Anyone have hair loss and on Copaxone?
 

I've been on Copaxone 9 years now, but only noticed having hair loss the past year or so. I had my thyroid checked and my hormones and all was normal. Not sure that it's from the Copaxone since I've been on it so long and only have hair loss the past year. The only other med I'm on is a low dose of Neurontin ( 300 mg 3 or 4 times a day), but I've been on that for years too. Any of you experience something similar? I guess I need to suck it up and go to the dermatologist.

You don't mention your age, and women can have hair thinning, loss. But since you have had your hormone levels checked, we can assume you're not in menopause.

Anyway, I have only been on Copaxone about a year, but I do notice my hair has begun to thin, and more comes off on my brush now than before. And the oddest thing: it doesn't grow anymore. I haven't had a haircut in 8 years! Only trim my bangs. I had put it all down to menopause. But now I'm not so sure. Maybe its not the meds, but MS?:eek:

Hi,
It would be odd that all the sudden after that many years it would do this but not impossible I guess. I seem to lose a lot of hair but it is still very thick and needs to be cut the same as before Copaxone. Hang in there and please update us.

we have had this talk a few times here and there, there does seem to be a more than a few with hair lose and being on C, whether its the
C or some other combo of meds we never did come to a conclusion. but it was odd a lot of us that posted did take C, according to the drug company no, yet they also say you wont have reactions from the shot, sorry the answer is of no use but wanted to share we have wondered, about this and I still do

Been on Copaxone myself only since May 08, but I haven't noticed Copaxone causing hair loss. On the other hand, Amitriptyline sure did.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Like I said, I wasn't thinking for sure it was from Copaxone. I did read awhile back a rather large thread on the same thing though at MSW. My scalp itches though, so it might be some kind of dermatitis. It's noticeable, especially to me,but isn't coming out in clumps.

Copaxone was the first DMD I used and I had hair loss....lots of it. The shower drain was full of it!!

As soon as I stopped the C the hair loss stopped. I have to assume that was the culprit since I haven't experienced it since.

Yep, hair loss here....I'm supposed to start iron pills, but trying to figure out the time-scale...don't take an hour or is it three hours with food? I dunno, stress is causing cog fog....

my primary told me, not to worry that it would all fall out, where I'm a woman, but there is hair thinning an roagaine for women?....

Sigh, what can you do? these meds are certainly heavy duty when you think of it...

Best of luck

Well, I may have eaten my own words, as I pulled a bunch of hair out last night in the tub. :(

Maybe it goes through cycles? *crosses fingers*

I take iron pills too, since my Ferretin level was low last it was checked. I take it once a day, Ferrous Sulfate 325 mg over the counter. I take it with food as it can cause stomach upset ( can cause constipation too). That can be a cause of hair loss too, anemia. They do have Rogaine for women(OTC), although I haven't tried that yet. Biotin is supposed to help too, which is an over the counter supplement. Thanks everyone for all your responses.:hug:

More info on Iron supplements..
Interactions
Iron forms an insoluble complex with several other drugs, resulting in decreased absorption of both iron and the other drug. Examples include tetracycline, penicillamine, methyldopa, levodopa, bisphosphonates and quinolones. The same can occur with elements in food, such as calcium. Absorption of iron is better at a low pH (an acid environment), and resorption is decreased if there is a simultaneous intake of antacids, phosphates, etc.

Tannins from foods, such as tea and saw palmetto, reduce absorption of iron.

Taken after a meal, there are fewer side effects but there is also less absorption because of interaction and pH alteration. Generally, an interval of 2-3h between the iron intake and that of other drugs seems advisable.

adding my comments - don't know everyone's age - but after menopause you don't need as much iron - I'm told excess iron is stored in the body and apparently you can have too much - also noticed more hair loss with not much growth when I was smoking - stopped almost 10 years ago now and hair grew and is still growing - would say the constructed blood vessles in the scalp had something to with that - taking C and haven't noticed any difference other then needing to wash my hair more often -

31, from what I can tell I'm not near menopause, and just quit smoking about 1 month ago!

Been on Copaxone since May 08. Maybe my body's just going 'what the HECK?!' with all the changes this year? :)

I had horrible hair loss but from Rebif! I'm talking bald patches. I too had every level known to man checked. Now my once think hair is so thin its ridiculous!

I'll be 38 in December, so not menopause for me yet.

No menopause for me in sight either, anemia runs in my family, so unfortunately I may need iron even after menopause....