metformin? Hair loss vs good control

[DonnaB]

I just saw my PCP yesterday about the hair loss I'm experiencing. I do connect the dots and it seems the hair loss began with the starting of metformin. Of course he is testing me for other possibilities including thyroid, anemia etc but says it could be caused by the metformin. Anyway he says if all the blood work looks okay then we have to try another drug. I am having good control with the metformin, PLUS I've lost a bit of weight with it and kept it off (about 15 lbs). I'm just nervous about other drugs, i.e. side effects, possible weight gain. Still I'm getting close to the point of thinking about buying a wig so this is a real dilemma. Any ideas out there?

[princesslinda]

Awhile before I was diagnosed, I started noticing the top of my head was thinning...I assumed it was stress or hormones. I've since read that insulin resistance can contribute to this (as well as a host of other lovely problems/symptoms). After being on metformin for awhile and getting my blood sugar under control, my hair density has finally returned to normal.

Incidentally, I do transcription for a dermatologist who sees lots of women for hair loss. Usually they will do a thyroid panel, ferritin/iron level, hormone panel to r/o underlying causes. Sometimes stress, crash dieting and/or heredity can also be a culprit.

If however, it is determined that it is the metformin, stopping it should take care of the problem.

[slipperyelm]

If you look at "elderly" women, few of them have full, thick hair. Many have very thin hair. They didn't get there overnight. Loss of hair is fairly to be expected as one gets older, isn't it?

I have slowly been losing hair and it grieves me a bit. But both my non-diabetic sisters also have the same thing going on. I recall the youngest was thinning at age twenty(!) in the same place where I noticed the thinning beginning around age 38. I plan to try to accept that I, too, am human and that these kinds of things will happen. I'm lucky to get old. And I sure as heck am staying on metformin! Genes gave me some good things, some not so good things.

(Hey notice how 95% of our smilies are bald? Where is the one with the blue Sideshow Bob looking hair?)

[DonnaB]

Well it just might be a combination of the age thing and the metformin as I just got all my blood results back and they were all normal, plus my A1C is still 5.8 so control is great. (BTW Linda I work as a medical transcriptionist also...small word )

I did get a new haircut on Friday and that has helped enormously. I went much shorter and it is a flattering cut and doesn't call attention to the thinness of my locks.

My PCP said I could come in and talk now about what to do, i.e. changing the metformin or seeing a dermatologist etc. I think I'll wait and see as my hairdresser said she sees "lots of new growth" so maybe it is leveling off now as was mentioned above. Thanks for a great place to vent.

[Misty8723]

I think hair loss comes from the drugs we're all taking these days. I don't remember seeing the numbers of women with thinning hair that we see these days. My own hair started to fall out when I was on effexor. I stopped the effexor, my hair loss has stabilized. I see plenty of older women with thick heads of hair, so I don't think it's really all that much age related.

[mg_2204]

When men lose their hair, it's concentrated in one area. Women will lose hair all over rather than in one spot only. Their hair will thin. It's an age thing in most cases. Look at elderly women in general and you'll seldom see one with a full head of hair. In fact, it's rather exceptional. You can see their scalp very easily.

Best advice I was ever given ---at one point I thought I would lose ALL my hair--- consists in :

(1) use mild shampoos but never use the same over and over. When a bottle is finished, swap to another brand! When washing your hair, try not to use too warm water. Perms and colors may over stress the hair and create more problems.

(2) be kind to your hair. Use straighteners and similar things occasionally. Let your hair dry naturally once in a while. And never EVER rub your hair frantically with a towel. Apparently it damages the hair more than you'll ever know. Leave the towel on your head longer to get rid of excess water instead. If the hair is long wear it loose. Don't tie back your hair all the time and in the same fashion all the time.

(3) supplements! Lecithin is great for hair but you must take it every day and for at least 6 months to see results.

(4) protect your hair from too much sun. Wear a hat!

(5) gently massaging the scalp daily helps greatly apparently, and

(6) thinning hair will need a good cut. Not only does it boost the roots but it definately helps giving the hair volume --which it badly needs. If your hairdresser is rather unmoved by your distress... find another one! One that will be able to find the right cut for you, easy to manage, and flattering to your permanent (or temporary!) hair problem.

[jjordie]

When I started on Metformin my hair just seemed to disappear, not in handfuls, just went really thin - I had always had quite thick hair.

Although he said it was not Metformin that was a problem GP agreed to reduce Metform from 3 x 500 to 2 x 500 and gradually my hair returned just a bit. Family members remarked that it was much better.

Then GP decided my BG were still a bit high and put me on 2 x 850 per day and then a couple of months later increased it to 2 x 1000. He said not to worry as it was definitely not Metformin that had caused my hair loss - it would not happen again. He checked Thyroid etc etc and everything was ok except my BG.

After a few weeks I noticed my hair was disappearing again - seems too much of a coincidence. I am going to see him about it during the week but I am wondering what he can put me on instead of Metformin.

[Barberian]

I've been on metphormin off and on for over 10 years. I've never noticed anything with hair loss. But milage may vary for each person as we are all different in our wonderful ways.

[yannah]

what i understand is metformin can cause b12 depletion. did anyone mention this? you can google it, it can do this, and it happened to my friend. and she started loosing hair. so they tested her for b12 and she was low, which is actually dangerous and can contribute to nerve damge. she stopped loosing hair when she got the b12 injections.

[jjordie]

what i understand is metformin can cause b12 depletion. did anyone mention this? you can google it, it can do this, and it happened to my friend. and she started loosing hair. so they tested her for b12 and she was low, which is actually dangerous and can contribute to nerve damge. she stopped loosing hair when she got the b12 injections.

Injections!!! I was thinking of B12 pills/tablets.

Seriously Yannah - thanks for that info. B12 has not been mentioned -
so I will certainly follow that suggestion before I have no hair at all

[yannah]

they make b12 tablets. I take them.. from what I have read they are better if you take the sublingual ones(disolve under your tongue) but injections are best. I gather this not from talking to a doctor though. mostly from the internet and from what happened to my friend. so it was what it is as far as my knowledge.

[Cloudedbrains]

I just saw my PCP yesterday about the hair loss I'm experiencing. I do connect the dots and it seems the hair loss began with the starting of metformin. Of course he is testing me for other possibilities including thyroid, anemia etc but says it could be caused by the metformin. Anyway he says if all the blood work looks okay then we have to try another drug. I am having good control with the metformin, PLUS I've lost a bit of weight with it and kept it off (about 15 lbs). I'm just nervous about other drugs, i.e. side effects, possible weight gain. Still I'm getting close to the point of thinking about buying a wig so this is a real dilemma. Any ideas out there?

I had terrible hair loss when on Metformin (I have pictures if you wanta see them) but luckily I was taken off it for other reasons anyway
I prefer my insulin regime basal-bolus anyway as I have excellent control on it

I was given a steroid lotion for my hair-loss that worked to get my hair back to what it was before metformin. It was called: "Betnovate Scalp Application" and that really worked to solve the problems with the scalp that the 'metformin' caused

[washgal51]

what i understand is metformin can cause b12 depletion. did anyone mention this? you can google it, it can do this, and it happened to my friend. and she started loosing hair. so they tested her for b12 and she was low, which is actually dangerous and can contribute to nerve damge. she stopped loosing hair when she got the b12 injections.

I am so happy to see your comments. I have been on medformin for four months and my hair has changed and I am losing hair. At first, I thought I was imagining things but you have confirmed my worst fears. I told my doctor and she said to keep track but I have always had a full head of hair and it is thinning out dramatically. I am very fearful I am going bald. Is your friend still on metformin and if so is she still getting shots. How much B12 do you need to take to counteract this side effect. This revelation explains so much. washgal 51

[washgal51]

How did the b12 work for you. I just started on medformin four months ago and the hair loss is crazy. my hair has changed immensely.

[CALynn]

I take Methotrexate which causes hair loss. I've just restarted Metformin again, and am hoping for no additional hair loss.

Re the B12 - I used the sublingual pills called "No-Shot" and they worked fantastically.