Hair Loss With Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Treatment
Months ago someone asked me, on Bipolar World's "Ask-a-doc" page, about whether lamotrigine causes hair loss. At the time I had trouble finding much to go on, to answer that question. It is listed (at the less than 1% level) in the prescribing information from the manufacturer.
But now comes a very clear report of the phenomenon in a respected journal. (Hillemacher) This augments the numerous reports one can find online (e.g. Googling lamotrigine hair loss). It does seem clear that lamotrigine can be associated with substantial hair loss.
The same vitamins which have been recommended for valproate (Depakote)-associated hair loss (as that medication is well-known to cause this problem) were suggested informally by one person who felt they had helped: selenium and zinc, which can be found together in the (expensive) vitamin called Centrum Silver.
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But now comes a very clear report of the phenomenon in a respected journal. (Hillemacher) This augments the numerous reports one can find online (e.g. Googling lamotrigine hair loss). It does seem clear that lamotrigine can be associated with substantial hair loss.
The same vitamins which have been recommended for valproate (Depakote)-associated hair loss (as that medication is well-known to cause this problem) were suggested informally by one person who felt they had helped: selenium and zinc, which can be found together in the (expensive) vitamin called Centrum Silver.
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16 Comments:
Okay, Dr. Phelps. I have been reading your info for a couple of weeks now. You have made a huge difference in my life already--well, at least your web sites. I have a Live Journal account and just created a feed from your blog to my friends page, then realized you haven't posted anything since April. Are you going to post more? I'm all eyes.
Sorry, I attended the meeting of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders in Edinburgh and took my family 'round the UK for two weeks, then came home and played catch up for a while. Will post more soon. Thanks for the inquiry.
Thanks for the information. I noticed a couple of months ago that I was losing an unusually large amount of hair. I talked to my hairdresser and she agreed. She said it could be stress but I thought it might be the lamictal. It's the only medication I am currently taking and I think it might be the culprit. Thanks for possibly confirming my suspicions. Lamictal has been very effective at keeping my depression at bay ( although hypomania seems to break through some times), I feel that I want to continue the medication. I have also been able to lose 30 pounds on the South Beach diet while taking the medication. I digress... I am going to try the vitamins you suggested. Maybe they will help.
Is it likely that the hair I lost while while on Lamictal (if caused by it) will grow back if I were to discontinue use of it or is it gone for good? - Peter
I also heard that zinc and selenium help hair loss but in large amounts. The amounts in Centrum Silver are very small. Is this enough? Also, Dr. Phelps you mentioned that Centrum Silver is an "expensive" vitamin. Did you mean to say "inexpensive" because it's only about 15 dollars a bottle (for 100 tablets). If taking the vitamin means a stop/decrease in hair loss then I think that we can all manage the small expense. Thank you!
Peter: in my experience, hair loss on these medications does come back. Sorry about the delay in getting back to you. I hope the hair is coming back already!
JP
demi: the amounts in Centrum Silver has been enough to help some of my patients. 15 bucks for vitamins? If that is not expensive to you, that's great. And you are right: if it works, it may well seem worth it.
JP
Hi Dr. Phelps, I know this is an old post, but I have started losing my hair recently and am on Lamictal and Topomax. I found out that one Brazil nut contains a high amount of selenium, slightly under 200 micrograms which seems to be the recommended amount, and it is a whole food. Though anymore than 200 micrograms can be harmful.
I thought I would pass this along as I spent one afternoon puking my guts out after taking a selenium supplement due to the fact I took it on an empty stomach and the wretched smell/taste.
I hope this helps, I haven't been taking it long enough to notice any difference, but at this point I am willing to try anything. A hairdresser with no hair is kind of ridiculous.....
Dr. Phelps, I have an 11 year old daughter diagnosed bipolar in '05. We have yet to find the perfect mix for her. Currently she is on Lithium and Depakote. Her has thinned considerably. I don't make a big fuss in front of her, becuase She has enough anxiety, I don't to add anymore. Her Psych. has recommended taking selenium which we have been doing as well as the shampoo Selsun Blue. it's been a little over two weeks. This AM, while helping her with her hair, I noticed the underside of her head full of short hairs. I am hoping this new hair growth. Please give your thoughts. Thanks
This is so refreshing to read. I am a 29 year old female who recently had a relapse of seizures after 20 years of no seizures. I tried other epilepsy medications but was not on them long enough to notice hair loss, since I experienced other side effects. I am currently on 100 mg of Lamictal and have noticed hair loss. I went to my doctor, dermatologist, neurologist, and had blood work done. The blood work came out fine and the doctors concluded it was stress related, even though I didn't feel at all in a stressed out. I truly had nothing to worry about except now my hair was falling out. I am convinced that the hair loss is due to the Lamictal. I shared that it normalized on another blog after a few months, but remained with the patchy baldness. I've recently increased my dosage, and noticed the hair falling out again. I will try the zinc and selenium, and hopefully in a few months I can post a hopeful and inspiring blog.
Kindly,
In search for anwsers
When having hair loss with lamictal is it generally all over or mainly in the front?
My patients do not seem to have this problem. I must have started over 500 patients on lamotrigine and seen them in follow-up and I've never seen significant hair loss (as I have with Depakote). However, other people definitely seem to have encountered this problem. Maybe it's all the rain here in the Pacific Northwest? Just kidding. But I don't know the answer to your question, as a result.
Dr. Phelps
I have been on lamictal and lost about 15% of my hair. I stopped the med about 7 weeks ago and i'm still losing hair. When will i stop losing hair and when will new hair grow back?
Thanks Christine
I just posted re: hair loss with Depakote/Lithium combination tx. lithium dosage was incorrect. I am on 600 mg Lithium, 1500 Depakote, and 30-60 mg Seroquel.
I was on lamictal for about 8 months and have sigificant hair loss,I went off the meds about 4 months ago and still have huge hair loss. I had the most gorgeous head of hair and now its limp and thinned out. Huge amounts still coming out. Bought lots of vitamins and different shampoos. Any thoughts on minoxidil? anyone with any answers email me at lisalynn33@gmail.com
I have been on every drug from Lamictal to Seroquel for Bipolar treatment. The drug that worked the best for me was Lithium but after 8 months I almost lost all of my hair. Since then I stopped Lithium and have been taking Centrum Silver and using hair loss shampoos and my hair has grown back dramatically. I am currently on Seroquel and have gained weight so I want to stop and switch to Lithium again because it worked the best. Will i lose my hair again? (I dont want to) Is there anything else to prevent hair loss on Lithium?
I, too, have lost a lot of hair on Lamictal. After over 15 years of trying different antidepressants with very little effectiveness, it was a godsend to find this medication. It's really a shame to have to lose my hair for it. When making a choice---hair or sanity--so far sanity is winning.
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