some threads are all about trying topical things and supplements etc... and then someone comes along and says hey why don't you just go to your derm and get meds.
Do meds REALLY help hair loss? It seems like most people have either given up on them and turned to Rogaine etc or have never tried real meds at all and go straight to the Rograine stuff. Which is it, because if they have given up then there is no point in me trying the meds, in general I mean.
Again, kind of vague, but I just don't know what to DO. Is there any point in trying the meds if so many people have moved on to other things?
I read a few threads where Metformin actually helped hair loss (because of the lowering of testosterone I presume). Do you think that happens with a lot of people or just a select few? I wonder if those who are trying Spironolactone etc. have tried Met at all or they don't know about it or don't think it's an option for them? There seem to be a lot of success stories with it (albeit with some bumps in the road).
Also hypothyroid drugs (I'm not sure if I have this yet) should also help to reverse the hair loss right? I hear about so and so symptom but I never know if treatments exist to help the SYMPTOMS such as hair loss, cold intolerance, etc. But anyway I'm mainly worried about HL here...
Please help, I don't know what to do or where to start. I'm so lost and sad
Every Case is so different that is the problem .... I have had hair loss for years I am also an identical twin who is also going through it ...
We have both been on teh following medications: -
Spiro
Regaine (5%)
Propecia (5mg)
Dianette
Yasmin
and now I am on Flutamide
NOTHING has worked for eitehr of us and all of the drugs had horrid side effects
I have batteld depression over this issue and the last five years of my life hav ebeen destroyed by hair loss it is not right that any female should go through this
I have however been wearing cosmetic hair whihc although not ideal at ALL is better than walking around with my own rubbish hair on show ..
Sorry my post isnt positive but if I wear you I would try it as you may be lucky
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I don't know that Metformin by itself has been proven to be all that effective for hair loss. I've taken Met before and it made me terribly ill. It also did terrible things to my hair since I could hardly eat due to the nausea and did nothing to control my androgen levels. I took it to get pregnant, and will never take it again. I have normal insulin levels and am at a normal weight, so my doctor did not push for me to continue on it. As with all meds, I think it's just a matter of what works for you. Some people have a positive response on Met and some don't. As far as meds for hair loss, there are things that work for some people. I would highly encourage you to pursue treatment, and the sooner the better. You need to make a decision based on your own situation. If you're insulin resistant, you should probably consider met with diet and exercise. If you're hypothyroid, then get on thyroid supplementation. If your androgens are high, try some anti-androgen meds. There is no reason that you should throw in the towel before you've even tried anything. If you read enough threads on here, you will convince yourself that your situation is hopeless, and that's simply not the case. LOTS of people have success treating their symptoms. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 27 but have had symptoms since I was 15. I thought things were hopeless, too. But since my diagnosis, I've had 2 children, I've maintained a normal weight, my insulin levels are normal, and I've regrown hair after a bout with hair loss when I was trying to get pregnant with my second child last year. I used Yasmin, Rogaine, Spiro, and an iron supplement to help regrow my hair. By the way, Rogaine is a real drug. I chose to use it after reading a research study that determined that Rogaine and Spiro can work together to encourage better hair growth than either drug alone. Success stories with this disease do exist. Stay positive and don't resign yourself to being unhappy. You sound confused and frightened, and I hate that for you. I have definitely been where you are now. I wish you the best of luck.
Thanks ladies (sorry I didn't reply earlier, Christmas festivities). It was really helpful esp. kayp's answer It's going to be complicated and crazy but hopefully I find something that works with me. Currently the only problem I really have with having PCOS is the hair loss (which is diffuse and not coming out in chunks so that's good) and the missing periods. And the occasional cyst bursting which could be something else entirely. If I got the hair thing fixed I'd be happy as a clam.
i am taking met xr 2000mg daily, i am positive that it has helped with my hair loss, it took about 2 months of taking it for me to really notice a difference in my hair, i had the hair that people were envious of, thick and shiny, just beautiful, my hair loss has really only started happening over the last 2 years. i first noticed a small bald spot near the front of my head-very hard to cover up, but i kept an eye on it and it grew back, it was about 2 inches long and stood straight up, lol, in august of this year is when i started taking the met, my hair was doing better after the 2 months, then i did IVF, it failed and i quit taking met for about a month and my hair began falling out again-fast, i started taking the met again, maybe about 2 weeks now and my hair is better again, by better i mean not falling out in handfulls, i would lose one handfull in the shower and another one when i blow dried it, now i loose what would be considered "normal" on a daily basis.
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dx PCOS at 16/dx IR 8/2008 TTC since 2006 11/08 IVF cycle #1 -BFN 06/09 IVF cycle #2-BFN 11 embryos waiting on ice!
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Thanks Rita oh my goodness that gives me hope! I guess it really just happens for some people and not for others. Bleh. Aren't bodies wonderful. I hope it helps with mine.
Do you also think that weight gain and loss with PCOS directly affects hair loss? I feel that whenever start yo-yoing the more weight I gain the more hair I loose. Right now I am pretty thin on top and about as overweight as ever. Just a thought.
__________________ TACTY Me (29)DH (33)
Married 7/2008
TTC 7/2009 (planning ahead)
Diagonsed PCOS 1998 Metformin 2000MG. Ortho-Tricyclin (generic)
I am officially depressed at the hair loss!! maybe I am pmsing, but will the hair ever grow back on my head.. will the bald spot go away..im still giving this metformin a chance, plus the diet and exercise but I am getting a little concerned now...
EDIT: To the original poster, I fully understand what your going through, as I’ve experienced it myself & if you’d like to know what I did to help then feel free to message me. I will send you what I had originally posted
Last edited by Goddess Hectate Help; 01-04-2009 at 12:19 PM.
Sorry "goddess", but your post is irresponsible, you should not be giving out ANY suggestions that mimic medical advice, at 22 years old I doubt you are a physician, and if you are in the medical field, you would realize the danger in making blanket statements such as these. As a matter of fact, many things that you are suggesting are advertising in nature and sound like total CRAP.
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dx PCOS at 16/dx IR 8/2008 TTC since 2006 11/08 IVF cycle #1 -BFN 06/09 IVF cycle #2-BFN 11 embryos waiting on ice!
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Sorry "goddess", but your post is irresponsible, you should not be giving out ANY suggestions that mimic medical advice, at 22 years old I doubt you are a physician, and if you are in the medical field, you would realize the danger in making blanket statements such as these. As a matter of fact, many things that you are suggesting are advertising in nature and sound like total CRAP.
What does my age have to do with anything? I've been exp. hair loss since I was 17.. this is what I found that works best for me (after trying numerous medications).. this information was GIVEN to me by Doctors & Dieticians & based on research, specifically for hair loss caused by PCOS.. I didn't just make up "crap" of the top of my head and post it... This was a post asking for help, as a matter of fact, this entire site is dedicated to women suffering from PCOS so we can HELP each other.. It's a suggestion on what worked for me, just like what EVERYONE ELSE posts on this board.. Last time I checked most people here aren't physicians they are here to give advice on what's working for them, it doesn't mean you have to follow it or that it should ever be taken as medical advice.... If you think it's "crap" that's your opinion, no one is shoving this down your throat and telling you to do it.. This was directed at the op, she stated that melf. may help lower androgen levels and spironolactone may as well to stop the hair loss, neither medication worked for me regarding hair loss (but I NEVER told her NOT to try them, everyone is different).. so I gave her what I read others on this board did to help and what I did as well.. All the herbs I listed like spearmint and licorice have proven to lower test. levels with little side effects unlike regular medication.. There are natural alternatives, just bc your not open to trying them, doesn't mean that anyone else isn't
Last edited by Goddess Hectate Help; 01-03-2009 at 12:45 PM.
I have been losing my hair for 10 years to the point of male pattern baldness AND generalized thinning; I wore wigs. I was finally diagnosed with PCOS and was initially prescribed Metformin ER..I begin losing MORE hair. I talked with my doctor and was prescribed Met XR; this has been a miracle drug for me. Not only has my hair stopped sheddding, it seems to be re-growing.
In addition to the Met, I take 2000 mg of MSM (known to thicken the hair) and 5000mcg of biotin daily. I contribute my new growth and thickness to the combination of Met XR, MSM and biotin.
What does my age have to do with anything? I've been exp. hair loss since I was 17.. this is what I found that works best for me (after trying numerous medications).. this information was GIVEN to me by Doctors & Dieticians & based on research, specifically for hair loss caused by PCOS.. I didn't just make up "crap" of the top of my head and post it... This was a post asking for help, as a matter of fact, this entire site is dedicated to women suffering from PCOS so we can HELP each other.. It's a suggestion on what worked for me, just like what EVERYONE ELSE posts on this board.. Last time I checked most people here aren't physicians they are here to give advice on what's working for them, it doesn't mean you have to follow it or that it should ever be taken as medical advice.... If you think it's "crap" that's your opinion, no one is shoving this down your throat and telling you to do it.. This was directed at the op, she stated that melf. may help lower androgen levels and spironolactone may as well to stop the hair loss, neither medication worked for me regarding hair loss (but I NEVER told her NOT to try them, everyone is different).. so I gave her what I read others on this board did to help and what I did as well.. All the herbs I listed like spearmint and licorice have proven to lower test. levels with little side effects unlike regular medication.. There are natural alternatives, just bc your not open to trying them, doesn't mean that anyone else isn't
I think the problem was that rather than saying "I've found that" your post had expressions like "you NEED to follow this" and "this is a MUST" and "NO BIRTH CONTROL PILLS." The danger is that for some people that might not be the best advice, although it's presented as a series of imperatives.
We're all in slightly different situations with different needs and desires. For example, I haven't had major problems conceiving, so I am not in any need of drugs to help me in that way. And again, I have a husband, so I'm not faced any more with the worry "Will any man ever accept a girl who has to shave like a man?" or "Will any man ever like a girl who's got hardly any breast development?" For women who are still looking for a bf, these are major issues and may affect our attitude to various suggestions which are made. What's appropriate for one woman may not be appropriate for the next.
Is There Hope: Meds That Work for Hair Loss? 
It's going to be complicated and crazy but hopefully I find something that works with me. Currently the only problem I really have with having PCOS is the hair loss (which is diffuse and not coming out in chunks so that's good) and the missing periods. And the occasional cyst bursting which could be something else entirely. If I got the hair thing fixed I'd be happy as a clam.
