Friday, February 06, 2009 Sallie asks

Q: Can Forteo cause thinning of hair or hair loss?

I have been taking Forteo for 18 months. I have had no severe side effects and seem to have tolerated it well. However, I have noticed that I am losing a significant amount of my hair. I have probably lost about 1/3 of my hair (volume not in spots) over the past year or two. I am wondering if this could be caused by the Forteo.

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Answers (9)

Pam Flores, Health Guide

2/ 6/09 6:05pm

Hi Sallie: Congrats; you're almost finished with Forteo!

According to the various articles on Forteo, hair loss is not listed as a side effect. I took Forteo for 2 years, and have had thinning hair, but mine began before I started Forteo. I never figured out why my hair started thinning years ago, but was told many different things, like hormone loss, diet, aging etc. Unfortunately some of us just have this problem as we age, but you could ask your Dr about it and see what he thinks.

I know what a pain this is and how frustrating it can be, but maybe your Dr can help you find something that would slow or reverse your thinning hair. If you find out what caused it let me know.

Good luck and I hope your t-scores are great from the Forteo, like mine were.

Pam Flores, Health Guide

2/ 6/09 9:36pm

Hi Again... I just noticed a link here at the OsteoporosisConnection on thinning hair and hair loss products ranked by popularity and positive results. The link is above, if you would like to read it. I'm going to look into them myself since this is something that's driving me crazy Hopefully this will help in some way and good luck again. PF

Barbara White

8/ 7/10 11:31pm

Hi. I've been taking Forteo, too, for almost 18 months and the hair loss started probably a week or two after I started taking it. Just like yours, it's not coming out in clumps, but really noticeable when I wash my hair, and I've probably lost at least a third of my hair also. It seems to have stabilized at one-third, but who knows what the next few months will bring? I'm supposed to take it until March, so we'll see what happens after that when I'm supposed to stop.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Barbara

chalk

8/29/10 9:44pm

Definitely hair loss. I noticed it the first month with my eyebrows and now 4 months later my hair has definitely thinned. worrisome since I have 20 more months to go. I too told my dr and he said he never heard that.... well its true.

Helen

1/ 5/12 2:40pm

I am on the final countdown days of finishing Forteo and most definitely I have lost a considerable amount of hair. It started this last year to be very noticeable, even my hairdresser is shocked. I have always had very thick hair but no longer. I do have new hair growth at the crown, which is sticking up now, as well as new growth at my forehead, which I can cover with a fringe. It appears that handfuls come out in the shower and I always have carpet of hair on my bathroom floor, something that never happened before. I will be finished Forteo in 2 weeks and am praying and hoping that my hair returns. Most importantly though will be if I have a good bone density result.

marian

8/31/12 1:35pm

I am just stating out with this treatment. Its beena week and I am still dizzy nauseous and pian in my muscles and joints. I have not noticed my hair falling out altho Its concerning me as I have thin hair to begin with.

Is hair loss associated with Fosomax or Prolia?

I would go near these drugs if my spine hadnt fractured and coudnt move for month..Now its slow going.

Betty

8/ 9/12 9:25pm

I have only taken Forteo for five days and already noticed increased hair loss in the tub drain. That's why I did this Internet search. You all are really alarming me with tales of losing one-third of your hair, since my hair is what I get the most compliments for! Other than that, I just had a slight headache the first two days.

Nancy Burris

11/27/12 5:06am

Me too! On my third pen of Forteo and my hair was normal....now very noticed thinning can be seen.... I have tried calcium, Actonel, HRT and still osteoporosis and 4 broken bones......Must I go Bald too??? I know some have much worse problems, but is this even going to benefit me after I go thru all this? I Guess it would be more reassuring if I at least knew it was building my bones!!! Help! I don't want to look like an experiment gone wrong with broken bones AND a bald head!!!!

Betty

11/27/12 7:19am

I feel for you! I quit Forteo after two months for several reasons, including the hair loss. Get bloodwork done. Anemia can cause hair loss too. A doc once told me, when I was anemic, to take one Flintstones Chewable Complete (with iron) morning and evening to avoid the constipating effect of iron. If your blood is even a little low, I'd try this. I had my blood tested because I developed the hair loss and restless legs on Forteo. I had those symptoms earlier in life and it turned out to be anemia. The vitamin therapy stopped the restless legs right away. The hair loss has stopped too, either from the vitamins or because I stopped Forteo. It took a few weeks more for the hair loss to stop. I also, strangely, had a big flare-up of fibrocystic breat, which never ever happens, since I had a hysterectomy many years ago. It went away about a month after I stopped Forteo. I had a mammogram and a sonogram to be sure and I was fine, thank you God! May God bless you with strong bones and renewed health.

marian

8/31/12 1:37pm

will your hair grow back?

11/30/12 6:50pm

This is the second time I have been on Forteo, the first time I did not have any hair loss. This time around I have been on Forteo only 6 months, and have major thinning of hair. I hate it. My hair isn't the thickest to begin with. I am just hoping that it will grow back after I stop Forteo.

Good Luck.

Linda

12/25/12 9:41pm

yes . i have been on forteo for 2 months now and sever thining of my hair. i can see it in the tub so yes it does cause thininng of the hair!

Q: Can Forteo cause thinning of hair or hair loss?

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