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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by torridcalm on May 13, 2011, at 11:00:10
Wellbutrin improved my life but after 5-6 months my hair started falling out, a few months after that I had an extreme relaps of anxiety. After reading about hair loss I'm taking zinc selenium and NAC (cystenine)Spelling?. My hair loss has slowed but I'm questioning my stratagy of staying on the wellbutrin until the hair loss side effect passes. If it has pooped out should I stop it and restart, but would that mean more hair loss down the road? Wellbutrin really helped me, I was OK for 6 months on the wellbutrin, it's such a shame I couldn't stay that way. I have/had long beautiful hair and would consider trading it for the mental health of those first 6 months on wellbutrin. I'll see if my insurence covers the brand i'm on a MYlan generic.
Posted by Phillipa on May 13, 2011, at 11:25:34
In reply to Wellbutrin hair loss, poop out what to do?, posted by torridcalm on May 13, 2011, at 11:00:10
I'm so sorry about the hair loss. Could it be due to thyroid issues and not the wellbutrin? Just a thought. How high a dose were you on? What does the doc say? Phillipa
Posted by torridcalm on May 13, 2011, at 12:00:20
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin hair loss, poop out what to do? » torridcalm, posted by Phillipa on May 13, 2011, at 11:25:34
> I'm so sorry about the hair loss. Could it be due to thyroid issues and not the wellbutrin? Just a thought. How high a dose were you on? What does the doc say? Phillipa
Didn't bother to ask the doc, It's only now noticable. Its not my thyroid my numers are perfect and I've been stable for decades with my thyroid.
I have many times lost my hair from stress and I know it will grow back. Now I have a fuzzy head from the regrowth but regrowth isn't catching up to the fall out, not yet. I have very good hair and was growing it to donate for cancer patients but had to give up and cut 8 inches, the fall out was matting like a golden retriever and my relap made it to frustrating to brush out. The fall out is lessened and I'm satisfied whith that.
What you you think about wellbutrin should I stop and restart it. add busbar, do nothing? trying not to use the clonipin so I'm off my nut most of everyday but take it at night to prevent anxiety dreams ie. nakid in public, all the drains over flowing, on the can in public. Anyone with my kind of anxiety can relate. I still wake up with my jaw sore from chenching while I sleep though. I shake so much you would think I swallowed a roll of quarters, on top of that there is the stuttering that isn't my norm. I've got to get this anxiety under control. To much infomation..
Posted by Christ_empowered on May 13, 2011, at 12:35:26
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin hair loss, poop out what to do?, posted by torridcalm on May 13, 2011, at 12:00:20
hey. Sorry about your hair loss. I have hair loss (male pattern PLUS it was thin from psychiatric meds), and I use a supplement called BioSil. You can get it lots of places online (usually a bit cheaper than in stores) or in a "real" store if you prefer. Just a suggestion.
I don't know much about antidepressant-induced hair loss, so I don't know if re-starting the medication would cause more hair loss or possibly make other forms of hair loss (hormonal, age-related, etc.) worse. It seems kinda risky to me, personally, especially for an antidepressant when there are other options that might (note: **MIGHT**) be better suited for your intense anxiety.
Have you tried Effexor or Cymbalta? I mean, they're definitely not perfect, but I think it might strike a balance between stimulation and calming that might be better than wellbutrin. You could still add BuSpar to either one.
I'm sorry this happened to you. Mental problems are hard enough without having to deal with hair loss and everything that goes with that. I hope you have better luck with your next round of meds, whatever you and your doc settle on.
Posted by bleauberry on May 14, 2011, at 4:21:22
In reply to Wellbutrin hair loss, poop out what to do?, posted by torridcalm on May 13, 2011, at 11:00:10
Japanese Knotweed and Stephania root are used to stop hair loss. They are also used for other things such as Lyme and other infections, and can indirectly improve depression through one of their many mechanisms, some of which include anti inflammation, anti microbial, pro immune, and pro brain.
If it were me I would probably try adding an antidepressant of a different mechanism to wellbutrin before doing anything else. Prozac or zoloft for example.
Brand versus generic can make a difference. Seen that many times. Even if insurance didn't cover it, it would be worth trying because otherwise you would never know. And it is the easiest change do make that has about equal potential compared to anything else you might do. Insurances will usually cover brand at some percentage, but of course the copay is a lot higher than generics.
This is a med board so the focus is on meds. But I just wanted to mention I strongly feel a wide ranging comprehensive attack is needed to defeat depression longer term. Food choices in the cart, specific plant medicines, specific activities, spcific supplements, spirituality, stress control, anti inflammation, anti microbial....all pieces of the castle. Any weak area in there can cause the entire castle to fail.
This is the end of the thread.
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