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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Taylor123 on May 7, 2003, at 15:44:51
hi there,
Hope all is well.
I feel very wierd writing this, but am on 225mg of Effexor XR for 6 months, and have lost 27kg. Recently though, I have been loosing handfulls of hair in the shower. It's not on the side-effect profile... (but these things often aren't!)
Am I the only one?
I'm 23 with long hair, so no jokes about me loosing my hair thru stress or old age!
I really think it is from the Effexor. I am taking Lithium too, but been on that for couple of years with no probs.
Any comments / advice?
Thanx for the feed-back!
Good luck all.
Posted by Tabitha on May 8, 2003, at 13:00:05
In reply to EFFEXOR - HAIR LOSS, AM I THE ONLY ONE?, posted by Taylor123 on May 7, 2003, at 15:44:51
I had the same thing while on Effexor. I eventually lost about 1/3 of the thickness of my hair (judging from ponytail). My pdoc said it's only 1/1000 side effect, but I really thought it was Effexor. I've heard sometime you can lose hair due to the adjustment to a new med, but I quit the Effexor anyway. I still lost some hair every few months (I thought Neurontin was the culprit) but never again so much as when on Effexor. Now I'm off Neurontin too, and so far no more hair loss episodes.
Posted by Tabitha on May 8, 2003, at 13:01:38
In reply to EFFEXOR - HAIR LOSS, AM I THE ONLY ONE?, posted by Taylor123 on May 7, 2003, at 15:44:51
Posted by jflange on May 9, 2003, at 22:06:38
In reply to EFFEXOR - HAIR LOSS, AM I THE ONLY ONE?, posted by Taylor123 on May 7, 2003, at 15:44:51
Taylor123:
It is quite likely to be the Effexor. It - along with ssris - can sometimes block the absorption of zinc. This can cause your normal hairs to shed more quickly than usual. I managed to stop the shedding by supplementing with zinc at 50mgs/day. Others use a combo of selenium and zinc. Check out "psychopharmacology tips" on this website for more info.
Pdocs claim hair is a rare symptom, but it is quite common, especially for women with longer hair who notice it more!!
best of luck,
jflange
Posted by MattD on May 11, 2003, at 17:34:34
In reply to EFFEXOR - HAIR LOSS, AM I THE ONLY ONE?, posted by Taylor123 on May 7, 2003, at 15:44:51
I've read lots about Paxil and Zoloft causing hair loss, and have heard of Prozac doing it. In my own experience, Celexa caused it the worst, followed by Zoloft and then Paxil. But, with the Prozac, at least, I stayed on it for a while and the hair loss stopped and grew back. You should add zinc and selenium (and other antioxidants) for this problem.
> hi there,
> Hope all is well.
> I feel very wierd writing this, but am on 225mg of Effexor XR for 6 months, and have lost 27kg. Recently though, I have been loosing handfulls of hair in the shower. It's not on the side-effect profile... (but these things often aren't!)
> Am I the only one?
> I'm 23 with long hair, so no jokes about me loosing my hair thru stress or old age!
> I really think it is from the Effexor. I am taking Lithium too, but been on that for couple of years with no probs.
> Any comments / advice?
> Thanx for the feed-back!
> Good luck all.
Posted by Taylor123 on May 12, 2003, at 9:05:58
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR - HAIR LOSS, AM I THE ONLY ONE? » Taylor123, posted by MattD on May 11, 2003, at 17:34:34
thankyou for the feedback!
I am starting Zinc supplements today...
Fingers crossed. My plait has gotten so thin now. hopefully will get back to you with some good news (know it will take time!)
thanks for the help and support...
Good luck
Posted by Yellrlab on May 12, 2003, at 11:26:32
In reply to EFFEXOR - HAIR LOSS, AM I THE ONLY ONE?, posted by Taylor123 on May 7, 2003, at 15:44:51
How did you all handle withdrawal from Effexor? I tapered for 10 days from 150mg to zero because I didn't want to prolong the agony. (symptoms whether you taper OR cold turkey). I'm on day 4 of no meds and am going crazy. Night sweats/terrors are horrible. I am absolutely soaking wet each night. Fingertips feel like they're being zapped by electrical shocks. My eyes can't move real fast or I get dizzy. Crying and shaky. This is HELL. I was prescribed Effexor due to post menopausal anxiety and hot flashes. I'd trade those inconveniences in a heartbeat. One big question...PLEASE? Am I through the worst...'cuz I can endure anything if I just know that this too shall pass..... Anyone? Thanks for the support!
Posted by Snoozy on May 12, 2003, at 14:51:41
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal Hell, posted by Yellrlab on May 12, 2003, at 11:26:32
Hi -
I wasn't warned about tapering when I took Effexor, so I went cold turkey. For me, the worst of the withdrawl lasted about a week. My worst symptoms included nausea and shakiness, which was not helped by not being able to eat because of the nausea. I was lucky (?) I was able to take a time-out from life and just spend the week crawling from my bed to the couch. I couldn't really watch tv, it was like the world and my head were going at different speeds. And I had those brain zaps.
So I can't say if you're through the worst, but about a week was how long it took for me. Money-back guarantee this will pass!
Just take very good care of yourself through the rest of the withdrawl, and insist that others take good care of you too! Hang in there!
> How did you all handle withdrawal from Effexor? I tapered for 10 days from 150mg to zero because I didn't want to prolong the agony. (symptoms whether you taper OR cold turkey). I'm on day 4 of no meds and am going crazy. Night sweats/terrors are horrible. I am absolutely soaking wet each night. Fingertips feel like they're being zapped by electrical shocks. My eyes can't move real fast or I get dizzy. Crying and shaky. This is HELL. I was prescribed Effexor due to post menopausal anxiety and hot flashes. I'd trade those inconveniences in a heartbeat. One big question...PLEASE? Am I through the worst...'cuz I can endure anything if I just know that this too shall pass..... Anyone? Thanks for the support!
This is the end of the thread.
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