Met and hair loss

[Brooke1980]

Is anyone else experiencing this? I feel like I did when I shed my hair after having DD. I started taking Met again about a month ago and my hair is coming out big time now. I don't remember if this happened the first time I was on Met.

What in the heck causes this?

[TabyOx]

I don't know that this will help you, but I know what you're going through.

The first time I was on metformin I had the same problem. I was terrified because it was comming out in handfuls. I have REALLY thick hair so no one noticed but me. My hairline even receeded a little.
I was convinced that it was the metformin, so I asked my Dr., But the only thing she said may have caused it was my dramatic weight loss or stress. Because I made a drastic change in my eating and excercise habbits when I first started metformin I lost about 50 lbs in 4 months. She said something like, "your body went into shock."

That was 5 years ago. I just started on Metformin again 1 week ago. I haven't been so gung-ho about the diet and exercise change this time, though I should be because I'm now back to my big self. So If I have major hair loss again then I'll KNOW it's the metformin and not dramatic weight loss. I'll keep you posted.

I hope it gets better for you. :)

[christyaran]

Girls... hair loss is a symptom of PCOS! I noticed this a while ago & thought it was the shampoo i used, even my BFF with PCOS had the same problem, then when i was diagnosed with PCOS & looked around, IDK if it was the doc or online that i found that symptom, so I know as long as im overweight or with PCOS then i'll be losing hair! hope that helps

[knutfugget]

Brooke I googled "Metformin hair loss" and found this:

http://www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/glucophage-metformin-pcos.html
HAIR LOSS. Metformin may contribute to male pattern hair loss at the temples and top of head. Although there's nothing in the medical literature to support this linkage, some women have reported that hair loss was made worse by metformin.

and this:

http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/metformin-and-hair-loss/
There is no research data that indicates that metformin is responsible for any hair loss. It is much more likely that women with PCOS (http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/metformin-and-hair-loss/#) who take Metformin experience hair loss as a result of their PCOS, rather than as a result of taking metformin.

Everything I could find says there's no research to say that Metformin causes hair loss and that you should contact your doctor to see what else may be causing it. It could just be regular old PCOS crap but it's a good idea to ask about it anyway. :)

[JessicaH]

I've also read and been told by my OB that Met can cause a B-vitamin deficiency. The first time I was on Met I started taking a B-vitamin supplement every day and I did notice the hair loss slowing down.

[Brooke1980]

Thanks ladies. I do know that PCOS causes hair loss. BUT, it's just strange to me that I have only been taking Met about a month and a half now and it is only now falling out like crazy. Definitely a difference since I've been taking the Met. Maybe it does having something to do with the combination of Met with my PCOS, I don't know. I do think I remember going through this last time though, I remember losing a ton of it while in the first trimester last time, and I was still on the Met, so, maybe that's just how it's going to be..lol..I think I might try the B-12 thing out. I'd just hate for the dr to take me off of it just because of some hair loss, because Met is what worked to get me pregnant last time, and since we're going to start trying here shortly I want to be on it!

I have a TON of hair, so I'm not really noticing a difference yet. I guess if it gets too bad I'll call the doc about it.

Thanks for the replies!

[ChristineB]

I've been on Met for about one year now and I had a big shed, like 40% of my hair in Feb. My doc said it was from drastic weight loss. I now have new growth all over my head and I'm still on Met.
I figured it was the Met at first but now, I'm pretty sure - like someone else said - my body was in 'shock' from the big change in diet and exercise.
Since Met treats insulin resistance there would have to be a connection between insulin and hair loss - I've never come across that fact, has anyone else?

[wildflower]

I have had thinning hair since I was in my 20's, but once I started Met, it was much more drastic. My OBGYN said that it was just regular hair loss and that Met shouldn't be causing me to loose my hair. :rolleyes: In theory, it would make sense that it would help you retain your hair if it is helping reverse the IR which is believed to be the root cause of PCOS.

When I did a search, I found the same links as knut, nothing proven, but others have the same anecdotal evidence.

I am a thin cyster, so my body was not in shock from any drastic weight loss either. Met was the only new thing going on for me at the time. It did eventually slow down and when I became preggo I started to retain my hair (which later fell out about 3 months post-partum). I was on Met until 19 weeks. So hopefully it will slow down for you once your body adjusts!

[XNurseBeccaX]

Well unfortunately I've lost a large amount of hair due to the PCOS and have male pattern baldness. If you see me it's not terribly noticable but if you knew me when I was younger then you'd know I'd lost it. I had such thick hair then. Now I have to put sunblock above my bangs because of the such thin hair. I'm not happy to think that Metformin would possibly increase the rate of loss especially since Im getting ready to beg my doctor to place me on it after 7 years. However, it doesnt seem to outweigh the benefits. I would totally be willing to proudly sport a wig while I have a beautiful baby in my arms. :)

[ImNLondonStill]

Not only do I have PCOS but I have diabetes 2. I stopped taking Met 2yrs ago because it was making me very sick and put on other meds to control my Diabetes. Since then I have lost a remarkable amount if hair. The meds i have been on were not reg my blood sugars. So I recently asked to be switched back to Met due to just moving out of state and not working.. so im close to the bathroom.. Surprisingly enough I'm not as sick as i remember and my surgers are great...So i guess my question is..If i regulate my sugars and get my PCOS under control..will my hair start to grow back.... whatever the out come I'm with you XNurse...i'll wear a wig... I've been married 5 years and would love to start a family!

[JenLovesHerPug]

I have stated to notice hair loss when in the shower after I wash my hair. I'm on Met too, (been on since the begining of June 2008) but I think it's the Birth Controls Pills I'm on. I read the disclosures that came with my Birth Control Pills and it said it could cause mild hair loss. I'm going to be calling my doctor to see if I can get on Yaz. That might be something to look into. I was on Met on and off back in 2005 (wasn't told I had PCOS then) and don't remember losing my hair. I also have very thin hair to begin with and don't want to lose anymore!