Phoenix_Rising Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Hi all. I started taking Zyprexa about a year ago and currently take 15 mg per day. In that time I have lost over half of my hair. It is so thin that my ponytail is the size of a Sharpie pen. As you can see from my sig, I'm taking a lot of meds and I'm not sure its the Zyprexa. I don't intend to quit taking it b/c it is the only med that has brought relief. But I wanted to know if others had experienced hair loss and, if so, did you find any remedies for it? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle25 Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I doubt it is the zyprexa. I know that premerin, lithium and metformin have the possibility of causing hair loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifluous Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 (edited) i haven't experienced hair loss from zyprexa (and it's the only medication i have in common with you, if that's useful to know) best wishes for finding a solution Edited April 27, 2014 by mellifluous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix_Rising Posted April 27, 2014 Author Share Posted April 27, 2014 chelle: thanks for the info melli: that is helpful, thanks. And thanks for the good wishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizons Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 I see in your signature that you also have diabetes. That can cause thinning hair, either as a direct result of elevated sugars or possibly due to some of the medications used to control it (my mother's hair thinned drastically after she got diabetes and it was her only health problem at the time, but I'm not sure how to tell whether it was the meds or the sugars that caused it). Hair loss is not listed anywhere I could find as a known side-effect of Zyprexa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTastybutt Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 I never had hair loss when I was on Zyprexa. My hair seemed to get thinner on metformin though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix_Rising Posted April 27, 2014 Author Share Posted April 27, 2014 horizons: thanks for sharing your mom's experience and the information. I was dx with diabetes seven years ago, but since being on Zyprexa have had trouble controlling it. mrtastybutt: thanks for weighing in. I've been on metformin for quite a while, but recently had to add insulin due to high glucose numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTastybutt Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 Metformin didn't work for me either. Though I've had better numbers on Lantus (20 units) and glipizide. I've tried Onglyza but my numbers are high. I think maybe it's because my numbers were too high on metformin. I have noticed that when my thyroid dose is too low my hair falls out. Have you had your thyroid checked lately? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 I do doubt it's the Zyprexa, it could be the lithium. Have you had your levels checked lately? Could also be because of the diabetes. Book an appointment with your doc and talk to him/her about it. They may have some good suggestions. I know stuff like Sea Kelp (basically, iodine) can be good for thinning hair, but don't take it without a doctor's approval, because it affects your thyroid. Your gdoc may have a LOT of great suggestions and you may be able to stay on your current combo. Best of luck. Do you take a multivitamin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix_Rising Posted April 27, 2014 Author Share Posted April 27, 2014 mrtastybutt: its been about 6 mos since I had my thyroid checked and I'm due to have bloodwork. I use Lantus (16 mg and climbing) AND metformin. I need to read up on the effects of blood sugar being too high. san: I'm due to have my lithium level checked ASAP. I actually take Prenatal vitamins (my hairdresser said it would help). Thanks for the suggestions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimako Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 I'm kinda late commenting but FWIW it could be hormones. My worst hair loss came when I was pregnant. My mom's worst hair loss came when her hormones started to change in her 50's. Sorry, I have no idea how old you are but just wanted to throw that out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizons Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 I need to read up on the effects of blood sugar being too high. They're pretty systemic, from what I've seen. My mom had fatigue, mood changes and depression, memory impairment, hair loss, nerve pain and numbness, blurry vision, weight gain, food cravings, insomnia, as well as the classic thirst and increased urination. Some of these were immediate effects, others developed over time as her sugars remained high (her diabetes was poorly controlled for years). Most of the problems resolved themselves once she finally went on insulin and got her sugar under control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix_Rising Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share Posted May 1, 2014 I'm kinda late commenting but FWIW it could be hormones. My worst hair loss came when I was pregnant. My mom's worst hair loss came when her hormones started to change in her 50's. Sorry, I have no idea how old you are but just wanted to throw that out there. Thanks Chimako. I had a hysterectomy several years ago so I don't think its hormonal as I take a prescribed amount of hormones. Although, hmmm...my doc did reduce my hormone dose less than a year ago....something to consider. horizons: thank you for sharing your mom's experience. I've been working with my gdoc to get my sugars under control. That reminds me that I need to call her and find out what she thought of my latest numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 I have suddenly had *a lot* of thinning on one part of my scalp in particular (where I have a cowlick, so it is pretty obvious). My hair is not as thick as it was overall. I noticed it all of the sudden, after my 50th birthday. My friend thinks our hair just magically knew when we turned 50. But she's on a lot of meds, so I suspect she may be having side-effects. I have very fine hair, but there used to be so much of it. I had trouble finding barrettes that were big enough to hold all my hair, but not so heavy they slid off because it is so fine. The weight of my hair used to be a problem for my head, and I haven't been able to get my hair cut in 3 years. I guess it could be the lithium? I've been on it for almost 3 years, so this would be a newish side-effect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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