DO NOT WANT

[cupcake_goth]

 Over the past few months, any time I wash, comb, or run my hands through my hair, I have a lot of shed hairs. A LOT. And then I noticed that my hair has not been as fluffy as it should be, and even with proper tousling and product, my hair aggressively parted and flopped in certain places where it shouldn't.

I had the Stroppy One look and take photos. Yep, my hair is thinning.

I started doing research last night, and this is probably due to the Topamax. There are a lot of discussions about it on reddit and various medication forums. Which means the hair thinning is the final push for me to write down the list of weird and vague physical symptoms I've been randomly having, compare them to side effects others taking Topamax have reported, and then match things against when I started taking the med. And then probably talk to my psych and neurologist about tapering off, because weird and vague physical symptoms PLUS thinning hair? Thanks, no. 

(Yes, I'm vain. I admit it. I like my hair, dammit.)

Comments

[melchar]

You have lovely hair. You should be concerned. *Offers virtual hugs in sympathy.*

[staxxy]

Dor had a terrible reaction to Topamax too.

[danabren]

Welp. That may explain why the hell my hair is falling out too. I found this in a super quick google search that says that YAY HAIR LOSS IS A RARE SIDE EFFECT SO MUCH YAY BUT IS POSSIBLE WITH VENALFAXINE GODSDAMNITAL.

It doesn't reference Topomax by name, but this paragraph was of interest. To me, at least.

"One study found that supplementing your daily diet with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants resulted in reduced hair loss and increased thickness of hair in approximately 90 percent of study participants. Some people also may have a mineral deficiency that can contribute to hair loss caused by antidepressants, including iron, biotin, and zinc."

So, like, sympathy on this bullshit.

[oldhalloween]

Started taking Biotin supplements 10 years back since I have been on an antidepressant for 25 years. It does seem to help slow the loss only as I get older genetics seems to be at play too. Mother and grandmother had very thin hair by age 50.

[danabren]

My mother's hair hasn't thinned, although her mother's did.

Stupid meatsacks, being inconvenient.

[cupcake_goth]

Whenever there's a "It's a rare side effect no honest we swear", I go hunting for the reddit threads. I hate reddit, but find useful information there.

I read a LOT of good reviews of Folexin, so I'm now taking that every day. I'll report on how it goes.

[danabren]

Did you read the amazon reviews? It contains Fo-Ti.

Please and thank you, report back in 10 weeks.

[sistawendy]

Finasteride? Dr. Leather Bear suggested that to me years ago.

[sistawendy]

There's also good old fashioned minoxidil, i.e. Rogaine. It did work for me back in the Bad Old Days – and then I found out I'm allergic to the solvent they were using at the time, namely propylene glycol.

Yeah, I feel you about, you know, wanting hair. I don't think you're not any vainer than I am, and if you are, so what?

[sistawendy]

Oh: don't buy minoxidil in any concentration lower that 5%. There's no evidence that it works.

[gwyn]

This is totally understandable. I have abysmally thick hair and always wished I didn't, but damn, if I was going through the same thing, I'd react just like you. Our hair is an important part of our self-image!