Hair Loss

[Carolyn C]

I am loosing alot of hair to the point where it has started to become very thin. I am taking azathioprine and remicade for my crohns. I have taken azathioprine in the past (quit taking it for a few years and recently started it again) and I don't remember loosing my hair like this. I was on TPN for 6 weeks last fall because of constant vomiting and pain due to an extremely bad flare up. I lost about 15 pounds but the past few months I have been feeling alot better and have been able to eat again and have started to put weight on. I am wondering if there is a vitamin deficiency that could cause this to happen. I am starting to get worried that pretty soon I will barely have any hair left. I know this sounds vain compared to all the other bad things that could happen to me but you know how us women feel about our hair. Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing my hair loss and if there is anything I can do about it?

 

[f_else]

I was azathioprine 50mg and had to stop it because of the hair loss is was causing me. It could possibly be that, or you could be deficient in zinc, magnesium or folic acid. Try taking some of these in a supplement form and you might notice a difference. Don't worry, I understand about the stress of the hair loss, it is bad enough feeling horrible, no one wants to look bad on top of that.

Good luck with everything Carolyn.

 

[AmandaNG]

I had hair loss when I was on the same combination of meds. I eventually stopped taking the azathioprine when I was in remission. I also switched from Remicade to Humira due to other side effects. My GP recommended Nioxin (shampoo, conditioner, and mousse) for the hair loss. It's not cheap, but I have been using it for the past several months, and my hair definitely looks better.

 

[kiny]

I'd ask your doc and not worry too much. My 'lil sis had some hair loss from being sick and it all came back, unless hair loss is genetic (which is possible but unlikely) it tends to just come back whenever what was wrong is corrected.