HELP!!!! I'M ALMOST OUT OF HAIR!!!!!!!!

[health4life]

BUMPITY BUMP

[abbyinva]

i had to write a reply to this and was just wondering i am going to a weight loss clinic and i was taking phen 15mg and had to go up to 30 but when i go to get my medicine i have to see a nurse praticern and they give you vitamens to take daily and b12 i take once a week are you taking any kind of mulit vitamens and if your not you should i am just telling you what they told me

[Aliciacam]

I had to reply to this too. A long time ago, I lost a lot of weight, fast. I was not eating. Maybe a salad a day, and that was it.

I lost so much weight that I looked pathetic. In turn, I also lost a lot of hair.

I'm not a DR. But I would guess it has something to do with malnutrition. And I was not taking any kind of medication. I was actaully a teenager going through one of those "phases."

[Shezageek]

Hair loss is not listed as a side effect for Phen. It should be though. Take folic acid and B complex vitamins. That will help.

[ January 27, 2003, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: Shezageek ]

[Shezageek]

I was on the diet for about 8 months and lost 60 lbs. However, I too lost hair by the handful. When I washed my hair or just brushed it, I would lose a handful at a time. I took vitamins (Folic Acid especially) but it really didn't help a whole lot. The hair will grow back though. I now have thousands of hairs that are about 3 inches long where it is growing back.

I ate small meals properly, took my vitamins and still had a tremendous hair loss. Now, I weigh 125, look and feel much better. But, because of the hair loss, I wouldn't do it again.

Good luck in your diet. There is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Hang in there.

[sonny11]

I need to know if hair loss and itching will stop if I stop taking phentermine? And all the information I read say not to stop medicine abrubtly?

[ANNALISE]

hi sonny....i stopped phentermine abruptly cos of hair loss (am totally devestated..had i know this was a side effect i wud never have started them)...so far still losing the hair ....can someone pls console me and tell me i will get back my former crowning glory??

[LA-CHANY]

THE HAIR LOSS WILL STOP IT JUST TAKE'S TIME TO GET USE TO IT NEED TO GET THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE THE PHEN STEP IN.

[Krati]

I just wanted to say that I've been on phen for around 4 months, I eat regularly, (probalby still more than I should) and have lost 20 lbs. I have never had any hair loss, I still have really long dyed-blonde thick hair. I think I can contribute this to adequate nutrition ex, multi vitamins, lots of fruits and veggies.

[SHARONS]

BUMPITY BUMP BUMP

[Sweet_Girl]

OH GOSH! I HOPE I DON'T LOSE MY HAIR, IT IS THIN TO BEGIN WITH!

OK, WHEN I WAS ON ATKINS I WAS LOSING WEIGHT MAJOR FAST AND MY HAIR STARTED THINNING SO WHAT I TOOK WAS

NOURISHAIR- FROM GNC- YOU CAN GET IT FROM RITE AID TOO
AND I TOOK IT WITH BIOTIN, I TAKE ALOT OF BIOTIN 3000MCG.

[SHARONS]

OH GOSH! I HOPE I DON'T LOSE MY HAIR, IT IS THIN TO BEGIN WITH!

OK, WHEN I WAS ON ATKINS I WAS LOSING WEIGHT MAJOR FAST AND MY HAIR STARTED THINNING SO WHAT I TOOK WAS

NOURISHAIR- FROM GNC- YOU CAN GET IT FROM RITE AID TOO
AND I TOOK IT WITH BIOTIN, I TAKE ALOT OF BIOTIN 3000MCG.

I just took a bunch of Biotin and a hair vitamin. My hair is shedding too.

[UmAmer]

The day I saw your post about the Nexium products I was at Haircuttery with my son and they had a special on the shampoo and TWO big bottles of scalp treatment for only 34 bucks! I used it the next time I shampooed, and in just 3 days I can feel a change in my hair texture! I also found a bottle of prenatal vitamins from last fall (when I was preg) and I started those as well. I still find strands of hair in my hands, but I hope to slow down the thinning effect now that I "figured it out". I lost a great deal of weight using OTC diet piulls before the baby came, and gave birth "thin" but the year post partum and a very troubled marriage gave me a nice 30lb gain.
I am down 18lbs in a month and a half, roughly 2.5lbs a week and feel great about it. And getting bak into my pre-baby wardrobe is as good as buying a whole new one!

But thanks for the Nexium tip!

[Sivad]

I was taking a blood pressure medication (Atenolol) that made my hair fall out. I too had very long curly THICK hair. I couldn't get my fingers to touch together when I pulled it all up to put it in a ponytail. I had trouble finding scrunchies and ponytail holders that would fit my hair and hold it all. Now I still have long curly hair, just not thick anymore. I was proud of my thick hair too, although it was really REALLY hot in the summer time. I took the meds for a year and told my doctor I wanted to change because of the hair loss, she changed them for me and I have been taking the new ones since May and I haven't noticed any new hair growth. I didn't really notice hair loss with the phen because I was so used to it coming out by the handfulls. I have been off for 2.5 weeks. She still hasn't given me back my Phen yet and I'm still kinda unsure if the weight loss is worth the hair loss. I may have to do it all on my own :O.
When and IF you decide to stop Phen just remember that Phen is only a small part of your weight loss the rest is YOU! You can do it without the phen you'll just have to be stronger than the candy bar and cake lol. I lost 5 pounds on my own over the past 2 weeks. I had to work harder at not eating the things that tempted me but I DID IT . Good luck to you.

[Jalen&Kaden'sMom]

Hi Ladies,

The hair loss was a BIG issue for me too. I researched prescription drugs that causes hair loss and Phen was on that list. Here is a quote from one article I read:

"For example, more than 290 medications are known to cause hair loss in women, including beta blockers and ace inhibitors that are used to treat hypertension; lithium and other antidepressants; blood-thinning agents, and amphetamines like phentermine, which was half of the recently banned fen-phen diet drug combination." www.nytimes.com

I was on Phen for 3 weeks and when I recently went to the beautician, I did not have any noticable shedding...yet. I've been off Phen for about a week and a half. Although I took one yesterday before going to the gym. Now I take Centrum Women's 1 A Day, Biotin, B6 and B12 just to have a healthy vitamin regimen. I'm hoping to lose the weight the old fashion way...diet and exercise. It's going to take longer but at least I hope to keep my hair. Don't get me wrong, it was a struggle giving up the Phen because I know that I will have quicker results but I'm vain. I'll work these big ole' hips of mine as long as my beautiful silky locks stay in place. To be real...it takes time to grow my African American hair and I ain't tryin' to lose it!! LOL!

[SoCal76]

I started Phentermine Jan 29, started noticing hair lost about 2 weeks into my 37mg dose daily. I eat clean and have lost only 12 pounds, as of yesterday. As soon as I noticed the hair loss, I decreased my dosage to half a pill. Then I started half a pill every other day. The breakage and hair loss decreased instantly. This past weekend I was bold ... up the dosage to the regular 37mg.
Since then strands and breakage occurred consecutively in two days.

I have decided to stop phen before I was able to post on this forum.
My weight is 179 and I am 5'8. I have 29 pounds left.

[ovenfried]

I'm 6 days into taking phen for the first time, and I'm wondering, is there anyone who HAS NOT experienced hair loss at any time during their time using it?

[Erruanne]

Hi ! Ive read in one of the posts that taking prenatal pills help. I started them 4 days ago and notice a dramatic difference in the hair loss. I mean I still have some strands here and there but nothing like the clumps that were falling out. This leads me to believe that maybe we are not getting the vitamins we need. Even some junk food we eat has some kind of vitamin or nutrient in it lol. Hope this helps !

[sputnicseven]

Thank you for your information post. After starting Phen on April 30,2010 and two bottles of Drano later, I REALLY didn't understand why my hair was coming out, especially when I washed my hair! My hair brushes were becoming full fast and oh my... when I braided my long hair when it was wet. It is a nightmare!!! I have to wear a bandana now when I am driving the car with the windows down. My hair, especially around the hairline in front, looks like a baby chick! FUZZY!!! The bandana helps to keep my hair from getting into my eyes, due to the wind. My hair goes to the middle of my back, but it is becoming thinner and thinner. Several times I have become tempted to cut off my braid, because it is beginning to take the shape of a fat rat's tail!

Any suggestions on what type of vitamins? Most of them, give me an awful aftertaste that lingers for hours.

I have the blurred vision, dry mouth, SLOW digestive;from once a day, to MAYBE once a week!, easy brusing, and the way more than normal hair loss. I have to start my day out with a whole tablet,(6am) the second being divided into two times, spaced out @ 12pm and 2pm, to keep from being in 'munchy mode' in the evenings and not being awake at 2am!!!

Looking forward to any comments & help!

According to the Doctor's calculations, I am averaging 2.8lbs loss per week. My goal should be reached around New Years 2011.

[sputnicseven]

2.8lbs a week. I am beginning to think it is the LOSS OF HAIR!!!

[cramjs]

I'm currently taking one 37.5 per day. I never heard of anyone taking two of them a day. Maybe you should cut down to one a day and try eating a few small meals. I hope everything works out.

[yuanyelss]

I can only image how you must feel to lose your hair. My problem is that you eat enough? The reason I ask is that I have a few very close friends who suffer from anorexia, unfortunately, they must be suffering hair loss...

[chicagoannie]

oops - ancient thread.

[Melanie Fox Hubbard]

I had no idea that hair loss was even a possible side effect; my doctor didn't mention it and I haven't read that anywhere. I honestly don't believe that Phentermine is the cause of this, I think it's your lack of nutrition and sufficient vitamins for your body. Eating less than your allotted calories per day can be just as detrimental to your health and diet as eating too many. Have you been taking this for six months and if so, was it doctor prescribed? It is my understanding that one should only take this medication for three months at a time and then take a three month break before starting the cycle over. If this is recommended by your doctor, I would either ask for a second opinion or start shopping for a new physician. I would suggest taking a multi-vitamin every day AND eating more than once a day! You are hurting yourself more than helping by doing this.

I truly hope that things get better for you. I love losing weight as much as the next person but it's definitely not worth losing my hair.

[Zooey]

It could be the pills but more likely it's the dramatic shock to your system from the reduced calories that may be causing it. My doctor told me that hair goes through a 3 stage cycle, growth - dormant - death. Usually all hair is at different stages which is why we always see a few strands on our brushes, but when your system gets shocked (stress, extreme diet, illness) it puts all hair into dormancy and then the next stage is .... death. So if this is the case, within a month it should shift back to the growth stage. My doctor put me on mega vitamins/minerals to take in conjunction with the Phen so be sure to take vitamins!

It happened to me, not due to diet but instead to a major end of a relationship. Stress is stress and I feel your pain. It FREAKED ME OUT! But soon it all started growing back :-)

[faerychic]

It could be the pills but more likely it's the dramatic shock to your system from the reduced calories that may be causing it. My doctor told me that hair goes through a 3 stage cycle, growth - dormant - death. Usually all hair is at different stages which is why we always see a few strands on our brushes, but when your system gets shocked (stress, extreme diet, illness) it puts all hair into dormancy and then the next stage is .... death. So if this is the case, within a month it should shift back to the growth stage. My doctor put me on mega vitamins/minerals to take in conjunction with the Phen so be sure to take vitamins!

It happened to me, not due to diet but instead to a major end of a relationship. Stress is stress and I feel your pain. It FREAKED ME OUT! But soon it all started growing back :-)

I was just going to comment that the hair loss is probably from the reduced calories and not the phen. I lost 44 pounds 3 years ago without phen or any time of diet aid and lost a bunch of hair (even with taking vitamins). Google hair loss and weight loss.

[Makeithappen]

I know this is a super old thread...and not to be mean but, if your only eating once a day and its a "very small meal" thats probably not only causing you to lose your hair..but also only a lb a week...if you eat more calories a day then maybe your hair would stop falling out and you would lose some weight, your body is in starvation mode!

[sputnicseven]

Hmmm, I didn't think about that. But, I am reaching my 1000 cal a day per doctor. I guess salads x3 is not enough calorie intake....