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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/17/2010 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,
I was diagnosed with UC about 4 months ago, and I am now tapering down off of Prednisone. I am also on Mercaptopurine. Over the past three weeks, I've been "shedding" more hair. Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be a side effect of the tapering or of the Mercaptopurine? If you have any information of advice, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks!
Posted 10/17/2010 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
It's a side effect of the tapering. Taper slowly. How many mgs are you taking ? Are you tapering in 2.5 mgs increments ?
Posted 10/17/2010 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! I have been tapering slowly, but I'm now in the really low doses. Week before last, I was on 10 mg and this past week went to 5 mg each day. I'm supposed to go to 5 mg every other day starting tomorrow.

I'm relieved to know it's from the prednisone. I was worried it was the Mercaptopurine, which I'll be on for awhile.
Posted 10/17/2010 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
It can also be from the Mercaptopurine. When I first started, I started losing hair around the 3 month mark of being on it. But once my body got used to it, the "shedding" stopped.
Posted 10/17/2010 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
pred makes me shed...even when i was finished tapering last time, it continued to shed for quite a while, but eventually it stopped.  hang in there!
Posted 10/20/2010 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all... I appreciate it. At least it seems that it will stop! I was worried about getting bald spots.
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