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Losing hair with MTX

Posted , 5 users are following.

mary76396
mary76396

Hi, I've been on MTX for a while now but recently upped the dose to 20mg. I've noticed a lot of hair coming out with no follicles attached. My understanding of hair loss is that if the hair follicle comes out the hair doesn't regrow. As our hair should regrow on stopping MTX I'm assuming that it should be just the hair and not the follicles too? Just want to know what happens to others with hair loss. Mine is just going a bit thin all over, not in patches.

2 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • patyrod
    patyrod mary76396

    Posted

    I have been on Plaquenil for almost a year and started Methotrexate 6 months ago.  In the past year, I have lost about 1/3 of my hair.  It could have been caused by medication or one of the autoimmune conditions that I have.  Hair loss has slowed down a bit for me, but is still occuring.  The doctors don't know what is causing it.  Thanks for the tip about the follicles.

  • don20517
    don20517 mary76396

    Posted

    Hello Mary,

    I have not experienced hair loss while taking MTX, but I was only on 20 mg for a short period of time because of liver function issues according to the quarterly blood tests. Hair loss is a symptom of MTX in about ten percent of those taking this medication. I am guessing you are also on folic acid every day along with the MTX. My rheumatologist increased my folic acid from 1 mg to 2 mg daily when my blood tests came back less than desirable. Talk to your rheumatologist about this, perhaps he or she has a solution. Folic acid is supposed to help fight the hair loss issue.

    Don

    • mary76396
      mary76396 don20517

      Posted

      Hi Don, 

      i have to be careful of liver function issues too and that is why I was reduced on MTX to 10mg a day, now that my blood tests have improved I've been put back to 20mg and now take one folate a day and two the day after MTX. It's only since the MTX went up again that I've noticed the hair loss (I had very thick hair) just wondering if it's just the hair that falls or the follicle too.

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