Can Asacol cause hair loss?

Hi, I'd like to know if using Asacol 800mg x3 a day can cause hair loss. I started on it a few weeks ago and have noticed a lot of daily hair shedding; in the shower, in my brush, here and there on my clothing and if I pull lightly on my hair (which is long) quite a few strands come out. I don't want to lose my hair. Should I cut the dose of the Asacol tabs? I used to take only Asacol suppositories - one per night, then I had a bad flare up for 4 months. I'm in remission after a combination of low dose asacol tabs, 1 suppository per morning, 20mg of prednisone and finally (which got me right) cortizone enemas for 2 weeks. Now my Dr has given me these Asacol tablets and I'm convinced it's the reason for the hair loss.
Anyone know anything about this, experienced the same?

Thanks very much.

I just put a title to your post.

Post Edited By Moderator (Red_34) : 6/7/2010 5:38:06 AM (GMT-6)

Not if you've been on pred and steroid enemas.

It could be a combo of everything....and if you've recently started the Asacol...it's for sure not that.

REmember, one loses around 100 hair a day. Having a bad flare for 4 months, the stress, meds, hormone fluctuations can cause hairloss.

You're not on a high dosage, and I would suggest you not only focus on the asacol, while it can be a side effect, there are many variables at play here.

I've used Asacol and Salofalk enemas for over 21 years...no hairloss, although I may have gone through a period of time I believed it was more than normal.

Are you male or female?


Welcome to the forum,
quincy

As a hairdresser I take, and advise any of my clients losing hair for any reason, to take Biotin. Its one of the B's. Theres been lots of studies done showing that it helps with hairloss. Flax and fish oil help too!

Thanks everyone, it's so helpful to get the input. I've had ulcerative colitis (proctitis) for about 9 years now and hadn't been on a forum until now. I suppose it wasn't really necessary as my flare-ups hadn't been bad until this last one. It was debilitating and depressing. So, it's nice to have the support as I find the general public (friends etc..) can't relate to it - obviously. They think it's just irritable bowel and simply stress-related when in fact it's a very real medical disease. I'm tired of explaining to people.
Thanks Heidi33, I'm going to get some Biotin. I already take the fish oil supplement. I've lowered my dose of Asacol by one tablet per day. I know I shouldn't just play around with the meds but I want to see if it makes a difference to the hair loss. I'll also enquire about Apriso - thx Ugh,just ugh.

I lost about half of my hair after tapering off of prednisone. I was hosptalized and had started on high doses and was on it for 3 months. I wasn't sure what was causing it at the time, but the hair loss finally stopped and it is growing back. I'm on Asacol and have been right along and there is no hair loss anymore, so I concluded that it had to be from the steroids. I could be wrong, or maybe it was just a combination of things at the time, including stress, but I'm thankful that it stopped.

Yes, they have cortisone suppositories available. Ask your doctor for them.

LOL - :-D Sorry but I'm having a good ol' chuckle. At least you have a sense of humour despite the very real difficulty you experience - I think that you have a great attitude and thank you for being positive on the forum when much of the talk is really... sad.
I lowered my dose of Asacol to 2 tabs of 800mg instead of 3 but nope, hair still falling out... I spoke to my GI and he said we should risk going off the asacol... so a bit scary when you say it's not a good idea. But I have to see if it is indeed the asacol that is causing the hair loss and I'm also scared of losing all my hair! If I flare I will deal with it. My GI says there is a new suppository on the market which is double the strength of the asacol suppository so if need be I'll try that. It's new here in South Africa, not sure about elsewhere in the world. Will comment on it when I know something about it. You're 80 years of age? You make me laugh about the prednisone... I know what you mean! We have a word here, it's afrikaans - 'woes' which means getting heated up, cross, irritable. I found myself very verbal, on a high and saying things irritably! I realised it on myself but couldn't stop. My skin,by the way, was fantastic on the prednisone. Everyone was commenting on how I was 'glowing.' I suppose there have to be some perks! I'm sorry your condition is bad. I can really empathise.

saralee...you're 80??? I'm laughing my butt off at your pred description and had to read it to my husband. His response was....well that can't be good!

I don't think the Asacol is the problem....

I'm still laughing....

quincy

Hi Capetown, I've been thinking about the hair loss thing. Many years ago, I went on the Adkins Diet to lose weight and probably stayed on it for about two months. It was all protein and no carbs. I lost a lot of hair then too. I visited a relative for a week and she told me that she had to call a plumber to unclog the shower i used there to wash my hair. I lost some weight, went off the diet and my hair came back. I'm hoping that will happen again when (if?) this ever gets under control. about the complexion. People people commenting about how healthy I look -rosy (red really) cheeks and skinnier to boot. That don't realize that my cheeks are so bright from something called Roscea (sp?) which is excaserbated by the Prednisone. I'm startiing to taper today. Enough of this madness.