I have suffered from uveitis for the past 11 years. I have unsucessfully been treated with drops, and other anti-inflammatory medications. Tomorrow, I will be given my first infusion treatment with Remicade. Though, I am encourage by the two comments posted by stacycampo and "unknown", I'd like to ask does Remicade cause hair loss?
Does Remicade cause hair loss?
Question posted by hillbill718 on 7 Dec 2009
Last updated on 29 March 2013
7 Answers
emott
20 Dec 2012
I'm 17 and I have Crohn's Disease. I am currently on Remicad. I have been on it since April of this year and I'm lossing my hair. I had long Strawberry blonde hair, down to the middle of my back. Now it I look like I have boy hair. I have been on mercaptopurine, Prevacid, Prednisone and they kept it under control for about 3 years but then this past year I had a really bad flair up and that is when my Dr., parents and I decided that Remicad would be the best course of action. I read on of the answers and saw that someone had said that they were hoping not to have an Ilectomy (sorry if I spelled it wrong). While I was on Remicad I still had to have most of my Large Intestine removed, called a partial Colectomy. The Remicad is doing wonders and keeping the disease under controll but so much damage had been done to my Large Intestine before I started Remicad, that they had to remove it.
When they went in to do the surgery my intestine literally fell apart. Even though Remicad has really bad side effects it's the only thing that is keeping me healthy.
Andresg
30 March 2013
when were you diagnosed with CD?
I am 17 and was diagnosed in Dec 2012 but I had pancreatitis Jan 2012 and I now realize I had been having flare ups but went undiagnosed for at least 2 years. I was born with allergy sensitivities. I believe this is where is all started since CD is an autoimmune disorder.
Robinanne1953
22 Oct 2011
I have been on Remicade for 8 years. It took awhile, but if it is the cause... yes, the top of my head is balding. I have been through so many medications for my psoriatic arthritis, that I don't know what any other option would be. It's devastating.
gkreller
10 Aug 2012
I have been on Remicade 7/12 years, just started to notice hair loss on the top of my head 2 years ago, I have rheumatoid arthritis and it is hard to weigh the pros and cons, go bald or live in pain.
caculver
16 May 2011
Unfortunately, it can cause hair loss. If you'll check an answer I posted for hair loss on methotrexate, I've listed numerous ways to help combat the hair loss and to keep from losing as much.
Hope this helps.
lady of howard
28 Feb 2011
I've been on remicade for 2ish years and my hair has thinned a little,which might have more to do with methotrexate, age and menopause(or the combination of all that) than the remicade alone, but it doesn't seem to be noticeable. It is one of the possible sideffects though, so if having a full head of hair is very important to you you might want to move slowly to see if it the pros outweigh the cons. For me I'd rather have less hair than the spondylitus/RA symptoms. Good luck to you, and take care and be well!
Lady of Howard
NatalieT
27 Feb 2011
I have had crohn's disease since I was 19. I was wrongly diagnosed for many years until two years ago. I have tried sulfasalazine (Salazopyrin), Methotrexate, Mercaptopurine (6-MP), Imuran (azathioprine) and Prednisolone. All of these drugs had huge side effects for me: including chronic fatigue, hair loss and not being able to bend my joints. I have been on Remicade (Infliximab) for a few months. I am given this drug by 3 infusions so far. My Crohn's disease is so severe that if this doesn't work, the next step is an ileostomy operation. I do not want that! When I woke up yesterday and started brushing my long hair... it fell out in huge quantities. Today more has fallen out... more so than the hair loss I had with Methotrexate! Unfortunately, the Infliximab is also giving me very low fatigue. One of the possible side effects is an increase in the likelyhood of getting cancer.
It looks like this isn't going to work either. I sometimes wonder what is worse the Crohn's disease or some of the treatments for it. If I am happy to live life bald, severely tired and at high risk of cancer then no problems. To quote the song... 'I'm sick and tired of always being sick and tired'. So yes Rumicade does cause hair loss!
BBBunni
11 Aug 2011
I'm so, so, sorry! I am also so SICK of being sick and tired! My hair is already so thin, thin, thin, and now my Dr wants me to try Remicade.
Pammy50
27 Sep 2012
Hope you are doing well
muddles
11 Jan 2010
Yes, yes and yes. I have had ulcerative colitis for 2 1/2 years. After not responding to the normal medications for colitis, they started me on Remicade. I had long beautiful strawberry blonde hair that went half way down my back. Within a month of my first dose, I noticed my hair starting to fall out. After 4 doses - within 2 months - my hair just would not stop falling out and they stopped the medication. Unfortunately, it takes 2-3 months for it to get out of your system - so by that time, I lost 80% of my hair. It took another 2 months before it started growing back. Now I have short hair like a boy. No one ever warned me that Remicade could cause this - and yes it was confirmed that this was the cause.
itsmetoo2
7 Dec 2009
Sorry, to say yes it can.. But it does not change the wonderful person inside, one bit.
Magmortamoon
6 June 2012
Love it!!! Really need that today!
Related topics
remicade, uveitis, side effect
Further information
- Remicade uses and safety info
- Remicade prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Remicade (detailed)
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