Hi there

I've been doing TSM for about 3 months (I think), currently drinking at pre-TSM levels but plugging away...

I've noticed that since starting this, I am losing ALOT of hair. Has anyone else had the same issue? I'm taking Nal daily...

I guess a good reason to try for those AF days!

Mumofone,

My heart goes out to you.

I am having hair loss, but it is mainly because I am going through the change; however, when I was in my thirties I noticed my hair was thinning (sunburnt scalp for the first time) and it turned out my thyroid was acting up.

Googling hair loss there is a complaint with hair loss with LDN, but LDN is used for people with other illnesses and it could be their illness or another med they are on.

On Drugs.com it lists the side effects with naltrexone in dermatologic that during treatment of opioid dependence alopecia has been reported; however, is it a withdrawal symptom from the opioid or the nal, and alopecia is a patch of hair loss that is usually in a circular pattern.

A lot of alcoholics will have low levels of Vitamin B, so maybe add a good Vitamin B with Biotin; also Vitamin D or iron could be a cause. The Vitamin D isn't an issue taking, but I wouldn't suggest taking an iron supplement, instead eat more foods high in iron (cereals enriched with iron, beans, tofu, pumpkin, sesame, or squash seed, dried apricots, baked potato, broccoli, wheat germ, nuts, spinach and meat sources are a good start). To make sure your body absorbs the iron, instead of hindering, it do not drink coffee, tea or calcium-rich foods (so eat dry cereal), and drink o.j. or take vit. C with it to help your body absorb.

Unfortunately if your body is lacking in a vitamin it may take time to see a difference, but if it is cause by the nal you would know after the third AF day (if you can do that many) because that is about how long it takes for nal to be complete washed out of your body.

I know that losing hair can be horrible experience and hopefully it slows down and stops soon, for our body does go through cycles with hair loss. But if it does not stop, please email me if it starts becoming too severe for there are other tricks that may help.

Jaba

P.S. Sorry this is so long, I jabber when I am tired and my body doesn't like the time change.

I wish I could blame my hair loss (or grayness) on NAL! But I think my age has a lot to do with it

No hair loss that I've noticed, Mum.

Glad to hear you're sticking with it, the bump back up to pre-TSM levels is normal and your numbers should begin to fall off from here.

You can also try some mindfulness techniques, stretch out each drink, have water in between, don't keep the drink with you, that sort of thing. It helps break up the habit while the Nal is working away on breaking up the craving.

If you think back to when you started taking the Lexapro, did you notice a change in your drinking, up or down?

Here's an article on Lexapro and hair loss, you can probably find others out there:

http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/11/03 ... -thinning/

But then, that could have nothing to do with your hair loss at all, I just don't know. You would have to talk to a doctor about it, and certainly don't change your dose without talking to your doc first.

I think if I had to pick temporary hair loss or drinking into hell, I would take the hair loss. The hair will grow back if it is the nal.

I am sorry if my post led anyone to think I suggested to lower their dose, for that isn't what I was trying to say.

No Jaba, I was just putting in a disclaimer there. I didn't want Mum to think I was suggesting she change her Lexapro dose. I'd suggested to bizi that perhaps she might think about cutting her benzo in half without saying (but talk to your doc about it first) over on OSL and the mods got rather upset with me, so I'm taking extra pains to I'm cross t's and dot i's these days.

Nal is a whole 'nuther thing, as so many people get it off the web.

No worries Joe,

I was just trying to figure out why you posted that and I was making sure that the post about LDN wasn't me saying to lower the dose. I didn't write it (or read) for it to sound that way and was just clarifying to make sure.

Hair loss is something that could send some people into a tailspin depending of the severity, and if it is with women it can be horrifying (trust me). But, it isn't worth stopping treatment with the nal.; however, if Mumofone has just started the Lexapro speaking to his/her doctor would be something that could help. Or going to a dermatologist that specializes in hair loss could help. I did read that Rogaine can help speed the growth process; however, do not try without speaking to a doctor first.

Jaba

I've never heard of it as a side effect for Naltrexone. I just looked it up and could not find any good info on it too. I've personally not noticed anything after doing TSM for 8 months now.

I didn't notice anything, and not heard of it as a side effect.

Thank-you everyone! Jaba some excellent suggestions there - I have started taking Thiamine more consistently & a multivitamin. I also had a cut & treatment which has helped, I'm still losing some hair but I think it's growing back to so feels a little fuller. I've been on Lexapro for years so I don't think it's that. Perhaps it's malnutrition...when I drink a lot I tend to eat very little healthy food....

I've turned a corner this last few week & will start my diary again soon. Stopped Vodka & daytime drinking - just a few unit of wine on the evening now. Hopefully this continues....