Lamictal/Lithium and Hair Loss?!
Question: I have been taking Lamictal and Lithium for bipolar disorder for the past five years. I have had good success with these medications and want to continue taking them. The only problem is that I have lost a noticeable amount of hair since I began taking them. Has anybody else had this problem? Did you find a way to deal with it? Have any supplements been effective? I'm sure the medication is making me lose the hair because I noticed hair falling out just a few months after beginning the regimen. The reason I want to keep taking these particular medications is that I have been diagnosed for about 20 years and this is the longest period of stability I have experienced. It seems like I have tried almost every possible drug and combination of drugs and this is the best for me.
Answers: I have been taking Lamictal and Lithium for bipolar disorder for the past five years. I have had good success with these medications and want to continue taking them. The only problem is that I have lost a noticeable amount of hair since I began taking them. Has anybody else had this problem? Did you find a way to deal with it? Have any supplements been effective? I'm sure the medication is making me lose the hair because I noticed hair falling out just a few months after beginning the regimen. The reason I want to keep taking these particular medications is that I have been diagnosed for about 20 years and this is the longest period of stability I have experienced. It seems like I have tried almost every possible drug and combination of drugs and this is the best for me.
I take Lamictal and I lost a lot of hair, too. It definitely IS a side effect of Lamictal, particularly in higher doses. One thing I have done to combat the hair loss is to take a supplement called Biotin. You can get it at drug stores (though I've found it's cheapest at Target) for $5 to $7, and it does seem to help.
The hair loss is frightening and frustrating, I know. When I take a shower, mine comes out in my hands and I get really upset. It did seem to stabilize and not get any worse, though, after six months of Lamictal or so. I wouldn't stop taking your meds just because of the hair loss, but you may want to talk to your doctor to see if he or she could recommend any other supplements that help with hair growth. Good luck!
(I see another person has suggested Abilify or Seroquel. Abilify and Seroquel are not in the same class of medication as Lamictal. Abilify and Seroquel are antipsychotics -- not a mood stabilizer, like Lamictal is. It's not going to do the same things and the original poster says she has tried a bunch of combinations of drugs and I've got to say...if you've found something that works, do whatever you can to stick with it. It's very difficult to climb back up if you mess around with your medications.)
This is normal. Lithium is a metal and when a metal comes in contact with the hair follicles it causes them to fall out.
It is like that for all metal poisoning. Especially with Arsenic.
Try abilify or seroquel. Abilify is really good. it dont have most of the side effects that the other meds have.
I use Lamictal. I don