Lamictal and Hair Loss

Re: Lamictal and Hair Loss

Submitted by notfishbait on Mon, 2009-02-16 - 19:53

hi, this sounds like fun. I am weaning off of topamax, which from what I've read can cause a lot of weight gain...and am being put on Lamictal, plus I am on 2000mgs Keppra 2x a day, so I'm a bit sleepy....Sounds like eventually, I'll be turned into a lazy fat bald woman....which my husband should really love. whoopee..atleast off of the dopamax I wont be quite as clumsy and forgetful. Hope he likes brains over looks:)

Re: Lamictal and Hair Loss

Submitted by Scotty Mac Donald on Mon, 2009-02-23 - 17:44

Hi - I've been on Lamictal and Sodium Valproate since 2001. All my life friends have commented on how thick and wirey my hair is. However in the past 6 months my hair has become thinner and there seems to be less hair per sqr cm. However I've also realised my stress levels changed 6 months ago - only 5 hours sleep per day - get to bed at 1.00 AM - wake up at 6.00 AM - I've moved oversees to a totally new culture - living with my wife's family whose diet has practically no nutrition in it. I'm used to lots of steamed vegetables, fish and green tea - now I'm living of beef, pork, potato, rice,scrambled eggs and salami and drinking 3 - 4 cups of espresso coffee every day - I'm guessing it could be diet and stress related. So I'm gonna try and change my diet. Will see how I go. I'm guessing the Lamictal may not be such a big prob as long as we're being sensible about stress, diet and nutrition. Anyways - gotta go, maybe 8 hours a day on computer isn't helping - cheers, Scotty - skype: my.english.studio

Re: Lamictal and Hair Loss

Submitted by lorac on Sun, 2009-03-22 - 14:50

Wow...I wish I had seen this a few weeks ago.  I was put on Lamictal on December 1st, 08.  By the 15th, the side effects had started: swollen lymph nodes under my arms, a constant headache between my eyes, and strangely enough my face aged 10 years in a couple of weeks.  By February, I realized my tongue was swelling.  I told my Dr. that I was cutting the dosage. 

I dropped off it completely a week ago, but alas, I think the damage has been done.  I started losing my hair slowly at first.  I thought it could have been from the stress late last year or even the fact that I had started smoking again.  I was told by my Dr that hair loss was not a side effect of Lamictal, but I think it's time that they admit it is.  I lost over 300 hairs yesterday.  Yes I counted because I had to know that I wasn't losing my mind.  Over 250 in the shower alone.  They say that 50-100 hairs a day is normal shedding.  

Just when I was starting to feel better about my life this happens.    There is no denying that the Lamictal helped calm me down.  Snapped me right out of a very bad mixed episode, or so I've been told.  Now I just want to cry, but for a completely different reason.  I was only on 100mgs a day at the peak dosage.  Every step I took down seemed to have an positive effect on my body and skin.  I'm going to try to add the Zinc, Selenium, and Biotin to my daily routine to see if it helps the hair.  

I hope my hair recovers.  Don't let anyone tell you it's your imagination.  Just because you don't have "the rash" doesn't mean it's not doing something to your body.  I don't think the dosage matters either.  Mine was very low compared to some of the stories I read.  If it starts growing back, I will let all of you know.

Thank You