Synthroid Hair Loss

[Kim&Chris]

My doctor put me on Synthroid, and I've been reading that it causes temporary hair loss. When I mentioned it to my doc, he said "I've never heard of that". Ugh. Looking for advice and experiences with this. My hair is VERY thin to begin with, and I really can't afford to lose even a strand of hair, so obviously I'm extraordinarily nervous. Any advice?

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Being hypothyroid causes hair loss. It was one of my main early symptoms. The synthroid should help, not make it worse.

 

[Christine]

I've been taking Synthroid and equivalents for 30 years and it's never caused hair loss. Like you, I also have very fine hair so I'd notice it for sure. What will cause hair loss is sudden shifts in hormones in either direction. I know a lot of people who take thyroid replacement and I've not heard that the hormone itself causes hair loss.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Being hypothyroid causes hair loss. It was one of my main early symptoms. The synthroid should help, not make it worse.

Agreed, but the drug Synthroid causes additional hair loss.

 

[Huskerpaul]

Being hypothyroid causes hair loss. It was one of my main early symptoms. The synthroid should help, not make it worse.

I had some hair loss caused by hypothyroid. My barber found a bold spot on my head and that is how I even found out I had a thyroid problem. The drug to treat it also fixed my bald spot.

 

[lanejudy]

I've been on Synthroid for many years -- still have my hair. I just looked it up and hair loss appears to be listed as a potential adverse reaction when dosed too high (causing hyperthyroidism). When dosed correctly, Synthroid should prevent hair loss that may occur due to hypothyroidism.

https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/synthroid.pdf (pg 9)

 

[Dan Murphy]

My doctor put me on Synthroid, and I've been reading that it causes temporary hair loss. When I mentioned it to my doc, he said "I've never heard of that". Ugh. Looking for advice and experiences with this. My hair is VERY thin to begin with, and I really can't afford to lose even a strand of hair, so obviously I'm extraordinarily nervous. Any advice?

I'm hair challenged for sure, but not from synthoid. I've been on it for about 40 years now, but was getting thinning in my early 20's. No issues from the synthoid.

Here is a 17 year long running thread on this board, started by @Christine who posted above. Lots of thoughts there.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-thyroid-thread.1274073/

 

[Imzadi]

I constantly have a LOT hair loss caused by being hypothyroid. It has never come back. The texture also went from thick and stick straight to fine & frizzy. It has never come back. I lose so much hair EVERY time I wash my hair it or even comb it. It's like I'm doing chemo.

I got my hair semi-colored for the first time. I forgot to mention to the hair stylist about how much hair comes out when I wash it. HE brought it up because so much came off and was in a puddle in the sink. And he said I can never get a permanent hair color because of it. I didn't ask him why. But, I guess the chemicals are too harsh for the scalp and ALL the hair would fall off. I have noticed a bit more hair came out after the color than usual.

I am not on Synthroid. The filler in Synthroid is the acasia plant and I'm allergic to it. I'm also allergic to walnuts which the acasia plant is similar to. It gave me a swollen face, called "moon face" which happens to some hypothyroid people allergic Synthroid.

I take Cytomel for the T3. And Armour Thyroid for the T4 and little T3.

 

[nw6675]

I can't believe a physician didn't know that as a side effect. That is just weird to me!

My endocrinologist years ago started me on a high dose with no titration. My hair immediately started thinning. He got mad at me because I stopped the medicine between appointments and the hair issue stopped.

I'm on a much lower dose now and have never had the issue again.

 

[HashberryOTG]

Hair loss is more associated with incorrect dosage than an actual side effect (altho anything can happen). If you notice excessive hair loss on any medication, get with your doc. There are alternatives (real vs synthetic, etc) that may work better if you're having adverse reactions. I've never had hair loss from my thyroid meds, but my hair does get more brittle if I don't take them for some time.

 

[nancipants]

I’ve been taking synthroid and it’s generics since I was 6 months old and have always had extremely thick hair.

 

[Imzadi]

Hair loss is more associated with incorrect dosage than an actual side effect (altho anything can happen). If you notice excessive hair loss on any medication, get with your doc. There are alternatives (real vs synthetic, etc) that may work better if you're having adverse reactions. I've never had hair loss from my thyroid meds, but my hair does get more brittle if I don't take them for some time.

Unfortunately, I can't get out of bed if my thyroid meds are changed. I already lost years of my life due to that. And when i accidentally screw up and forget to take a pill for several hours, which also means I can't take the second one for several hours after the first, (plus some supplements after that,) I really feel the exhaustion kicking in, sometimes for a whole day.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I've been on a Synthroid for almost 10 years and haven't had any hair loss problems.

 

[Imzadi]

And when I tried to talk to my doctor about all the hair falling out, he said, something like "Welcome to the club. He knows what it's like to have hair fall out," as he is BALD.

I wanted to say, "But, MINE may be due to thyroid or hormonal issues, whereas yours is due to hereditary." The most I could get from him is a recommendation for a dermatologist.

 

[Silver saucer]

Ive been taking Synthroid for years and have never had any hair loss.

 

[KPeterso]

Been taking generic synthroid about 10 years now. No hair loss. I have very fine hair, but a lot of it. It does take a bit to get to the right dose. My doctor started a low dose and we kept upping it to find the right dose to get my thyroid score on my blood work in the range my doctor wants it.