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Hair Loss / Remicade

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Posted 11/25/2009 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

New member here. I want to say thanks to all the forum members for taking time to post and respond to questions. Many of them have been very helpful to me since I was diagnosed with UC in 2007.

I have been on Remicade for about one year, and have been feeling great ever since. However, I've recently noticed that my hair is beginning to thin. This 44 year-old guy was expecting to lose some hair (aging process), but I think this thinning is Remicade related. My doc referred me to a dermatologist, but I wanted to find out what others are doing before I made the appointment.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. This Thanksgiving (and everyday), I am thankful for Remicade and the medical insurance to cover the cost. Ouch!

Thanks,
Popeye

Remicade - 5 vials each treatment
Lialda - 4 tabs daily
Probiotic
Omega-3
Vitamin D w/calcium
Imuran
Prednisone
Posted 11/25/2009 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Correction. My "strikes" didn't work on my post. I am not currently taking Imuran or Prednisone.
Posted 11/25/2009 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Im starting remicade on Monday and this is one of my fears about taking the med.  I was on 6mp for about 6 months and was told that I might lose my hair as well so I started taking a Biotin supplement. 

Biotin promotes hair and nail growth so you might want to try that.

Posted 11/25/2009 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
     My hair started falling out when I was on 6MP.  I use Nioxin and it works really well.  You can buy it at your hairdressers.  I am off the 6MP and started Remicade last Wednesday.  To tell you the truth, I was so darn sick with ulcerative proctitis before my first infusion but notice a significant difference now.......I don't care if all my hair falls out and I look like a female Telly Savalas...just gimmeee relief for my rectum!!!!!!!! 
Posted 11/26/2009 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
I had horrible reaction to Remicade, so my hair did come out due to that. So, I think that losing hair is remicade related, but there are others on here who have been on it for many years that may respond to this thread.
Posted 11/26/2009 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
I'm always willing to try the holistic route first. Thanks for the responses.
Posted 11/26/2009 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
I've lost half of my hair in the past year. I don't know if it's Colazal or Remicade. I've switched to Asacol just in case it was Colazal. We'll see. Biotin hasn't helped at all either.


All of my doctors--PCP, GI, derm--said that the hair loss was due from being sick for so long and that they haven't heard of Remicade causing hair loss. But I don't understand why I'm losing so much hair when I've been in remission for 11 months. I did call Centocor--the makers of Remicade--and they said that it hasn't happened very often in clinical trials, which is why it isn't listed as an official side effect, but "everyone has different reactions to medications."
Posted 11/26/2009 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
Take 1mg of Finasteride per day.  It is the generic form of Propecia.  I have been taking it for years now (well before diagnosed with UC) when I started noticing thinning hair.  It will definitely stop you from losing any more hair and possibly even regrow hair after being on the drug for one year.  It stops the conversion of testosterone to DHT (di-hydrotestosterone) which clogs the hair follicle. 

Posted 11/27/2009 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Something I'll definitely discuss with my dermatologist. Thanks
Posted 11/27/2009 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I did some research on propecia which is the generic form of what sbwithuc was talking about.  IT seems like it's a pretty decent...I'll ask my Doc about it. 

Does anyone know the cost of the med and is it only given as an Rx or is it OTC?

Thanks!

Posted Yesterday 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
My infusion center nurse said Remicade doesn't cause hair loss. She deals with a lot of infusion patients, that's all I can say.
Posted Yesterday 5:45 AM (GMT 0)

Shadam said...
I did some research on propecia which is the generic form of what sbwithuc was talking about.  IT seems like it's a pretty decent...I'll ask my Doc about it. 

Does anyone know the cost of the med and is it only given as an Rx or is it OTC?

Thanks!

Propecia will cost, depending on your insurance, about $700-$1000 per year.  Finasteride (generic Propecia), which is used to help with enlarged prostate, will cost you significantly less.  I actually pay $5 for a 4 month supply.  Both drugs are considered cosmetic, so they arent covered by most insurances, but since I switched jobs and got a new health plan, they must not recognize it as cosmetic... thats why I only pay $5.  Before that though, I think I paid $68 for a 4 month supply.

Yes it is OTC and must be prescribed.   Also, the only draw back to Finasteride over Propecia... you have to cut each pill into 4s with a razor blade (takes 20 min to cut the whole bottle).  Well worth the cost savings.  Propecia comes in 1mg tabs, whereas Finasteride comes in 5mg tabs, thats why you have to cut the pills... 5mgs is too strong for hair loss prevention, 5mgs if for shinking your prostate.

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