when you see your hair recover. I'd advise using Rogaine to ensure it does. Also, you can ask your Dr for aldactone 75 or more mg may help.