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Okay I have a question, I never had any problems with my hair up until August...my Dr gave me a precription for a high dosage of folic acid. I read somewhere that it can make vitamin B defficiancy. I was taking Metformin, but I'm not anymore and I do take Clomid also 5 days out of the month. I was wondering what may have started this?
In Reply to: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 08:32:29:
Hi Gale,
The hair loss is likely temporary even though it seems
to be permanent. Once the cause is corrected, the normal growing cycle will resume and in 6 months or so,
you will be much happier.
Infertility may be due to the underlying pre-diabetes problem which is the reason for you taking metformin.
A high insulin level requires a diet change and weight loss in order that metformin dosage can be kept low and more effective.
Has your doctor told you that you may be infertile due to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and that diet can correct this in a few months.?
If you are concerned about a low b12 level, you can
be tested and take supplements. Do you have any neurological symptoms such as loss of feeling in the extremities, burning numbness or tingling, vision changes etc?
Can you tell us what you ate yesterday, so suggestions can be made?
see link
In Reply to: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 08:32:29:
what is thedose you are taking?
In Reply to: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 08:32:29:
causes of hair loss can include thyroid problems and mercury poisoning (from fish, environmental pollutants, mercury fillings in the teeth, etc).
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Ron [205.2318] on October 27, 2005 at 09:08:31:
I do have PCOS...I'm not taking Met anymore because I'm actually allergic to it, but my RE says I can correct and help my PCOS through diet. I've been trying to do it through diet and working out, I'm down 10 lbs, I have a feeling that because I'm taking one of these medications I'm losing my hair. I've never had any problems until August when I started taking folic acid. I'm on about 4,000 mg of folic acid, plus another I think 1,000 mg in my prenatal vitamins. I'm starting to think it's making me B deficient or something. At first I thought the Met was doing it, but I'm not on that anymore since September...then I started thinking the Clomid was doing it, but the more I think about it...it may be the falic :( Any advice?
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Ron [205.2318] on October 27, 2005 at 09:08:31:
Do you have any neurological symptoms such as loss of feeling in the extremities, burning numbness or tingling, vision changes etc?
Can you tell us what you ate yesterday, so suggestions can be made?
******************************************************
I don't have any of the above symptoms. Yesterday I ate chicken salad and peanuts...only water to drink all day. And some peas with onions.
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 11:47:53:
Hi Gale,
"I don't have any of the above symptoms. Yesterday I ate chicken salad and peanuts...only water to drink all day. And some peas with onions."
But you do seem to be infertile...
Could be that you are simply not eating enough and your body is in starvation mode.. causing amenorrhea?
A high thyroid level would not help.
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Ron [1013.2318] on October 27, 2005 at 13:35:52:
I actually only just started eating like that because I was trying to lose weight. I'm still confused at what has been making me lose my hair since August, I've stopped taking the folic acid to see if that may have something to do with it. I really appreciate your help. Is there anything else that you can tell me that may help me out. Do you think that because of the Clomid I'm taking every month that, that may have something to do with it? I've noticed that more hair falls out when I'm on my second day of taking it...them when I'm finished it slows down to almost nothing, very weird :(
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by GALE [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 11:43:14:
Hi Gale,
Here are some facts about Folic Acid
It is not likely what is causing hair loss.
That is more likley due to hormones or a
starvation diet.
You may need to add B12 to your intake since
Folic Acid can cover up some of the symptoms
of Pernicious Anemia
How is your Iron level?
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Rob [1013.2318] on October 27, 2005 at 13:50:32:
Ron not Rob
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Rob [1013.2318] on October 27, 2005 at 13:50:32:
I'm very close to anemia, that's what my RE says. I've been taking more iron. I just don't understand why this would happen almost over night...It started almost two weeks after starting my Metformin. Now that I'm on Clomid it continues, it gets really bad when I'm on the Clomid and then it slows down once I'm off of it. I just found something that states hair loss can be a side effect of Clomid. I'm wondering if that is my cause.
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 14:08:58:
Correction, starting the Metformin and the Folic acid...maybe it's making me aniamic and I don't even know it? If I stop taking Folic acid maybe I'll see a difference in my hair if that's what's making the problem?
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Rob [1013.2318] on October 27, 2005 at 13:50:32:
I'm sorry, I keep forgetting to write thing. So if the folic acid it covering my animia, if I have it...can it make it worse and make vitamin B12 defincency? I'm so confused, I'm not that smart at this stuff. How does that work? So does that mean that the folic acid can be causing some problems with me?
In Reply to: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 08:32:29:
I just found this on a site about caution about folic acid. What do you think?
Caution about folic acid supplements
There has been concern about the interaction between vitamin B12 and folic acid. Folic acid supplements can correct the anemia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Unfortunately, folic acid will not correct changes in the nervous system that result from vitamin B12 deficiency. Permanent nerve damage could theoretically occur if vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated. Therefore, intake of supplemental folic acid should not exceed 1000 micrograms (µg, sometimes mcg) per day to prevent folic acid from masking symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. In fact, evidence that such masking actually occurs is scarce, and there is no evidence that folic acid fortification in Canada or the US has increased the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency or its consequences.
Still it is important for older adults to be aware of the relationship between folic acid and vitamin B12 because they are at greater risk of having a vitamin B12 deficiency. If you are 50 years of age or older, ask your physician to check your B12 status before you take a supplement that contains folic acid.
The main reason for vitamin B12 deficiency in some of the elderly is that they have problems absorbing the vitamin from their diet. This is called malabsorption ("poor absorption"). The Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin B12 is 2.4 microgram per day, but elderly people with malabsorption of vitamin B12 may need to eat 500 micrograms of cobalamin in order to absorb a few micrograms. The rest passes unchanged into the feces. In order to maintain an adequate supply of vitamin B12 in the body, people with vitamin B12 malabsorption may need 1000 micrograms of methylcobalamin per day.
In the case of a vitamin B12 deficiency present, doctors usually recommend 2000 micrograms a day for one month. After that, you may follow the dose of 1000 micrograms a day.
In Reply to: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 08:32:29:
www.heralopecia.com. This is a great site for women and there's a good chat board where you can get feedback from other women about your situation as many of them have similar profiles.
Two other good sites are www.hairlosstalk.com and www.keratin.com.
Best of luck to you.
In Reply to: Just found this information about folic acid posted by gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 14:21:05:
Sublingual supplementation may reduce needed dosage.
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 14:08:58:
Hi Gale,
Metformin is supposed to prevent high blood sugar rises by helping your body to quickly expell refined carbs.
I think you need a new doctor, since this one is not
showing his ability to help you. If you are not overweight, it can deprive you of energy since sugar is the fuel that the body burns.
If you are weak and anemic, that will also prevent absorbtion of needed nutrients.
A diet of less than 1500 calories a day really isn't enough.
Why not ask the doc for a b12 blood test to see if you are defficient) and either monthly b12 shots or 1000mcgm sublingual pills to take daily?
If you are not eating enough, you are also putting your body into starvation mode and that isn't helping.
Have you had your complete thyroid panel tested?
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 13:40:36:
Hi gale, are you still getting healthy fats and omega 3s in your diet?
In Reply to: Just found this information about folic acid posted by gale [1020.4] on October 27, 2005 at 14:21:05:
Thanks, Gale.
This is word for word what we were trught 45 years ago in medical school. Just another reason for a whole foods diet and supplements like "Perfect Food".
Walt
In Reply to: Good support site for female hair loss posted by CL [1989.1399] on October 27, 2005 at 14:55:05:
Thanks, CL.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by Ron [3195.2318] on October 27, 2005 at 17:55:51:
Thanks, I guess I'll ask them to check my b12 blood to see what's going on. Should I ask them to check anything else while they're checking my blood?
In Reply to: Re: excessive folic causing hair loss posted by GALE [1020.4] on October 28, 2005 at 09:54:13:
Hi Gale,
Why not ask for a complete thyroid panel, hormone levels,
Hemoglobin A1c, insulin levels and C Peptide.?
I am sure that there is more and someone will add to that.
Ron
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