Another MTX thread...

Hi all, Ive been on MTX now for over a year and Ive had really bad acne since starting it but about two months ago I started losing my hair :( My Doctor told me that the Prednizone I was on was the culprit but I have been completely off of it now for almost a month and nothing has changed. I know its the MTX, it started when I started taking it but she knows best ;)

I have been taking folic acid this whole time along with another supplement for hair and skin growth but it hasn't seemed to slow it down at all. I think in another few months I'll probably need to go ahead and shave my head because of it and that's fine but what I am wondering is if anyone else has had this happen and if their hair started coming back in or if they had to stop the medication to get their hair back.

I am not real excited about it because I have had really really bad acne since I started MTX and it is in my scalp as well so a bald head covered in acne is going to make me even more self conscious than I am now with a face full of acne at 45. I can't imagine trying to shave around it. Nothing seems to help with the acne as well. I wash my face several times a day and carry face wipes with me everywhere. My skin is just so oily even by mid morning every day. Has anyone else had this side effect from MTX?

I do feel better on it which is the hardest part of the whole deal. If I stop taking it I am starting to flare up within a week. I hope you all are doing well and living life to the fullest. I am still working, doing stuff with the kids and making the best of it one day at a time :)

Sorry, I forgot to say that Proactive really does help, but it's very expensive. But it does work really well...it doesn't require a prescription or doctor's visit, but I think proves to be more expensive than the doctors and scripts!

Hi I have the same problem with MTX and Hair Loss my hairbrush looks like a sheep shearing comb
if I run my fingers thru my hair I come out with clumps
I now have distinct bald spots (being a Female I don't want to shave my head)
I haven't had any Acne if I were you I'd tell my local Doc and get something for the Acne especially if its on other areas as well as your face
unfortunately some of these side effects are just have to be lived with a price you pay
I have been on it now about 4-5 yrs and I went off for 2 months just recently and I was back to bed stage Every joint swelled and Fatigue Terrible I went back on it a week ago and hoping it starts working soon

Maybe try talking with a dermatologist just to get another opinion on this, there are three things that can cause hair loss and a dermatologists might be able to help...Somethings else might be going on, (hate to say that)...Hopefully it'll resolve and there are biotin shampoo's and conditioner's...

Hi Dev,

The Paddison program has certainly been a help. I am now off of prednisone completely and hopefully if things continue to improve I will be able to slowly lower my dosage of mtx as well. When I started making dietary changes I began coming out of the year long flare I was in that was so crippling. I was taking prednisone, mtx and orencia during this time but they did not seem to be working until I made the additional dietary changes and I do believe that they were what put me over the edge so to speak. It has taken a long time but I was finally able to put prednisone behind me and that was a huge battle. I hope that I will be able to do the same with mtx.

I am a firm believer that diet can contribute to helping those of us with AI diseases. I continue to stay away from any pre made foods as well as corn and soy products (dairy too) as well as limiting my animal fats and meats and I do not go through nearly the flare ups that I was just a few months back. Usually when I do have issues they are not as bad as well. There are some who believe that diet alone can cure RA but I am very skeptical of such claims. I will continue to try to eat clean however, I feel much better in general and have lost all of the weight that midlife and a ton of medications helped me to gain and that in itself has been worth it. :)

Post Edited (Don_D) : 5/25/2014 10:49:33 PM (GMT-6)

That is really wild RN, maybe I'll end up a redhead of a blond :)