Keppra hair loss

[candeee_sss]

I am still losing my hair from Topamax and Keppra (I am on Keppra and Lamictal). My doc said that he did not think that was a side effect of the med...because it was not listed as one of the side effects...

My vaccuum begs to differ.

[dfwtexas]

Yeah, my neurologist said the same thing. But they said blood test is normal range as far as thyroid so I am waiting to talk to neurologist. I was on the Keppra for several months without this problem and after 1 week of changing to Keppra XR, the hair loss started.

[candeee_sss]

Great..... not!

I am changing over to Keppra XR. My dr is going to taper me or at least lower my Keppra amount. I am still concerned.

[dfwtexas]

With the exception of the hair problem, I do like the XR much better. It's great to only have to take my med one time a day, I take mine right before bed. I have noticed an improvement in my moodiness, I think getting the time release keeps the meds at a steady level.

[dfwtexas]

Well, now my neurologist DOES think it is the Keppra XR making me lose my hair. I have two HUGE bald spots. He wants me to come see him Wednesday morning and talk about changing my seizure med. I really want to stay on Keppra...maybe I will and just get a wig

[Cinnabar]

anyone,

ever notice hair loss with keppra? I have long thick hair
it seems to be falling out everyday .... I run my hands through my hair and lots of hair in my hands... my hair is becoming thinner..... anyone, know what might help...


i dont want to quit the keppra just yet.. it seems to be helping my seizures...

any advice?

thanks,
angel

I understand what you're going through. Same thing with generic Lamictal (now, on brand name) and Clonopin which I'm still taking. My doctor recomended vitamin suppliments which I used way back when I had the same reaction to Depakote: Try...Selenium, Biotin and B-12 and massage olive oil onto scalp (clean hair) to stimulate root folicals for 15 minutes. All this has made a difference I can cope with. Very little hair loss, now. It's very devastaing for us to loose hair. It sure doesn't help in the "self-esteem department" and we need all the self-esteem we can get! There has to be away of managing our meds, under Dr's care, without loosing our hair. We don't need to add anti-depressants to our medication cocktail or have it increased if we are using it. Some people think that we should take meds "as is" and just accept hair loss. I disagree. Other things can be tried, under Dr suppervision, without compromising our health, setting us up for seizures. Good luck!

[dfwtexas]

I saw neurologist yesterday, he wanted to change my seizure meds. I am so fearfully about all the other drugs and side effects, I didn't even wait to hear which drug he wanted to switch me to. When I took Keppra, I didn't have any hair loss problem...it was after I switched over to Keppra XR that the problem started. I asked if he would let me try going back to Keppra again first, he said let's give it one month on Keppra and see. If it doesn't get better, then I agreed to let him change my meds.
I really hate giving up the Keppra XR, I do have trouble remembering to take my morning dose and my moods are worse on regular Keppra.

[Ruth]

jgbmartin

My neurologist is putting me on Keppra. He is subtracting some of my other meds. He is doing it very slowly. One pill every 3 months. I have a tendency to have large seizures when they do it quickly.

I have a pill box. I put my medicines in every night for the next day. That is how I remember to take mine.

[dfwtexas]

My hair loss is going away since I have gone back to regular Keppra. I have been needing a haircut but have been putting it off since I needed to see if the hair loss was going to stop first. I went in to get my haircut from a lady that has been cutting my hair for last several months. I showed her where I have my bald spots at my temples so she could know how I need it cut to cover it. I was explaining how my seizure meds got changed and I was surprised when she asked what I took. Turns out she has seizure disorder too. We talked out our experience and I gave her info on this site.

[Cinnabar]

Just back to recant my statement. My hair problem is not as entirely resolved as I had thought. Narrowing down, Clonopin "might" be the culprit. So, "I'm right here with you". I'm in a dreadful state everytime I go to wash my hair. Wet strands all over the place. I'm ready to buy the kooky hats and become a real certified character.

But this is not really funny. It's devastating, especially for a woman, to loose her Crowinig Glory. But still, I would stay on keppra if it's working for you. Managing Epilepsy is paramount though we don't have to give up our quest for that healthy hair we knew so well, so much apart of our identity.

Briefly, my Clonopin story: I've been on a very high dosage of Clonopin (it causes hair loss) and just finished withdrawls. Maybe, I'm anxious, expecting too much too soon, but I'm still lossing hair (I had a brief repreive). So, there's no real guarantee. I went from an astounding 10mg per day down to 1/2 per day now and feel I'm due for some relief, after all this hard work. Time will tell, but I'm not just counting on that.

Some homey ideas:

1) I've gone for blood work. Everything checked out OK with me there.

2) Vitamin suppliments for hair loss: Selenium, B-12, Bioten.

3) If I could afford a nutritionast, I'd be at the door right now!

4) I looked into good foods for hair health: Leafy greens, wheat germ, appels, apple juice, figs the list goes on...just plug in a search and you'll find the same.

5) Flaxseed Oil everyday. Would suggest liquid "Barleans" brand

6) Drink lots of purified water.

7) Aerobic excersize. (I walk outside, now that the weather's nice) Oxegen stimulates circulation so I imagine it'll reach and stimulate our hair folicals!

Massage clean wet hair with olive oil. Just massage scalp for 15 minutes then shampoo and condition.

9) A shampoo targeting hair strength.

Ideas. Nothing fancy. No reams of data for your study. Just some things I'm working on, hoping that I won't keep scowling at every hair commercial that comes on. Women with beautiful thick locks, brisking over shoulders... and in slow motion yet! Pure torture! I used to be that woman who'd, on occasion, flip her hair back...I'm reminding myself that there should probably be a number ten...

10) Scowling and worry will only cause tension. Stess can cause hair loss. (Green tea is good, too) Good luck to us!

[momof3boys]

I saw this post and was about to start a post like this in regards to hair loss with Keppra XR. Ive noticed over the past months now when I comb my hair, especially after washing it, I get a whole brush full of hair! Ive been on Keppra since the age of 18, so the past 12 years. But I was then switched over to Keppra XR in November 2010. Its just been the past few months Ive noticed an increase. Ive only been taking the Keppra XR 3000mgs a day (twice a day) starting May 31st alone. Prior to that, I was on Carbatrol ER with the Keppra XR. But now Im only taking just the Keppra XR. I might run this by my dr and see what he has to say about it.

[Cinnabar]

Hi, there. It would be a good idea to run it by your doctor. You're following an old post of mine. It wasn't the Lamictal or Clonopin afterall which caused my hair loss. At the time I was only 90 pds, malnutrition caused my hair loss. Since, I've been eating healthfully and my hair has grown back as strong as ever.

I've just begun a Gluten-Free diet which is supposed to help keep seizures at bay and it's a very healthy diet in general which I'm sure would benefit hair growth but you might want to do a search regarding this. Good luck! Laurie

[crazychick]

can anyone help me? i take 250mg of keppra a day as well as vitamin b complex and my hair still falls out it used to be so thick and now its so thin, my eyebrow is starting to fall out too. any suggestions or ideas please?