Comments on: Synthroid & Hair Loss – Leah’s Story

By: trc1962

trc1962 — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 15:57:16 +0000

If you read the hormonally sensitive woman you will find that progesterone as a whole is very bad for inducing or causing hairloss. The one type that is okay that is often included in the bcp is disprosonone and that seems to be hair friendly. Estrogen helps hair and estrogen dominance just isn’t true. I have suffered with hairloss and have had a lot of regrowth with spironolactone and a friendly bcp. I don’t use rogaine as I have seb derm and rogaine would be awful for it. I have been great for years and then suddenly rosacea is back and loosing the tiny hairs. Blood work says an elevated TSH but I am not rushing into treating it as the hair loss from the meds in hormonally vulnerable women is just really scary. I still have adequate t3 and t4 and if that changes I will have to take the meds, but I am going to do home work first and run everything through my endo in New York Dr. Redmond. If you find spiro has side effects then dose it up slowly every few days. At 53 I have done fine on it for 11 years and my sister inlaw has seen good results as well. It is the best shot at slowing the loss.

By: Sandie

Sandie — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 02:08:39 +0000

Although Synthroid and all these other synthetic thyroid replacements are supposedly the exact molecular structure, there is something horribly insidious about the compound that affects a large portion of users. Not all users can transform synthetic T4 into active T3 effectively and if this is you, within a week or so, you will feel doom and gloom because the synthroid interferes with existing production of T4, you stop producing T3 from your natural source and at the same time cannot convert the synthetic source into T3 so you are T3 deficient (worse than before you started synthetic T4). So when you feel depression, this is the problem. Even endocrinologists do not understand the problem. Without enough T3, you will become depressed. Do not take an anti-depressant but go to a natural source of thyroid treatment. Has anyone had their thyroid inflamed when starting synthetic T4…yes this chemical can cause thyroiditis and damage what you have left of your thyroid. To get on the subject of hair…that is a big issue and its complex. Some people are lucky and have no negative hair loss effects but for those who do, regardless of whether you take natural thyroid or not, you will have hair loss now. It is what to do about it. Have your Dihydrotestosterone checked…it will be high. Most of us are TH2 dominant so before you start anything new, research to make sure it does not boost TH2 side of the immune system. You will find out that you are allergic to everything under the sun…get an IgG Food Intolerance Test done at a reputable lab. Make sure you eat all the 200+ foods they will be testing a week prior to the test to give the body a chance to develop antibodies should you be sensitive. Absolutely remove all gluten from the diet and go on a paleo & low histamine diet. You cannot cheat with gluten as the reactions can last for months, cheat a few times a year and you are back where you started! Gluten and Hashi are directly related. When you get your IgG test back, eliminate all foods you are sensitive to. This is critical to recovery. Using Minoxidil and other hair treatments will help you grow hair faster and thicker but it won’t prevent your hair fallout if you are having a hair loss flare. It is worth it as if you combine that with taking biotin, your hair loss will recover quicker. Look into 23andme dna testing (23andme.com, order the kit and do the saliva test yourself) combined with geneticgenie.com to find out your methylation pathway defects. If you are a poor methylator like most of us, SAM-e and Cordycepts sinensis will help with energy, feeling well and detox. If you are an over methylator, you will feel worse on SAM-e. If are having severe hair loss, see a chelation clinic to test for bacteria, virus, fungus and heavy metals. Eliminating the toxic load will stop your downward spiral and help you recover. Supplement suggestions are B, C, D3, E, Magnesium Malate, Medicinal Mushrooms, SAM-e. “Why do I still have thyroid symtoms” is an excellent book and research on your own – methylation, leaky gut, histamine intolerance.

By: Tina

Tina — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 18:52:47 +0000

Laura,
having similar issues, things got worse for me on bio progesterone and when they finally put me on NDT I thinned horribly for 3 months, I have the extreme breakage where it looks like bangs and thinning peak and temples no one can tell me why the breakage is doing what it is (breaking then falling) but I how something is hormonally off now I just turned 47 as well and my nightmare started 18 months ago

By: laura

laura — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 19:58:30 +0000

Rebecca,I am so very sorry for what your going through!
Its just awful!!!
I am 47 and started noticing thinning hair in my bang area. Widows peak and temples. It all started three years ago when I went to a specialist whom specializes in Hormones, Allergies and infectious disease.The Dr. drew tons of blood . Took me off the Levothyroxine I had been on for about 1 year. She then put me on 30 mg of Armor thyroid ,Biodentacle Progesterone cream and .05 mg of adavan. .I would see the Dr every 6 months or so and I told her it seems like im thinning in my bang area. Because I have an excess amount of healthy hair she had stated it must be because I am growing my hair out. I didn’t agree since I am organic hair stylist and I get regular hair cuts and take very good care of my hair. I did cut it short anyways.You never know. Still slowly I continue to notice its getting thinner and thinner in this area! I can know see the white of my scalp!!!I’m tempted to wean off the thyroid med ?It has to be one of those three things because it did not start until I was put on Armour,adivan and progesterone.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 00:39:38 +0000

A week after taking synthroid I began losing my hair in clumps. Prior to this I never had any hairloss issues despite being hypothyroid for likely a number of years. In fact, I had more hair than I knew what to do with.

After losing hair at an alarming rate, I called my doctor who assured me it couldn’t be the synthroid. I switched to tirosent just in case which is supposed to have less fillers but my hair loss has only grown worse. It has been 5 months since I started my hypothyroid medication and now my hair loss is noticeable on my temples and on my hairline/widows peak. I can see my scalp now and because it is right at my hairline, there is no way to hide the thinning areas. But, my endocronologist just keeps saying that I am “in range”.

I am on minoxidil (rogaine) which I apply twice a day, vivoscal (contains biotin), anaphase shampoo, and neopeptide hair spray (all from the dermatologist). I am also taking a multi-vitam, vitamin D, green tea extract, prim rose oil, and fish oil.

I have made an appointment for a second opinion from an endocronologist but that’s an entire month away. I also reduced my 37 mg of tirosent down to 25 mg which is the original dosage I was on. I’m thinking about reducing it down to 12 mg. I’m also thinking about taking saw palmetto because I read that synthroid can increase your 5-alpha reductase which turns testosterone into DHT. But, I’m worried about the side effects. I have tried to consult with my current endocronologist but she hasn’t even bothered to return my phone calls. I’ve also stayed away from gluten since I read that can agitate hashimotos disease which I was told I likely have.

When I went to the dermatologist, my 17-OH progesterone levels were really high. I have no idea what this means and my dermatologist PA basically diagnosed me with congenital hydroplasia. This makes no sense. I am not masculine in the least and I do not have a deep voice. While I think my facial hair has increased in the last few years, I would hardly call it excessive hair growth.

I cry constantly about the hair loss which is causing severe depression. I am 30 years old. I should not have a receding hair line.

By: marcia

marcia — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 18:39:20 +0000

I’m overwhelmed after reading what sound like my same symptoms.
I’ve also been struggling to find answers and support. I can only describe myself and share and hope there are some answers. I just turned 62 and have tried Armor Thyroid to treat my hypothyroidism for the last year. I’m also losing my hair. I’ve been to the GP and had my bloodwork done and was told I’m in the normal range, and referred to a dermatologist. I hadn’t considered hormones until reading the letters on this site. I lost most of my pubic hair in my 50’s. I will have to continue my story. I’m feeling depressed and not wanting to give up but it’s very difficult. You have to fight your way through the doctors. In general there isn’t much sympathy. It’s a.solo flight.
M.

By: Olivia

Olivia — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 01:44:12 +0000

I have lost almost half my hair’s thickness, my hair line is moving back rapidly, and I am getting a distinct balding spot at the crown of my head. I have been on 150mcg Synthroid since the beginning of August. I cannot go off it as I no longer have a thyroid due to ablation as treatment for Grave’s disease. I had no hair loss during my hypo period or the long hyper period that proceeded it. I am losing hope that I will ever have nice hair again. It used to be my best feature. My drain is always clogged, my chairs are covered in hair, I’m afraid of my hair brush. I miss my hair. My questions have been asked several time above, but I haven’t seen any answers yet so I’m going to take my chance with only limited hope.
1) What are the chances my hair loss will stabilize?
2) What are the chances it will regrow?
3) Does Amour cause hair loss too?
4) Has anyone seen improvement in falling hair after switching to Amour from Sythroid?
5) What other options do I have?

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 04:40:26 +0000

I am losing my hair and have only taken 18 levothyroxine pills. I went in to the doctor because I was feeling so bad and he ran tests and the only thing that came back was a low thyroid – still in range tho – just low. Two days ago I started getting a lump in my throat and I feel like I can’t swallow. My thin hair is starting to get thinner…I don’t even want to wash it, because more might fall out. My scalp is starting to have a burning/itching sensation to it. So, my question is, since I’ve only taken 18 pills (yes, I believe I can already be feeling the effects)..would it be safe to stop taking it? My level was still in range, just a little low. I wish he had never put me on these pills and I wish I had researched them further, before I started taking them. I just hate the thought of losing my hair. My daughter is getting married in 47 days and I just hope I have hair left. I did call him today and he had me go take another blood test, so we’ll see what that is, but I think I’m going to not take them anymore and take some of the vitamins listed above. I’m glad I found this site!!!

By: Salina

Salina — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:41:58 +0000

I think that it is time to law suit doctors. This is a malpractice case. There seem to be a lot of ignorant, intellectually disabled and greedy doctors around here.

By: Clary

Clary — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:25:56 +0000

Me too taking levothyroxine and bold I do not want to meet people even my eyelashes..cry and cry … It helped a lot to read I thought I was alone