New - combination of lamictal and topamax
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UPDATED: Thu, 03/06/2008 - 6:49pm
Raleigh55
Medication and Hair Problems
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My daughter is in just turned 20. She has been on a variety of anticonvulsants since she was 10. Currently she is on Lamictal and Topamax (this combination for a year). For the past few months, her hair is starting to turn gray. There isn't any family history of this and I am beginning to wonder if it is a medication side effect. There is also an increase of hair in other areas. Past medications have included Keppra, Tegretol, Trileptal, Depakote, Zonegram and Neurotin. Has anyone experienced these problem?
By Raleigh55 at Thu, 03/06/2008 - 6:49pm | 108 views | 13 comments
Topic: Medication Issues
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Recent Comments on this Discussion
I've been on Lamictal (200 mg/day) for almost a year now. I've noticed faster hair growth in areas other than my head, but haven't had any trouble with my hair falling out. I'm blonde, so it's hard to tell if it's turning gray, but I don't think it is. I've been taking prenatal vitamins for about 6 months now to make my hair grow faster and stronger (though I have NO intention of having a child), so that may be why I haven't had any trouble with hair loss.
I'm going to have to agree with the people above me though--if gray hair is a side effect, I'd consider it a mild one with an easy solution.
I've had a lot of memory issues, getting easily confused about dates, times, names, and I have trouble stringing together words for a sentence frequently. I'm going to see my neurologist in two weeks for a yearly exam (it will be 1 year since I've had a seizure when I go to see him!) to see if I can back off my dosage, and hopefully that'll help with my memory issues.
Good luck to your daughter! (Blondes DO have more fun, but I loved playing around with color to see which one best suited my personality, so ENJOY IT!)
Through the years I've been used as a guinea pig on several medications, I can't even remember all of them, Ritalin, Lamictal,Topamax, Phenobarbital, Mysoline,(generic) Dilantin,(generic) none caused (noticable) hair loss. maybe alittle. But none were completely controlable either. About 15 years ago I was taking 4 phenobarbital,(60 mg ea) 2 Mysoline(250 mg ea) and 6 Dilantin(100mg ea) each day with no improvement.
Finally I started slowly adjusting my medication. ("Results") Today I'm down to 5 Dilantin a day, eliminating both Mysoline and Phenobarbital. My seizures are completely under control and noone knows I'm Epileptic unless I tell them.
No more stares or getting looked down at because I walked, talked and looked like an Alcholic.
I AM ON LAMICTAL AND TOPAMAX AND HAVENT NOTICED ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF HAIR LOSS WHEN I WASH IT OVER ANY OTHER MED. THE ONLY MED I LOST HAND FULLS OF HAIR WAS DEPAKOTE. IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO GROW IT BACK.
IN CAPS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED
GOD BLESS,
BANFFGIRL
LIFE IS FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE.
Thank-you for all of you who have answered. For those of you who indicated that you are suffering the side effects of the medication, I truly hope that you find some relief. Since my daughter has been on several meds, I have noticed that some cause hair loss, others cause weight gain, some cause mood swings, and other meds cause confusion. Battling the seizures, the side effects of medications and the countless medical tests, etc. is truly one of the hardest situations I have witnessed for someone. I want you to know that your daily battles with this indicate that you people are truly courageous!
I've experienced hairloss on Epilim when I was 15-20, and then on Topomax it got even worse with Keppra. I try and take hair vitamins and also tried shampoos etc, but in the end it got so bad that I stopped meds all together. i found it like the final straw. It only started at abouyt 200mg of Topomax. Now I've cut my hair cos its so thin.
But now my seizures have increased, and my seizures have increased and I think I mite have to go back on the meds.
But am going to give it another month, its only been 2. My nails have been fab since coming of the meds - theres a positive! Hope your daughters ok, but I think hairloss can affect some people with lots of meds.
Hi. I used to take Depakote and suffered hair loss. My hair started thinning that my neuro had to change it to Keppra. With Keppra, I experienced no side effects. I guess part of it depends on what med really suits you and your system. Maybe you could tell your kid's neuro about the problem and ask for advice.
Hi,
I have been on the Lamictal and Topamax combination for the past 6 months, but i have been on lamictal for the past 4 years. The only side effect i have noticed regarding my hair is that there has been a gradual thinning, to the point now that my crown is nearly bald :-( I presume its because of the lamictal because ive noticed it for a long time, but everyone reacts differently to medications.
I hope your daughters situation works out ok.
Hello, I'm in my 30's and I started having seizures when I was about 8. I have been on a variety of AED's which each in themselves carry different side-effects. I'm currently taking Topamax, and Klonopin for over a year now and my hair has been falling out ; it comes out in chunks. Every time I wash my hair I come out of the shower with a handful of hair! My hair has gotten so thin I've had to go out and buy wigs! "No matter how hard you try, it still looks like a wig, even the human hair wigs!" I wish that my hair only turned gray! Chances are that it more than likely is a side effect. You're daughter's fortunate enough that she can color her hair any color that she wants! I hope this is helpful! She still has hair! :)
My son is 14 - and is taking 1500 mg Depakote Er since Dec 2007 diagonised JME. He has started losing his hair. So far Depakote is works great besides this. My question is hair lose temporary.....does your body adjust after a period of time - months?? years?? Does it level out at one point - or once it starts do you continue losing your hair until your are bald.....at 14!
I WAS ON DEPAKOTE FOR 10 MONTHS AND THE HAIR LOSS NEVER GOT BETTER. I ALSO TRIED DIFFERENT SHAMPOOS AND TRIED WASHING MY HAIR LESS BUT IT DIDNT HELP. I DONT KNOW OTHER PEOPLES EXPERIENCES BUT MINE WASNT GOOD. AFTER GETTING OFF OF DEPAKOTE IT TOOK ALITTLE WHILE BEFORE MY HAIR STARTED SLOWING GROWING BACK. IT STILL ISNT AS THICK AS IT USE TO BE BUT LUCKILY I HAD EXTRMELY THICK HAIR BEFORE I STARTED TAKING DEPAKOTE. HOPE THIS HELPS.
I USE CAPS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED
GOD BLESS,
BANFFGIRL
LIFE IS FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE.
DEPAKOTE MADE MY HAIR FALL OUT TOO!
Forgot to ask .... what are good supplements? What is a good shampoo? Should he wash his hair less -- he's very athletic and takes a shower every day.
Selenium, vitamins E and B complex and Rogain shampoo! You can easily put the shampoo in a regular shampoo bottle if he takes showers at school! Centrum now has selenium in it and its a great multivitamin!
Hope this helps!