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minnie	Aug-05-06, 08:04 AM (CMT)
"topamax/hair loss"
Is anyone here on topamax and experienced hair loss from this med? If so; what course of action have you taken and what was the outcome. Any input would be appreciated.
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RE: topamax/hair loss, Norma, Aug-05-06, (1) RE: topamax/hair loss, minnie, Aug-05-06, (2) RE: topamax/hair loss, Norma, Aug-05-06, (3) RE: topamax/hair loss, minnie, Aug-05-06, (4) RE: topamax/hair loss, zencorinne, Aug-05-06, (5) RE: topamax/hair loss, minnie, Aug-05-06, (6) RE: topamax/hair loss, zencorinne, Aug-06-06, (7) RE: topamax/hair loss, minnie, Aug-06-06, (9) RE: topamax/hair loss, Bon, Aug-06-06, (8) Hair Breakage, LTAYLOR, Aug-07-06, (10)

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Norma	Aug-05-06, 08:14 AM (CMT)
1. "RE: topamax/hair loss"
I did have significant hair loss on topamax. I put up with it and several other very unpleasant side effects in hopes of getting some benefit. the benefit never happened and the mental/emotional effects eventually ld me to give up. Norma
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	minnie	Aug-05-06, 10:57 AM (CMT)
	2. "RE: topamax/hair loss"
	May i ask how long ago you gave up and did you see any improvement with your hair? Did you get any new hair growth? I am weaning off this med right now, i have to do it in stages i guess or i would just go off cold turkey cause i don't like hair loss for sure. Anyway, have you regained any hair growth and how long has it been?
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	Norma	Aug-05-06, 11:54 AM (CMT)
	3. "RE: topamax/hair loss"
	It was at least 4 or 5 years ago. I followed it with another med that also cause hair loss, and then later an HRT combo that was even worse. I did not stop any of them due to that particular effect, but I did find that my hair grew back just fine. Hair follicles follow some kind of cycle--I cannot remember how long the cycle is now. but as soon as the next hair growth cycle started up, the hair came back. Norma
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	minnie	Aug-05-06, 11:58 AM (CMT)
	4. "RE: topamax/hair loss"
	thank you for the quick reply. I am so glad to hear that your hair grew back for you. but i am also sorry to hear that you have been thru so much too. I am hoping this rights itself pretty quickly as i am not used to losing my hair, lol. I would be happy to just get it to stop falling out for now.
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	zencorinne	Aug-05-06, 04:18 PM (CMT)
	5. "RE: topamax/hair loss"
	Hi! I experienced the hair loss too. I think I lost about 50% of my hair. People were noticing. At every shower there would be a ring of hair around the drain. Scary and distressing. I stopped the Topamax since it didn't seem to be doing much anyway even at 150 Mg/day and my hair grew back just fine after about 3 months. Whew! So your hair should be OK. I didn't wean slowly. I just stopped. My neuro said the chance of having a seizure was low because I wasn't on it for seizures and had never had one. I weaned over 3 days and stopped without a problem.
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	minnie	Aug-05-06, 07:40 PM (CMT)
	6. "RE: topamax/hair loss"
	May i ask you how long you were on the tompamax at 150 mg? I am thinking like you said just get the heck off of it, the faster the better, lol. I was at 100 mg and started down to 75 mg, that is 2 nights now; perhaps tonight i will go to 50 mg. My doctor is out of town this week and his receptionist said not to do that, but i want off this crazy med, before i lose my hair. I never had a seziure either and i really don't think i will. anyway; how long where you on the 150? Plus how long ago was that for you? I am really rather worried about my hair growing back, as you know this is really scary. To make matters worse, before i realized what was happening i had a perm and that really thru things into high gear and believe me now i know i am definately losing hair at a high rate, it is breaking off and falling out i think the perm just helped it along.
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	zencorinne	Aug-06-06, 11:26 AM (CMT)
	7. "RE: topamax/hair loss"
	I was on Topamax for about a year, maybe a bit less and at the high doses for about 6 months. I stoppped the Topamax quickly, within 2 days and had no problem. I don't think you'd have a problem with reducing it as you are, having no history of seizures. My hair continued to fall out for maybe a few weeks longer, but then stopped and has grown back as thickly as it was before. I don't know that a perm would affect the hair follicles and make the hair loss greater. But don't worry too much. It will come back! I had been so worried I was thinking of taking Rogaine. Yikes!
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	minnie	Aug-06-06, 08:19 PM (CMT)
	9. "RE: topamax/hair loss"
	Thanks for the reply and the reassuring words, i am like you were and thinking oh my gosh i need to try rogaine, right away or something, but then i read if you try that your hair becomes dependent on it and you don't want to do that if you don't need to, lol. I think i will wait it out and see. I don't know why in the world i said perm last night; i had my hair dyed, i was tired and typing fast, lol. I was thinking processed and it came out permed, dah. I had it dyed blond and i am like a dark brown color. Actually i had a few warnings that this was happening but igorned them, first there was plenty of hair in the shower drain that i kept removing to let the water down, but dah i never thought much about it. And 2 i had a hugh patch of hair missing up under the back of my hair; however, i just bought a new gym and had my hair caught in in a few times and thought oh it must have been from that; well no, dah it was all that hair in the drain. It must have started the last time i had my hair dyed and then i never really put 2 and 2 together til i had it dyed again this past tuesday and by then it was too late, on wednesday i lost much more, and i think the dye made it much worse, those harsh chemicals, just did me in. And on top of all that; i am also on wellbutrin and i looked that up last night and it too can cause hair loss; so as of last night i completely quit that. So i have no idea, is this from topamax, wellbutrin, or hair dye? I am not waiting around to find out from either of the meds, i am getting off both and just hoping for regrowth.
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Bon	Aug-06-06, 07:00 PM (CMT)
8. "RE: topamax/hair loss"
I've been on 100 mg of Topamax for over a year and haven't lost any hair... maybe I'm the exception to the rule. I haven't had any side effects except an initial weight loss, which I had hoped would continue. If I did start losing hair, I'd taper off the Topamax in a heartbeat! I don't want to be a bald granny! I'm not sure if it's helping with the migraines or not. They aren't as severe as they were before I started with my pain management doc, but he put me on Topamax about the same time he put me on Zoloft, so I don't know which is helping... or if they work together. Peace, Bon
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LTAYLOR	Aug-07-06, 03:06 PM (CMT)
10. "Hair Breakage"
I am traveling so I don't have much time to post, but hopefully I can add something beneficial to this thread. I did not suffer from hair loss while on topamax, but I had significan breakage when I stopped taking it. I thought it was falling out, my hairstylist noticed it was actually breaking. He suggested Biotin supplements as well as a few different brands of hair strengtheners. The Biotin worked great! I have used (not all at once!!) "No Snap" by Redken, Garneir Fructis Long & Strong Leave in hair strengthener, Biolage Fortefying Heat Styler. I also switched to some of the Hair Strenthening Shampoos & Conditioners but found the best results with Kerastasse Products (sorry for any brands spelled incorrectly) and Oscar Blandi Jasmine Oil (used sparingly). For some reason Biosilk products or anything with lots of silicone make my hair fall out. Another poster's doctor recommened Nioxin products and I believe she had good results with that I did not use that brand though...yet. As most people here know I am a product junkie - hence the long list. My hair seems to need product changes regularly to do what I want it to do. I also got it trimmed every 3-4 weeks and that seemed to strenthen it as well. Hope this helps! BTW: I never made it above 75mg/day and have since stopped taking it due to other side effects such as frequent UTI's. Maybe when my body forgets about it I will try again. Peace, L
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