I've had a terrible time with hair loss which I think is caused by the Topamax. (Neither my GP or Derma can find any other cause.) It started about 3 months after I started the medication with dandruff like symptoms, itchy scalp etc. I've lost about 1/2 my hair now and am coming off the Topamax, but the really interesting thing is that the migraines aren't coming back. I've been on Topamax for about 8 months. I hope my hair starts to come back in soon and that the migraines stay away. Supposedly only a small percentage lose their hair from this drug, so if you're prescribed it you should definitely try it because it works really well for so many.
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Originally Posted by Joselita
Hey Everyone.
I just wanted to let the folks that take Topamax know about a potential side effect. The “technical term” my doctor used for it is 'medicinal alopecia', and he said that it affects 3% of people taking the medication. And....yep! You guessed it; I am in that 3%.
In most cases, it is reversable and takes about 5 months for the hair loss to stop once you get off of the medication. I am glad that this was the case for me. I am going to be trying a different medication (and sorry....can’t remember the name, cant read this writing on the script, and will probably get it filled this weekend or Monday at the latest) that he said is “an oldy but a goody” and that people who responded well to Topamax usually respond well to this medication too. I responded well to Topamax, I just couldn’t handle having hand fulls of my hair come out all of the time.
So, I just wanted to let everyone know, that if you are taking Topamax and you start having LOTS of hair start falling out....you aren’t crazy, and it might not be the RSD causing it. Go talk to your doc and let him know. I have been taking Topamax for quite a while now (matter of years), but this losing hair thing is something that wasn’t going on at all, and then started ...and got worse pretty quickly seemingly out of the blue.
If anyone is curious, I will let you know how this new med works for me (and what it’s name is. LOL).
Take care.....and I hope everyone is having an OK time through all of these weather changes going on.
Jose
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