[WildcatVet]

Lithium was the best med I've ever taken for Bipolar II but my straight blonde hair turned dishwater, frizzy, and started falling out...like handfuls. Somehow ended up on Depakote which doesn't work as well...and my hair is still falling out.
Was anyone on these meds, stopped, and had their hair return to normal? I'm on these meds for life and I'm not concerned with cosmetic issues...just curious if anyone else has experienced this?
Thanks!

[Guiness187055]

I have never had these side effects.

[*Laurie*]

I've been on both meds in the past, but never had hair loss. That sounds terrible. Have you told your pdoc?

[WildcatVet]

Yes (and he's very knowledgeable so I trust him), he said that 10 - 20% of users on psychotropic drugs...AP's, AD's, anti-convulsants, BuSpar...etc...experience some degree of hair loss and change in texture. The good news is that it will eventually regrow normally...the bad news is you have to discontinue the drug(s). I've just never heard of it before.
Guess I'll have to buy a wig because I can't stop the meds.!

[Mountaindewed]

My hair was thin and greasy on Lithium.

Now my hair isn't thin. it's sometimes greasy, but washing my hair as soon as I get in the shower, and again when I'm almost done, works well.

My hair is falling out, but I've been off lithium for a few years, and I've had my thyroid checked and it was fine. So I'm guessing it's just stress.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

There are a couple things you can do that have helped me. First, Centrum silver. It has more selenium (and also biotin?) and that helps hair growth. Second, Nioxin shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment (which I never really used).

I lost a lot of hair when I started Depakote and then a lot more when my thyroid was damaged by lithium (actually by sustained toxicity). The first time just the Centrum silver helped pretty well. The 2nd time I had visible hair loss along my hair line and in a few other places and the combination helped. And actually I started Centrum silver (the Sam's club generic) a while ago for hair loss again and it is helping again.

I hope this helps you! Don't give up quite yet!

[WildcatVet]

Thank! I'll sure give it a try...easy enough! Just priced wigs..

Hmm, didn't know about this. I was taking biotin for another med due to it causing hair loss and I quit both.

I'm going to restart the biotin.

[Shazerac]

Hair loss can indeed be stress related. Mine was falling out in clumps. My eyebrows even fell out. Earlier this year I made a decision to cease contact with anyone who stresses me out including some toxic family members.

My hair is fine now and my eyebrows grew back.