Hair falling out - possibly from synthroid?

[eniko]

I have been on synthetic thyroid replacement and sometimes my hair falls out a lot. I heard it can be from the pills, the dye that is contains. What can I do about it? Is swiching to Armour thyroid a good idea? Please help.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

I don't think it's the dye.  Target TSH is 1.0.  I have had patients who do better with regard to hair loss on Armour -- but the TSH still should stay around 1.0.

[straw_citizen]

Compare symptoms here http://www.drrind.com/scorecardmatrix.asp and see what you come up with specific to your medical history and present conditions.  Mine was so bad I gave up and buzzed my entire head to a 1/4 inch short.  It sure minimized shedding and shower clogs :.)  My hair loss subsided completely after treating adrenals and adding T3 in the form of Armour.

[eniko]

I checked it, thank you for recommending. I don`t identify all of the adrenalin symptoms in myself other, than the hairloss. But what do you think hairloss is really caused? And if I switch to Armour, will it stop? Is Armour the same effective?

[straw_citizen]

I would research hair loss with key words stress, hormones and estrogen dominance to begin getting to the core of the problem.  Only we know our individual medical histories.  I believe adrenal and thyroid gland supplements worked for me because my adrenals and thyroid were far more dysfunctional then than now.  However, all hair loss I've learned about has so far been directly related to hormones and chemical interactions catalyzed by hormone release, deficiencies and or environmental reactions in terms of intolerances or allergies.

Supplements I've learned can help, though I can't say which for anyone other than myself, are:


- Vitamin C for adrenal glands and stress

- seasalted water for adrenal glands and stress

- spirulina to collect toxins and move them out of the body

- iodine if it's determined to be deficient

- castor oil (http://www.herb-inc.com/products.html - only a suggestion because organic castor oil has been difficult for me to find)

- silica, like Vitamin C a little doesn't hurt anyone.  But I'd research using silica therapeutically because overdoing it caused hair to grow on my chin last year.

- taurine if it's determined to be deficient

- chicken or beef gelatin (I've only been been able to find beef in the U.S.)

- address adrenal gland dysfunction if it exists

- address thyroid gland dysfunction if it exists

If a definite hormone imbalance has been determined but the specific cause remains elusive, taking a quality non-GMO multi-glandular for a couple of months might help relieve overall glandular stresses.  Check with your doctor first.  Then if you try this and it works, be sure to go on and off glandular supplements gradually and to take a break periodically.  A gland may need rest but can stop producing a hormone if total relief is given for too long.  If you think you need to keep taking a multi-glandular or any glandular, work with a doctor to determine why.

Optimally, I'd look for an environmental allergist willing to work with a naturopath and chiropractor in a combined alternative practice so they can work together for you.

[cathy57]

Can someone share with me their thyroid regime that might help me? I've been on synthroid now for 7 years.  I've just switched to natural thyroid (Parke-Davis)135 mg tablet.  I'm taking 1 1/2 tablets/day totalling about 180 mg. Also just started taking 1-2 drops iodine/day.  I also take minerals, as my hair analysis showed I'm deficient in quite afew minerals (e.g. potassium, manganese, chromium, magnesium, etc. doesn't sound very good) and have always taken many vitamins, including B, C, etc.  My endo originally had me on .125 of synthroid but my hair has fallen out for about 8 years on it.  I thought it was because of low ferritin, but now I'm convinced it's my thyroid problem (I'm supposed to have hashimoto's) Since I've supplemented with iron for 2 years, the hair still falls, so now I'm convinced it's my thyroid.  Can someone tell me how long this hair will continue to fall and what else I need to do to get it to grow in?  Also, I don't believe in the TSH tests anymore, as the old doc I had just kept reducing me till I was on .088.  It seems ridiculous, that she keeps reducing me.cathy