Hair loss and Topamax

[QusieSue]

I have been prescribed Wellbutrin for depression and Topamax as a mood stabilizer.  The combination worked very well for me and the bonus was that I lost weight.  However, I also lost hair.  I was wondering if anyone else experienced the same problem.

[lityvay]

I took topamax for 6 days ( 6 freaking days) and started to lose so much hair. I was only on 25 mg. I knew about the possible side effects before taking it but decided I would give it a shot. On the 6th day in the shower my hair started coming out by the root even more when I brushed my hair. It freaked me out and I quit taking the medicine right away. The hair loss continued for about 2 months. Every time I washed my hair I would want to cry ! Thank God it has finally stopped. I will probably never take this medicine again.

[Lilygarcia]

That is terrible, I'm having the same problem please let me know if you are getting better, I'm still taking the medicine, but Im thinking seriously stop it.

[NDBathwater]

Thank you to everyone in this forum for helping me make my decision. My doctor told me to stop taking it cold turkey today after I called in hysterics. I was still a bit scared because of other meds I have been on. I am stopping cold turkey tonight as I believe him now because of this forum,and no place else.
My hair thanks you,
-A.V.

[Pinkymd]

Yes! I wound up with no armpit hair at all & no hair on My legs to shave at all! Both baby *** smooth.....so what does that tell You?... that I can say is Wonderful!   But, Your hair on Your head starts to fall out too.....luckily not “All” of it........

[barefeet712]

I have been on the Topo for 3 months after seizures.  My hair is falling out in lumps in the shower and when I take it out of my pony-tail.  Yesterday when taking my towels out of the dryer there was a hugs mass of hair wadded in the towels and the dryer lint.  I just called my doctors and left a message as what to do??  I have to be on this drug for at least 6 more months for the seizure prevention but I don't want to loose any more hair because I like my hair!  I lost weight in the beginning but I am now maintaining my weight.  I looked up other anit-seizure medications and they too have hair-loss as a possible symptom from taking the drug.  You take one drug, then have another problem, take more drugs, have another issue and more problems.  Good luck everyone.  I don't shave my legs or arm pits but that hair seems to be staying in place; my husband wonders why at least we can laugh about that together.  

[cc916]

I am so sad that I did not know this before.  I experienced gradual hair loss since 2005 and have been on Topo all that time.  It helped my migraines.  When I started menopause, my hair began to fall out the last month in clumps.  i will not have have hair by the end of the year if I cannot get it to stop.  I am reducing the topo slowly.  I am taking Evening Primrose, Biotin, Rogaine, switched to Aveda hair propducts.  I was known for my lush hair.  No I just look old, tired and sad.    I am really mad that I did not know this was a side effect.  My hairdresser did not even let me know how bad it was getting (hard to see on yourself).  It was not until the clumps came out in the shower that I saw it was serious.

[jessasarah]

I to am on Topamax I am on 400mg and my hair has been just falling out. My boyfriend gets mad at me for all the hair in the drain at the bottom of the shower. I didn't know this was a side effect either. I've lost 54 pounds but I've also lost a lot of hair as well so I don't even know if it was even worth it now. My hair is all thinned out and I am afraid that I am gonna be bald I just had my boyfriend check my head and he kept telling me it was my medicine I kept telling him no it couldnt be because i never seen that as a side effect, so I just got on the internect and found this. Thanks everyone I think I am gonna just stop taking and have my doctor change the meds to something different she also has me on wellbutrin as well.

[Pinkymd]

Wellbutrin I have been on for 20 years for depression & I have had gorgeous thick hair so it’s not the Wellbutrin doing it. Wellbutrin is great for depression. Will not cause weight gain either. Started the topiramate 2 & 1/2 yrs ago & they tested My thyroid after a year. That’s when My hair started to fall out. Got Me on the correct dosage for My thyroid but still My hair gets thinner & keeps falling out. If it was the thyroid once Your on the right dosage Your hair grows back. Mine hasn’t. The topiramate is the culprit. Yes it’s great for My headaches & I dropped 40 lbs in a year which was too fast for My body which resulted in saggy skin. Now I’m thin with bald spots & horrible hair. I don’t care to go out of the house. A woman’s hair is important for Her appearance as well. So, I’m no headaches, thinner but a recluse.....great combination. And forget the hair extensions. They give Me worse headaches than My occipital neuralgia did. Lyrica didn’t help. Wish it had but didn’t want to take a controlled medicine either. These scalp massages are a joke because all they do is matte My hair up eggless massing because My hair is past shoulder length. So buy “Gray Gone by Everpro” from Walmart, CVS, etc which is a root cover up but covers the bald scalp just as well. No one can tell I’m bald in My bald area as long as Your hair is the color of the Gray Gone.