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Pentasa and hair loss???

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/26/2012 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!
I have been diagnosed with Crohn's in April this year and have been on Pentasa since (4 pills 500mg twice a day) My cramps returned recently, but what really got me worried is that
I noticed that my hair started falling out really bad. Yesterday, after a bath, I pulled entire clumps of hair from head. My brush looks is full of hair also. This is scary... Does any one here experience the same problem??? If yes, how do you deal with it? Please help!

Thank you so much!
shocked
Posted 6/26/2012 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there,

I have been on Pentasa (9 x 500 mg per day) for 5 years and have not had any hair loss.  (I did have a terrible time with my hair texture when I was on Entocort - grew in like hay, I tell you!) 

Could it be stress?

Posted 6/26/2012 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
me too never had that issue.... yes I'd think stress?!?!!? Or just age maybe (not calling you or anyone old) but sometimes it's just in the gen (I know people in their 20's who are healthy and losing hair)

So your still in pain?! maybe you need more then just that med... maybe pantasa too (lower bowl or big bowl?)
Posted 6/26/2012 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for responding!
Stress definitely could be a part of it. Although, ironically, I started meditating and journaling two months ago. Before that I did experience a lot of stress. And age could be also a factor to some degree. It's just what I see in the tub drain after I wash my hair looks scary. It looks like more than an average hair loss. Sorry I started panicking here on the forum! I realize that in the end, this is not the worst thing that could happen here. But if I could avoid it, or fix it, then definitely I would do anything.
And yes, I am in pain.... Interestingly enough pentasa did work up to, I think, two weeks ago when that merciless cramping started. So it looks like they will put me on more meds. I am seeing my GI doc on Thursday. Please, keep your fingers crossed! I was told that theoretically my Crohn's was mild. What I have been experiencing was nothing but mild.... and it's actually both in my big and small bowl...
Posted 6/26/2012 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
I always shedded horribly even before the pentasa.  I found taking a folic acid supplement each day has helped a lot....no more being accuesd of having a puppy when I don't!  I also know when I drop the amount of fat in my diet drastically, the hair loss increases.

Posted 6/26/2012 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Our intestines are having inflamed spots. All our nutrition is taken up in the intestines. Having inflammation and inflamed spots will lead to difficulties taking up nutrition. We often find that Crohns patients are having problems with the skin, the hair and the nails. A lack of vitamins, minerals and proteins could be prevented by using the best of vitamins and fish oils.
Posted 6/26/2012 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have experienced hair loss and pain in joints when i was on pentasa way back in 2008 ... I read the literature and told my doctor he chnaged pentasa to asacol, the time i have been on asacol i have not experienced thatmuch hair loss as with pentasa ....

So tell your doctor about this side effect, even you can read side effects on the box or literature provided with meficine.

One of the home remedie i am doing and which is quite helpful in crohns is aloe vera and fish oil omega 3 DHA .... My recommended dose of asacol is 1.2g per day but i have reduced it to 400mg ....

Regards
Posted 6/26/2012 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
If you run a search in the healing well site, you will see that others have also complained of hair loss with Pentasa. For me, I have notice that I lose hair when I am flaring. I used to connect the hair loss with the medicine I was taking, either Prednisone or Pentasa, but now I think it's more due to nutritional deficiencies when I'm flaring. Try to eat a healthy diet and I think the folic acid and maybe B vitamins may be helpful.
Posted 6/26/2012 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I lost hair from taking Pentasa!!!  I was taking 3 pills 3 times a day, it also happened when I took asacol, it is a side effect of that med. if you look it does say it is a side effect but a rare one, I talked my doc. into lowering my dose and that helped and it stopped, I was seriously worried I was going bald!! I have since gone of that Med. as it didn't really help me. Over the years I had been on and off it and each time it made me loose hair. Mabe even lowering your dose a little may help, if thats possible for you.  Good Luck!!
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