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Keala Posts: 90
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Hi everyone... I started taking abilify about a month in a half ago ever since I started to lose hair. I stopped a month after taking abilify and started to take lithium. I spoke to two doctors which includes my pdoc and my primary care physician who both said that lithium doesn't cause hair loss as a side effect. I also talked to two pharmacists who reconfirmed that hair loss is not a side effect of lithium. I'm scared as I'm losing hair in the meantime. Everyone of you knows that with bipolar, comes an amount of stress we bare. And its horrible. Under certain circumstances it could worsen. With that being said, I recently have been under alot of stress due to finals in grad school. My pcp thinks that it might be hypothyroidism as lithium could trigger that... If anyone has some insight...please do share. I would really appreciate it. Peace and blessings... Keala- |
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NJJenn Posts: 13
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I have not hear that Lithium causes hair loss as a side effect, BUT I have heard that Ambilify causes it in some people. I would check that out~ Good luck; I know side effects are VERY frustrating, especially when you are a woman and they affect our looks. I KNOW. =( Jenn |
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YorkieLove Posts: 7028
VIP Member
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Depakote is known to cause hair loss. I take Lithium and have had no problems. Try taking Centrum Silver or Prenatal vitamins. They help your hair growth. My sister lost a lot of her hair after childbirth. Lisa
My advice is purely personal. I am not a Doctor and there is NO substitute for getting proper medical diagnosis and advice.
Bipolar II, Depressed Severe
Lamictal 400 mg
Seroquel 150 mg
Effexor 150 mg
Inderal 10 mg
Ambien 5 mg
Lithium 1200 mg |
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ApRiLGeTsAngry77
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Be careful with the prenatal vitamins as they can cause kidney stones if you are not prego. I have heard centrium silver works. Good luck! |
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santos63 Posts: 2524
Senior Member
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Actually, my drug manual is a Nursing2010 manual and shows that Lithium can cause drying and thinning of hair. Live in Perfect Love!
~Ana~
I worked as a RN, since 1993, I do not practice at present and my opinions are exactly that - opinions. Do not take any advice that I may offer as medical treatment. I will always defer treatments, etc to your MD, Pdoc, and/or pharmacist. What I share with you are my personal experiences, and basic knowledge that I learned as a nurse.
I have Diabetes, Bipolar Disorder with psychotic features and mixed, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and Chronic Low Back Pain with bulging discs in back and neck, Asthma, Hypothyroidism, Arthritis in lumbar and sacral areas, lumbar disc displacement, Degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs, Lumbosacral radiculitis, DJD |
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puzzlinZin Posts: 731
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I take lithium and have not had hair loss. I did get hypothyroidism, though, and take meds for that. Perhaps the Abilify is not yet out of your system? It makes sense to me that if it takes a certain amount of time for a med to build up in your body then it would possibly take as long to get out of your system. You took Abilify for a month and haven't taken it for two weeks? Maybe it needs another couple weeks. Best of luck... ∞ Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet? (L. M. Montgomery)
∞ Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much. (Oscar Wilde)
∞ If you're going through hell, keep going. (Winston Churchill)
∞ Falling down is not defeat. Defeat is when you refuse to stand up. (?)
∞ Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway. (Mary Kay Ash) |
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santos63 Posts: 2524
Senior Member
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Everybody does not get every side effect and meds do not effect everyone in the same way. Give it a little time. And be glad when you don't get side effects. Childbirth causes alot of women to lose hair. Do you have a new baby? Post edited by: santos63, at: 05/15/2010 05:53 PM Live in Perfect Love!
~Ana~
I worked as a RN, since 1993, I do not practice at present and my opinions are exactly that - opinions. Do not take any advice that I may offer as medical treatment. I will always defer treatments, etc to your MD, Pdoc, and/or pharmacist. What I share with you are my personal experiences, and basic knowledge that I learned as a nurse.
I have Diabetes, Bipolar Disorder with psychotic features and mixed, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and Chronic Low Back Pain with bulging discs in back and neck, Asthma, Hypothyroidism, Arthritis in lumbar and sacral areas, lumbar disc displacement, Degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs, Lumbosacral radiculitis, DJD |
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Keala Posts: 90
Member
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No, I'm not pregnant. I don't know what's going on and its scary. My pcp said that my thyroid is fine. So maybe its stress? I was stressed out due to finals (school). My doc said that perhaps with the stabilization of meds it will stop hair loss. In the meantime, I plan to see a dermatologist and take vitamins. What do you think.... |
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butterfly9 Posts: 1807
Senior Member
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Hi Keala, I know this post is old so I don't know if u will respond. But, I've had the same problem. I started losing my hair-it's getting thin and brittle since I started on Abilify. Did you ever stop the abilify and get your hair back. I'd really like to know because I am going through the same thing. I hope it got better for you. Please respond if you get this. Thanks. "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."
Brian Littrell
I am not a doctor and my advice is purely my opinion which should be regarded as such. |
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Dit Posts: 12164
Group Leader
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I'm having a lot of hair loss, i've been taking Lithium a long time now over 13 yrs its been worse over the past 3 yrs, i did not seem to notice hair loss before as much as now. Sille07 I too take Abilify a low dosage, i haven't noticed it botherig my hair yet, been taking it for 2 months now, i'll keep an eye on this. Be Still and Know That I Am - Scripture
12-Step Slogans - One Day/Moment at a Time/Just for Today/Let Go & Let God/But By the Grace of God
Live and Let Live/Easy Does It/This Too Shall Pass
"Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts." - Hopi tribe
Bipolar I
Lithium 300 mgs, Lamotrigine 200 mgs, Klonopon (Clonazepam) .05mg more if needed, Clomipramine (Anafranil) 25 mgs, Abilify 5 mgs, Seroquel 25 mgs
Please note that I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist. My opinions are personal only. This site is not intended to be a substitution for professional care, nor is anyone here qualified to make diagnoses. |
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