Anonymous Question Can Metformin cause hair loss?

[Anonymous Question]

Anonymous question submitted:

Hi i was just wondering can you lose your hair from taking metformin im really scared and so paranoid about my hair

To submit a question, please go to http://www.diabetes.co.uk/ask-an-anonymous-question.html

 

[pavlosn]

Not in my own personal experience but I stand to be corrected.

Pavlos

 

[zand]

Yes, I lost some, my hair definitely got thinner. However I would love to still be taking Metformin because for me the benefits outweighed that one problem. Unfortunately my GP won't prescribe it anymore because my HbA1c is less than 48.

If I were you I would try it for a while and see whether it affects you in this way or not. It might not. From what others have said the hair grows again once you stop taking the metformin anyway. (I haven't been off it long enough to see this happen yet.)

 

[angelicbaby]

I have masses of hair but have not noticed any difference from taking Metformin - However I'm only on 500mg per day - those on 2g per day may experience hair loss or other symptoms.

Having said that the other side effects Metformin can have on people (sickness, diarrhea, lethal bottom emissions) may be considered far worse.

 

[pavlosn]

@zand

Tell your doctors to stop being so cheap and put you back on Metformin, if that is what you want.

Metformin is really cheap as medicine go. I buy mine privately and do not pay more than a tenner for a month's supply. The cost to them is probably less than half of that.

Tell them you need them to keep your fasting levels under control.

My latest hba1c was 33 by the way and my doctor insists that I continue taking it.

But as I said, I pay for my own prescriptions as not in the UK. I guess that comes into it.

Pavlos

 

[zand]

@pavlosn thanks I might just do that.

 

[cami1968mc]

Anonymous question submitted:

Hi i was just wondering can you lose your hair from taking metformin im really scared and so paranoid about my hair

To submit a question, please go to http://www.diabetes.co.uk/ask-an-anonymous-question.html

I asked my doctor why I started losing my hair after finding out I had diabetes type 2, that is after I started receiving treatment. He said, I don't know, stop taking metformin and see if you hair grows back, he said your levels are 5.9 and there shouldn't be any reason your hair should be falling out. Sure enough, my hair stopped falling out.

 

[KittyKatty]

Op - I was on Metformin and decided to come off it because of hair loss. I'm currently being investigated for the loss so can't say for sure what the cause is, yet.

 

[Simon84]

i read about metaformin when i was put on it and i think i read sumwhere that it can do something 2 ur vitamin b12? level in the blood which can cause ur hair 2 thin out??

 

[baglady]

Anonymous question submitted:

Hi i was just wondering can you lose your hair from taking metformin im really scared and so paranoid about my hair

To submit a question, please go to http://www.diabetes.co.uk/ask-an-anonymous-question.html

i have lost loads of hair & i do mean loads. i have always had long thick hair so it was something of a shock. i have been wondering is it the diabetes itself or the medication but as the hair loss has increased ten fold since my meds was upped i would say it is the metformin. i have bought special shampoo plus hair loss specific tablets called Biotin. will they work??? remains to be seen but as much as i know i will be incredibly upset if the hair loss continues as my hair as always been my 'thing' i know the health concerns re my diabetes far outweigh mere upset or vanity so unless my doctor has something else she can give me, i will continue with the metformin.

 

[baglady]

i read about metaformin when i was put on it and i think i read sumwhere that it can do something 2 ur vitamin b12? level in the blood which can cause ur hair 2 thin out??

if so i wonder does the fact that i'm a vegetarian make me likely to experience the hair loss....tennis ball size clumps last few days.

 

[Fba]

Interesting as my hair has thinned and last year when on metformin I had what I and the Dr thought was a bit of alopecia. It did improve but I did change meds as metformin didn't suit me.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

if so i wonder does the fact that i'm a vegetarian make me likely to experience the hair loss....tennis ball size clumps last few days.

If I were you I would see the doctor about the hair loss, as it might be due to the metformin or it might be due to something else.

With a vegetarian diet you might be missing out on some nutrients, unless you are very careful in planning what you eat. You can get blood tests for things like B12 and folate, which can become depleted after 3 years of metformin use.

If the hair loss is due to metformin and you and your doctor decide to stop it, then it may still be possible to control your diabetes without metformin. What sort of foods do you eat in a typical day?

 

[Cathangel]

I have experienced thinning hair which may be the metaformin. I take Kelp and Alphapha tablets which have made my hair grown back, also use cafeine shampoo which make it fall out less. I was taken off metaformin by a specialist as I was having bowel problems but have asked to go back on it as it works well for me. I was off it for 6 months and my bowels got worse again so doubt the metaformin was a big factor in the problems. Just got sensitive to lactose and gluten.

 

[13lizanne]

My thinning hair was the reason I consulted my GP who took bloods which showed diabetes with a HbA1c of 16 so, in my case it is the diabetes which causes my hair loss. P.S your hair sheds 3months AFTER the event/illness which causes the loss

 

[Celeriac]

I'm convinced that Metformin has made my hair thin and I'd like to reduce my dosage.

I read on an American forum, that Metformin used to have hair thinning as a side effect on the box leaflet and now doesn't.

I bought a cheap biotin and collagen thickening shampoo from Family Bargains and it did wonders but when I went back, they didn't have any

 

[jennygee]

I have read all the above comments with interest as I have experienced considerably thinning of my hair, and my nails are in a bad way - and I have not taken Metformin. Just controlling the diabetes with diet and as much exercise as my other problems allow. I was diagnosed in January this year and my HbA1 has gone from 63 to 34 in that time. My G.P. is very pleased, but I am definitely concerned about the hair and nail problem. I have been following the low carb diet and wonder if this is causing some kind of deficiency.
I have decided to try Biotin and will report back regarding success or failure in due course.

 

[13lizanne]

I have read all the above comments with interest as I have experienced considerably thinning of my hair, and my nails are in a bad way - and I have not taken Metformin. Just controlling the diabetes with diet and as much exercise as my other problems allow. I was diagnosed in January this year and my HbA1 has gone from 63 to 34 in that time. My G.P. is very pleased, but I am definitely concerned about the hair and nail problem. I have been following the low carb diet and wonder if this is causing some kind of deficiency.
I have decided to try Biotin and will report back regarding success or failure in due course.

I started losing my hair [and suffering peeling nails] before I went to GP for tests-which showed Diabetes type 2, I followed the recommended low glycaemic diet for almost 10yrs until I found this forum and during that time lost hair during periods of illness and stress. In my opinion it is the diabetes which is causing the hair loss since diabetes affects hormonal activity and not the diet. If anything my hair looks a bit thicker since I started low carbing. Hope this helps

 

[jennygee]

I started losing my hair [and suffering peeling nails] before I went to GP for tests-which showed Diabetes type 2, I followed the recommended low glycaemic diet for almost 10yrs until I found this forum and during that time lost hair during periods of illness and stress. In my opinion it is the diabetes which is causing the hair loss since diabetes affects hormonal activity and not the diet. If anything my hair looks a bit thicker since I started low carbing. Hope this helps

Thanks for this - I guess the hair loss could well be due to the diabetes itself. I recall losing a lot of my hair after my first pregnancy many, many years ago. But, whatever the reason, I am hoping trying Biotin might help. We shall see......

 

[Totto]

I have had hair loss for various reasons but bad and slow growing nails only due to low thyroid hormones.