I am wondering if anyone else had hair loss due to SSRIs? Are some drugs worse than others? I’ve been on Paxil for about 3 weeks and I’ve lost a ton of hair already and I’m worried. Will this stop after my body adjusts more or just keep getting worse?
There are a lot of meds out there that can cause you to shed. Could be hormones. Contact pharmacy is best bet…imo.
Hi Melissa,
I am sorry to hear of your losing some of your hair. Allopecia (hair loss) is a very rare side of effect of the SSRI’s, but it has been reported. I would definitely touch base with your doc.
Keep us posted.
Best,
Lisa
Thanks guys. I have a call in to my doctor who is out today. I would be really sad if I had to stop taking it because of this. I actually feel like its been helping me! Hmmm hair vs. dizziness… :?
Are you talking hair on your head , I assume…the reason I ask is all of a sudden the hair on my legs has stopped growing and I am on no medication other than a small dose of Valium.
Perhaps it is something else all together …I have been told that both hormones and thyroid issues can cause this to happen.
PS I would be bald to get rid of the condition … :mrgreen:
I would shave my head and give up all worldly possessions if I could beat MAV… 
Seriously, I am not kidding…
Good luck Melissa. Let us know what the doc says.
lisa
— Begin quote from “MAVNY”
I would shave my head and give up all worldly possessions if I could beat MAV… Seriously, I am not kidding…
Good luck Melissa. Let us know what the doc says.
lisa
— End quote
Me too Lisa…if I could have my health back I would give it all up every bit of it.
Ok well now I just feel vain 
Yes, I am talking hair on my head. I think as a woman, I’d be thrilled to have my leg hair stop growing!
For anyone following my saga, I had ONE beer last night and feel horrible today. I think I found out one of my big triggers. Sadness, there goes nights of being the flip-cup champion at parties.
Melissa - let us know when you hear from the doctor. And, keep us posted on if the SSRI is helping your MAV sxs. Sure hope so.
I heard from the doctor. She basically said that only 1 percent of people lose hair on SSRIs (of course it had to be me) and that if one does it to me, they all probably will. She said to try eating more protein, as the drug might be making my protein off-balanced and if I was deficient before, this might cause that. She also said it was up to me if I wanted to keep trying it or go off it.
I think I’m going to stick it out another week and see what happens and then decide. I’m going off everything next month anyway to try to get pregnant, so I might as well just wait until another time to keep trialing meds.
The paxil seemed to be helping at least somewhat. I hadn’t had a really bad day in a couple of weeks until today. I had a beer last night which I think made me wake up groggy and dizzy. Then I had a lot to get done at work so I drank coffee for the first time in months, which is making me WAY worse dizzy-wise but at least able to get stuff done and concentrate a little more.
Thanks for the support everyone!
Melissa - sounds like a smart plan. Just wondering what were your symptoms before the med, and what has changed? thanks.
— Begin quote from “MAVLisa”
Melissa - sounds like a smart plan. Just wondering what were your symptoms before the med, and what has changed? thanks.
— End quote
My main symptoms are heavy headedness, lightheadedness and inability to concentrate or focus my eyes on something without feeling dizzy. I’m not sure how much the meds were helping. Triggers are still triggers, like when I go to the grocery store and my head starts swimming… but at least I had more energy on the medication and wasn’t oversleeping as much. My head fogginess decreased quite a bit too.
Hi Melissa,
Yes, it does sound like a good plan. Glad you checked in with the doc.
I am wondering what you mean by fogginess? I know a lot of people complain about that and I am not sure what that exactly means.
Thanks,
Lisa
To me, it feels like being stoned, or having drank a bunch of wine. I guess it’s hard to explain for someone who doesn’t have it, but I can only desribe it as that. I feel hungover all the time, unable to concentrate, heavy-headed, etc. (p.s. I’m not the hard partier this makes me sound like 
)