Will my hair grow back? (Lamictal)

[sjconner]

I started lamotrigine this last summer. Suddenly (about 2 months ago), my hair started falling out. It has been falling out and is still falling out - a lot. I started out with lots of thick hair. I have about half of it left. I don't have bald spots ... yet. You can definitely see my scalp in areas you couldn't before (parts and hairline). The top of my head was sunburned and that has never happened before. At this rate, I figure I will be almost bald by Christmas.

Does it ever grow back? I am willing to be bald so I can be seizure free and drive again. I just want to know if the hair loss is permanent.

I never realized I was vain about my hair!

 

[MAB]

Are you male or female? I just started on lamotrigine a few days ago, still at 25mg. twice a day. Do you have any other side effects that you attribute to the lamotrigine?


I'm female and have baby fine hair. I sure don't want to loose any of it. I lost a large amount of hair after back surgery but it grew back.

 

[sjconner]

I am female. I am on 200mg twice a day. I didn't really start losing my hair until shortly after I was at my then "therapeutic" dose of 125mg twice a day. I just moved to the 200mg twice a day dose about a week and a half ago. I didn't have any real side effects until I jumped from 125mg to 200mg (my neuro did not titrate me up - ER visit). I am trying to figure out the best way around balance and double vision issues. My body will figure it out once it adjusts to the huge dosage jump.

Everyone is different. Your body will try to adjust and it may be, at times, be a little rough. Keep your neuro and primary care doc up to date on issues and side effects. For some people lamotrigine is a wonder drug for others ... not so much.

 

[MAB]

I took Keppra for 4 days but had a bad allergic reaction to it. I took gabapentin for nerve pain from my back and I swear I will never take it again. It made me turn into a zombie.

 

[MAB]

Have you talked to your doctor about your hair falling out?

I think if all my hair fell out I would find a nice wig and I could save time not getting it cut and having to blow dry it every morning.

 

[sjconner]

I see my Primary Care doc tomorrow and the neuro on 11/6. I have already shopped for a wig. www.wigs.com has a half price sale on Louis Ferre wigs (breast cancer awareness month). It is very temping to just go for it; I even found one I like. I used to hate doing anything with my hair; I had too much of it. Now that I am losing/going to lose most of it, I am realizing I love my hair.

 

[MAB]

I hope your hair will grow back.

I have so many bad hair days that a wig doesn't sound all that bad to me other than I hear they are hot.

 

[arnie]

I didn't know hair loss was a side effect of lamictal. In my case it wouldn't matter since I have been pretty much bald since I was about 20! Long before I started taking lamictal. Definitely check with your doc!

 

[sjconner]

I saw my Primary Care doc and he said it might grow back. I still look fine ... I had a ton of hair. I still have lots left. I think the hair loss might be starting to slow down ... I hope. I will put up with it if the meds work and I can drive, etc.

 

[Nakamova]

I experienced hair loss when I first started on Lamictal (6 years ago). It wasn't big chunks, but when I ran my hand through my hair, it was noticeably more than usual. I have long hair, so it felt like a lot was coming out because of the length of the strands. But after a few months the hair loss stopped and hasn't been a problem since. Hair growth goes in cycles, with about ten to 15 percent "dormant" at any given time for anywhere from 1 to 4 months, so it may take a few months before you see the new growth.

Good luck!

 

[Endless]

I was on Lamictal for a couple of years. My hair fell out, too. Not in big clumps. It thinned a little at a time until you could see scalp below the hair, especially in back. My shower drain was really clogged up for awhile. After I stopped taking Lamictal it started growing back in, slowly. Odd, I noticed a lot of the curl had left my hair, too. Now I'm on a super-high dose of Diamox and my hair has thinned out again. Same side effect, darn it. I've discovered the beauty and ease of hair extensions. Great to hide really thin spots but awful to wear when I have a headache.

I haven't tried any of the remedies, like minoxodil (rogaine), laser light combs, etc. Vitamin D does seem to help some.

Everyone is different, of course. I'm willing to guess how long a person has had thinning hair might affect whether it comes back and how much. This might be a great topic of conversation for your doctor, or for a dermatologist.