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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Andrew78 on October 2, 2006, at 9:53:46
I've tried SSri's (paxil), tryciclics (trimipramine) and other antidepressants (remeron, Lantanon) and experienced bad hair loss with all of them that brought me to stop them.However I responded very well to all of these drugs also at low doses.But the hair loss they induced me was too bad to tolerate
So the last chance for me are Maois.I've not found experiences or studies of hair loss with this kind of antidepressants, however I would ask to the persons treated with maois their experience about any hair loss.
Furthermore I know that Maois are useful in atypical depression and mine is not one of them.I've typical depression with anxiety, panic and insomnia, so the trial with maois would be only to find out if they can avoid this troublesome side effect of hair loss.
SO have you experienced any hair loss with this group of antidepressants (Nardil,Parnate and others?).
Many thanks for your help
Posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2006, at 10:43:03
In reply to Some questions about MAOIs, posted by Andrew78 on October 2, 2006, at 9:53:46
What did you doc say about the hair loss that sounds strange? Love Phillipa
Posted by Jost on October 2, 2006, at 11:17:13
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs » Andrew78, posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2006, at 10:43:03
Doesn't hair usually grow back, when lost because of ADs?
Maybe if you waited it out--however uncomfortable, you'd come out on the other side with refreshed hair (I've heard it can often be thicker when it grows back) and the positive AD effects.
Also, did you try monoxidil, or any other hair loss product?
I personally believe that I had some hair loss on Parnate and also a little on Emsam-- not that much-- although not my favorite thing to have. Not enough to cause me to stop, though. I was told that they aren't supposed to cause hair loss-- but still, I can't help but have noticed a correlation in myself. Not sure.
Jost
Posted by psychobot5000 on October 2, 2006, at 12:18:51
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs » Andrew78, posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2006, at 10:43:03
MAOis are not associated with hair-loss, as far as I know. I never had that problem personally. Moreover, MAOis have a substantially different mechanism of action from all other antidepressants. If this problem is really caused by the medications, I'd say MAOis are your best bet.
I'd recommend the EMSAM (selegiline) transdermal patch. While perhaps not as powerful as the others, you wouldn't need to worry about dietary restrictions at low doses--it's very convenient. Also, because it acts on MAO-b, it would mostly have its effect on dopamine, rather than noradrenaline and serotonin, like tricyclics and most other AD drugs. So it would be further different in that way.
I have almost never heard of antidepressants causing hair-loss, though I have read a great deal and am familiar with many of them personally. This doesn't mean, of course, that this isn't the case, but I think it surprising that all the various drugs, considering their many differences, would cause it. Are you -sure- that it's these drugs that are causing hair loss?
Best of luck,
P-bot
Posted by Racer on October 2, 2006, at 18:08:55
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs, posted by psychobot5000 on October 2, 2006, at 12:18:51
See, there's a kind of hair loss called telogen effluvium (TE) that can be brought on by stress. It's very dramatic -- about a third of the hair on your head can fall off in days. (It's happened to me -- I know it's horrible.) All the hairs in the "resting" phase will fall out at once, so that's roughly a third of all your hair. And "at once" may mean within about a week. (Try it while experiencing severe OCD...)
Are you sure the worry and stress of starting the drugs haven't been causing this? (Although, to be more accurate, TE would probably happen a few weeks to months *after* the stressful event...)
Just a thought...
Posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2006, at 19:19:30
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs, posted by psychobot5000 on October 2, 2006, at 12:18:51
Are you currently on EMSAM. A few of us are looking for success stories on EMSAM now. Thanks, Love Phillipa
Posted by Andrew78 on October 2, 2006, at 20:14:15
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs » Andrew78, posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2006, at 10:43:03
> What did you doc say about the hair loss that sounds strange? Love Phillipa
My hair loss is too severe to be tolerated.My shedding under AD is 5 times my normal shedding.
And ends up only discontinuing the AD.
I've done many tries.However to recover the hairs lost in one month you need more than 6-8 months.
Please take a look at these 2 links, there are a lot of persons whose hairs has been hardly damaged by AD.http://www.hairsite6.com/f337depress4/discfem337_toc.htm
http://www.hairsite.com/female-hair-loss/forum.php?category=6
Posted by Andrew78 on October 2, 2006, at 20:24:31
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs, posted by psychobot5000 on October 2, 2006, at 12:18:51
Antidepressants are the most powerful drugs after anticancer drugs on our hairs.Especially tryciclics are in the list of drugs that cause hair loss.
Parmaceutical companies know very well this kind side effect but only few AD report this as a side effects.Only after some class actions they are now adding this well known (to them) side effect to the prescribing sheets.
However also Emsam lists alopecia as side effect..
Anyway MAOIS would be my last chance
Posted by naughtypuppy on October 3, 2006, at 12:37:45
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs, posted by Andrew78 on October 2, 2006, at 20:24:31
Parnate has been the only AD that caused hair loss with me, though I grew chest hair instead.
Posted by psychobot5000 on October 3, 2006, at 16:59:29
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs » psychobot5000, posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2006, at 19:19:30
> Are you currently on EMSAM. A few of us are looking for success stories on EMSAM now. Thanks,
Hi Phillipa,
I'm not currently on EMSAM, however, I was on the oral version of selegiline, a year or two ago. It made my head a little fuzzy, but other than that, I found it to be quite a good medication. I was on 10-20mg in tablet-form, which I believe is equivalent to 3-6mg of EMSAM. (so I guess half of the smallest patch, to a whole one) It definitely made me less depressed, with fewer side-effects than most antidepressants.
Also, even on the higher dosage (20mg), I carefully checked my heartrate and blood-pressure. There was clearly no effect from the drug, no matter what I ate, so eventually I abandoned the eating restrictions entirely (though I remained alert to possible BP effects, which never happened). The researchers behind EMSAM believe it to be safe even at 9 and probably 12mg, for use without eating restrictions.
I would call it a success, and recommend it to others, also in combination with other meds.
Best of luck,
P-bot
Posted by Phillipa on October 3, 2006, at 20:04:27
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs, posted by psychobot5000 on October 3, 2006, at 16:59:29
Thanks that kind of goes with what my pdoc said. She thought if I tried the patch a quarter would probably be enough. Love Phillipa
Posted by Andrew78 on October 3, 2006, at 22:25:46
In reply to Re: Some questions about MAOIs, posted by naughtypuppy on October 3, 2006, at 12:37:45
What about hairs?also did it interfer with your sleep?
Posted by naughtypuppy on October 4, 2006, at 10:07:45
In reply to Anyone tried Nardil?, posted by Andrew78 on October 3, 2006, at 22:25:46
> What about hairs?also did it interfer with your sleep?
No hairloss with Nardil though it took me about 3 hours yesterday to to clear out the bathtub drain from tha Parnate experience. A benzodiazapine is working well for sleep but I am also taking valproate as well. Nardil really bites for your sex life. Been 4 months now. Parnate was quite a bit different. Felt much better in 48 hours. Quite stimulating could only sleep for 2 or 3 hours, but trazodone helped with that. The sexual deadning and disinterest only lasted about 3 weeks. In all I would give the irreversable MAO's a try. I think EMSAM is very trendy at the moment but hasn't proven itself.
Posted by Andrew78 on October 4, 2006, at 18:21:40
In reply to Re: Anyone tried Nardil? » Andrew78, posted by naughtypuppy on October 4, 2006, at 10:07:45
I would try but sleep is my first problem and probably Maois are too activating, and I should add a benzodiazepine but I don't want to depend on benzos to sleep...
Also I cannot use trazodone because it caused me hair loss (like did to a lot of other persons)is not a simple situation....
Posted by psychobot5000 on October 5, 2006, at 8:14:18
In reply to Re: Anyone tried Nardil?, posted by Andrew78 on October 4, 2006, at 18:21:40
MAOis can cause difficulty sleeping.
My personal experience was: low dose Selegiline (oral version of EMSAM) did not cause insomnia. High dose (equivalent to going above the 6mg EMSAM) did cause some trouble with sleep, but I am very sensitive to that sort of thing.
Nardil caused me some sleep difficulty also, however, not everyone reacts this way. It also increases GABA, so it's better for anxiety and relaxation than other MAOis. It's the best bet for someone who has trouble sleeping, as far as I know. It made me very relaxed and laid back.
Do you live in Europe or Canada? If so, you can take moclobomide, a weaker MAOi that would require no eating restrictions. It is supposed to be very good about eating restrictions.
Another drug that's very good on side-effects is Tianeptine/Stablon (not an MAO inhibitor). It's effective for depression and as a mood-stabilizer, however it's not available in the US except over the net.
Posted by jaclinhyde on October 5, 2006, at 21:06:17
In reply to Re: Anyone tried Nardil?, posted by psychobot5000 on October 5, 2006, at 8:14:18
All I can say is that when I was taking Marplan my hair was actually growing longer and faster.
Terri
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