I started taking predisone april 22 2011,20mg 3 times a day. Been taking for 4 1/2 weeks.
Prednisone -. my hair has started coming out, how long will it last, will it all fall out?
Question posted by lindashicks on 25 May 2011
Last updated on 6 March 2022 by Rococo91
25 Answers
Rococo91
7 March 2022
I was on various doses of prednisone for severe ulcerative colitis for 3 years. Sometimes 50/mg, most times between 2.5/3mg.. My hair thinned right out on my head and arms, but got thick facial hair. Thickest my beard has ever been. I’ve been off for nearly a year now (I got surgery to remove my colon), for anyone who’s like me, and treatments are just about working but you’re on the fence of flaring and surgery is in the discussion. Do it. Get off all those horrible medications. It’s night and day for me now. I feel sooo much better!
Anyways, I’ve been off prednisone for a year now, and my hair hasn’t grown back. But! My beard has been getting thinner! I’m gonna miss it, but hopefully my hair will come back in a year or so! Also, I've always had thick hair, so now I actually don’t mind the thin hair? It’s been easier to manage. If it comes back, cool. But, if not ah, there’s rogaine. Oh, I forgot to add.. my hair stopped falling out when I was completely off prednisone. But, you know forget the hair loss.. prednisone wreaks havoc on your organs and bones.. mental health, too. Get off of this stuff as soon as you can!!
Poonam pershad
26 Nov 2020
Pls tell me what helped you finally , going through the same situation , thanks so much
Ellany
27 Nov 2020
I've had good luck with Viviscal and Argon shampoo and conditioner.
Truth is offensive
20 Nov 2020
Unfortunately I don't know what can help get your hormones and hair back but I do know that prednisone will not cause low bp. It will actually increase both bp and glucose. Also the longer you are on corticosteroids the longer it will take your body to revert back so 9 months on corticosteroids I would say you are looking at a minimum of 3 - 6 months to get back to normal. You should never be on corticosteroids for longer than 30 days MAX.
Manina-78
20 Nov 2020
I’m not sure I can fully answer this question but I’d like to add my input from my experience so far with prednisone. I was on 5mg per day & hydroxychloroquine for RA. I kept telling my rheumatologist it wasn’t helping & after 9 months, I’m getting acne, itching & hair loss! He agreed I’d get off all meds because of side effects. It’s been a few weeks now & hair loss & acne/itching hasn’t stopped. I go to a dermatologist for a scalp biopsy to see why my hair is falling out so fast. The results showed Androgenetic alopecia, which I was told the prednisone messed up my hormones. Now I’m looking into how to fix this & stop my hair loss & hopefully grow more back! I was offered a few methods that included minoxidil in which I’ve read I’d have to use forever. Also spironolactone in which I read I’d have to take forever.
These things say if you stop taking them, your hair will start falling out again! I don’t want to mess with my body chemistry anymore! Is there any other ways to get your hormones back to normal after stopping prednisone? These medications also can cause low blood pressure. My blood pressure runs around 107/110 over 80/83. Not wanting to mess with that. Any info would be helpful! Thanks in advance, I’m on the hunt for a real wig just incase.
Manina-78
20 Nov 2020
I meant the medications minoxidil & spironolactone can cause low blood pressure. Mine has been too low that I know of but I do get dizzy spells a lot so I’m afraid to make my blood pressure lower.
eSmith123
21 July 2020
This is an old thread but I'm so GRATEFUL to know I'm not alone. I had to do 5000 mg push over 5 days in the hospital last fall. I've been tapering since then and finally got off completely a few weeks ago. When I got down to 15 mg, my hair started falling out. I have naturally fine, thin hair so it was immediately noticeable. I have shiny bald spots and TODAY, I had my hair dresser shave it off and I decided to just ROCK IT. I'm still me with or without hair. It's humiliating to go through the weight gain, face swelling, acne, and then to find your hair falling out. I'm 34 and single, and kept thinking, dear God, who on earth would ever be attracted to me?! I hope it grows back- I want long hair more than anything. But I decided if I'm ok with my bald head, others will be too. And honestly, if no hair is a deal breaker, they aren't for me anyway ;-)
Also making my Rhuem. sign papers that show we both understand that I am declining any emergency or life saving treatment that involve steroids. NEVER AGAIN.
May you all find hope and peace and joy in the midst of it! I'm in it with you!
Redhed615
24 May 2020
I am 53 and have been on and off prednisone for several years to treat Crohn’s disease flairs. The most I’ve taken is 50mg/ day for 1-2 weeks then wean down by 5mg every few days. The hair breakage starts after I’ve weaned off and lasts for months. It got so bad I was sleeping with satin caps, trying every shampoo and conditioner you can imagine... and it always seems to break more on one side than the other. It will break off all day and night—I will find hairs on my sheets, pillows, all over my desk at work, in the shower... and it doesn’t stop for several weeks. I never put it together since it always happens when I’m off the drug, but it’s real. Hang in there. It will stop eventually but when you’re going through it feels like forever.
suehealey
4 May 2020
I was on 50MG prednisolone for 4 months (absolutely hideous experience - I will never do that again - even if my life depends on it - I found it was NOT compatible with life AT ALL - my doctor downplayed all side effects and didn't warn me about the incredible number of side effects - I experienced them all - the hump, the bloated face, the weight gain, facial hair on all places you didnt want it, the depression, the inability to make any decisions, the anxiety, the complete change in personality, to name a few... ).
I began the tapering over the last 2 months and it has been equally as difficult as being on the drug. Extreme lethargy, mood swings and depression, couldn't get out of bed for a week... blah blah... and now my hair is falling out in handfuls.. and my doctor tells me this is normal as you taper... well, Ive finally tapered and have had 2 weeks on zero and it is still falling out. My doctor tells me I can go on yet another medication to stop this? Hmmm I dont think so...
it is yet another dreadful humiliating consequence of this drug... yeah it can save lives, but...
I hope your situation improves!!
and I hope those fabulous scientists out there are trying to come up with a safer drug! If we don't tell our doctors that this is a problem, nothing will be done about it.
agnetha80
10 April 2020
I had the same problem. Been on steroids for 7 months when I tapered below 10mg my hair started falling out in clunks,, terrifying (and my period stopped). I was told to take a methylated vitamin B complex, double dose (if it says 1 tab on bottle, take 2) to offset the body's withdrawal and after about 6-7w mine calmed down. I am still on a lower dose steroids (7mg) and probably will be for a while longer but the withdrawal scare seems to have passed. Hope this helps!
Lesleyann42
8 Dec 2019
Hi some peollecreact this way with prednisolone I got 3 bald patches in the back of my hair but it started growing back within a month the skin felt really shiny and soft. It scared me to death I thought I was going bald. Butbit didnt fall out all over just seem to concentrate to a few patches. I have been on steroids 31 years now and I only initially list hair around 3 mths into my treatment but nothing else with regards hair loss to steroids since. But the worse hair loss by far is 3 mths after a imaging ct scan that makes your hair fall out big time and mine is still growing back 12 mths later all over. So try not to worry too much it will grow back all these best
Marshagil122
8 Dec 2019
Thank you so very much for taking the time to reply to me... I can't begin to tell you how upset I am over this..So bad that I actually had a crying jag over this... I just wish I didn't feel so ugly... I will really try and not worry..thanx again
Lesleyann42
22 July 2020
No worries I have just realised read my double Dutch lol. I have had loads of bald patches with steroids but the worst by far was mri scan my hair was stuck in the hover and all over I had to cut it all off it fell out from the root and it was long before went horrid crispy and fell out but growing back much thicker now. I do hope you are feeling much better now all the best.
Marshagil122
7 Dec 2019
Well. after reading all of the responses I feel just slightly better about about my hair loss... I was diagnosed with a LUNG DISEASE back in May... I have been on Prednisone since then... Altho now tapering off and only on 10 mg..(hopefully soon to be 5)... I am more then upset over my hair loss..I feel so ugly now... Thinking of buying a wig... Altho I am not bald, the hair is so thin now and in front it's the worst... Thank you for all your comments, they were helpful.
chingu
16 Sep 2019
I was prescribed Prednisone for the first time recently and right now I'm in the tapering down phase. I noticed that I suddenly started to lose a LOT of hair a week ago. I actually got scared when I saw so much hair on the shower floor. Thinking about it now, it started when I started the tapering down phase. I'm even scared to brush my hair right now. I'm hoping and crossing my fingers my hair grows back after I'm done with this medication.
SK51
21 June 2019
I was on and off prednisone for the past 3 years for rheumatoid arthritis and have lost 1/3 of my hair. I was weaned off a month ago and my hair stopped falling out. I have been taking methotrexate for 2 months now by injection and have no side effects, feel great! My hair is starting to grow back, can feel whiskers all over my head :)
Spicyrn77
25 March 2019
I started steroids last August- since then I have become diabetic (insulin dependent), hypertensive and now I’m losing my hair. I was on 60 mg but have been weaned to 17.5 and have lost more than half my hair. I started rogaine and it says it takes a few months to see improvement. Family says my hair is so bad I should get a wig. Started wearing hats. So how long after I’m off steroids will my hair regrow.
Ellany
4 Feb 2019
I have had great luck with Viviscal for hairloss. My hair finally grew back in full plus more after getting off prednisone around 8 months.
Rghaymes
31 Jan 2019
I am 78 and had beautiful silver/white thick hair. I had wheezing and severe lung congestion and was on prednisone for about 14 days and an antibiotic for 3 weeks. Within about 2 weeks after treatment my hair literally fell out on my jigsaw puzzle. I could collect handfuls running my fingers through my hair.
My doctor said it was stress from being sick. I think it was prednisone.
I started biotin and prenatal vitamins at the advice of my nurse practitioner and I started to grow baby new hair but it still is very thin; I can fluff it to look ok.
Related topics
Further information
- Prednisone uses and safety info
- Prednisone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prednisone (detailed)
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