Metformin and Hair Loss???

indianchick · 04-22-2008, 03:14 PM

Hi all,

I have been on metformin for about 8 weeks.

Things seemed to be going well (my skin was breaking out less, I was getting over the nausea) until about 2 weeks ago - when my hair started falling out in clumps! Very scary :-(

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, does it stop? Is this just a transition period??

I don't want my hair to get any thinner that it already is. I have been taking a lot of B12 and Biotin.

Learner · 04-22-2008, 07:14 PM

The exact same thing happened to me. My doctor has stopped my Metformin for a month. My hair is still thinning but its stopped shedding in clumps.

I also started getting more of an hourglass figure on Met, I lost weight, the hirsuitism decreased. The acne on my back was under control.

Now I don't know what to do.

Either my hair falls off or my disease gets worse. I'm going to see my doctor on my next appointment and ask for either another insulin-sensitiser. I don't know if we lose the hair as our hormones are balancing or if we have a drug reaction. Well, it can't be the hormonal change. I mean that would make our hair come back right?

Or I'm going to ask him to put me on the Pill. Oh I don't want to take the Pill. I become so FAT on it!!

Try to wash your hair with Nizoral Shampoo. It helps. If that's too harsh, I like the Head and Shoulders Selenium Sulfide as well. Good luck!!! I'll let you know what my doc says.

If anyone has better advice, please let me know. I think my endo is quite clueless about what to do. He says my hair should've become thicker with the Met, not the other way around!

indianchick · 04-22-2008, 11:34 PM

My endo said the exact same thing! She said that hair should come back thicker on Met, not fall out, and she thinks it is unrelated to the Met.

But it seems that so many other women have experience this type of hair loss on Met, so I just don't think it's unrelated.

Learner - how long were you on Met before you experienced the hair loss? Please do let me know what your doctor says. Thanks!!!

Learner · 04-23-2008, 08:14 PM

Unfortunately I'm not going to see him for a month more. The thing is though that since stopping metformin, I've had terrible backne and my hair is still thinning. Its stopped falling out thought.

I'm also gaining weight and my boobs have shrunk

((( They had actually grown on metformin and I started to get an hourglass figure. Took the Met for around less than a month. It helped in so many ways - helped my get my period on time as well. But I had to exercise with it.

I don't know what to do. Start Met again and lose my hair (with all the other benefits??) or lose my hair anyway with the disease getting worse.

Any cysters out there with any suggestions???????

Learner · 04-23-2008, 08:15 PM

Yeah does it stop? Is this transitional???

Anyone???

Learner · 04-24-2008, 09:48 PM

Anyone????

Learner · 04-25-2008, 05:13 PM

Did anyone keeps using Met with the hair falling off in clumps? Does it stop?
Met has so many benefits but I don't want to lose whatever's left of my hair.
Anyone??

ms_tara · 04-25-2008, 06:33 PM

I've also had hair loss on Met. I recently switched to ER and it's been much better. It would be great to hear from someone that has had more experience with this. It is a side effect that eventually goes away after our bodies adjust?

indianchick · 04-25-2008, 09:31 PM

Ms Tara - when you switched to the Extended Release Metformin, your hair loss improved? How long have you been on the ER, and how soon did you notice the improvement?

It's encouraging to hear that the ER (v. the regular Met) could make a difference :-)

ememily2004 · 04-26-2008, 02:18 PM

Metformin can alter how your body absorbs B vitamins and some people lose hair due to the decrease in absorption. When I first started taking Metformin i started losing hair, but I have really, really thick hair so didn't think anything of it. After a few months my doc told me to buy Vitamin B complex from the local GNC or grocery store. Since then it has drastically subsided. It still sheds when I do get a menstrual cycle which is still months apart.
Hope that helps...

Learner · 04-26-2008, 02:55 PM

Thanks! I was thinking that might be the case. It does help!
Thank you again!!

I am going to talk to my doctor and try that. So far I've been exercising a lot and hoping that that would help me.

Learner · 04-26-2008, 02:56 PM

I have been taking Vitamins and Fefol but I suppose I need more B12

Learner · 04-26-2008, 02:57 PM

Do you take Vitamins Indianchick? Take some heavy duty ones and let's check on each other's hair progress.
p.s. KatCarney! God Bless You!! You're an angel sent to us for this site. I don't know how I would deal with all my issues if it weren't for this amazing site!!

Learner · 04-26-2008, 03:12 PM

Just found this on the net:

Metformin, a medication for individuals with type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes, decreases vitamin B12 absorption by tying up free calcium required for absorption of the IF-B12 complex. This effect is correctable by drinking milk or taking calcium carbonate tablets along with food or supplements (5).

Here's the site:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...ug_interaction

indianchick · 04-26-2008, 04:56 PM

Yea, I was actually aware of the B12 issue when I started taking Met, so the whole time I was taking Biotin (5000mcg) and B12 (1000mcg) and a day, in addition to my GNC's Ultra Mega Women's vitamins and my calcium chew. My hair still started falling out after 6 weeks :-( I suppose I could try the sublingual B12 or the B12 drops (if my body is having a hard time absorbing the B12).

I supposed the Metformin 2 days ago because I was losing too much hair, and now I'm scared to go back on it.