Nioxin symptoms and conditions

Okay, here is my story.
I went on Ovcon when I was 19 (in 2000 I think) and took it nonstop for about 8 years. I finally went off of it this past April 2009. When I first started I did get all the normal side effects (5 pound weight gain, breast tenderness, etc) but after 3 mos it resolved. When they switched to Balziva I noticed those same mild symptoms that also resolved. I finally made the decision to go off of it when I broke up with my boyfriend, since I had been wanting to for a long time. I noticed over the last 4 years my hair had been getting progressively thinner and thinner. I can't believe how much thinner my hair looks now compared to when I started, looking at pictures from when I started was always a shock. I know there is no real evidence for this but BC has been loosely connected with gum recession, ligament laxity, etc which I have also been experiencing. Don't know if that can be attributed to BC or not, but it just contributed to my concerns with being on the pill for so long. After 8 years, I barely got a period, it was more like a day or two of clumpy brown crap, I'm sorry I know that is gross, or no period at all. Honestly the period part of it was a plus since it is never fun to be on your period.
So, I was very worried about what would happen, especially with my hair when I stopped taking the pill. Let me tell ya, it wasn't pretty. Starting a few weeks after I finished my last pack of Balziva, (I didn't stop mid pack in order to keep things as normal as possible) my hair started falling out in handfuls in the shower. I actually sat and counted 300 hairs in the hair catcher after one shower. This went on for about two months. I bought Nioxin #1, and it didn't make much difference with the amount of hair falling out. I told myself I would not seek medical advice until my periods regulated again. In my mind this would mean I was back to normal and on a normal hormone cycle. Yikes my hair got thin, but with the Nioxin, did start to grow back. It took about 4 months to get my normal period back, or what I think is a normal period, its been so long since I had one. I was happy about this because my nurse practitioner said it could take up to a year to get your period back. I'm not completely regular now (September) but it seems to be approximately every 5 weeks. But it wasn't really regular before I went on the pill if I remember correctly. Anyway, even though my hair still looks very thin, I am noticing short, growing hairs all over my head. Which is such a relief! I really didn't want to have to go on any more synthetic hormones to take care of my hair problem. I will probably get my hair cut short so it doesn't look so bad till the new hairs grown in. The Nioxin I bought ran out about a month and a half ago and I am back on normal (cheaper) shampoo and the hair that falls out is much less. Although I do still notice my hair all over the place, its not as extreme as it was. We shall see if it ever gets back to pre birth control thickness again. Just a note, I did use the three step Nioxin package, cleanser, conditioner and the spray that is supposed to stimulate hair growth. But again I only bought it once to give me a boost.
Hopefully this is informative for anyone worried about going off the pill. I just really wanted to be all natural again. And condoms aren't so bad :) once you get used to them.
Oh and I have been trying to maintain a healthy diet including lots of greens like kale and spinach, less meat, and lots of fruits and veggies!

Hi, about seven years ago I complained to my doctor of noticing a little thinning at the top of my head. They referred me to a dermatologist who thought it was female hair pattern loss. It was minimal and he said that he rarely saw it get much worse in women. He suggested minoxidil. A year later, I relocated and the doctors at the health clinic noticed my blood pressure was slightly elevated. They put me on HCTZ. I am into healthy organic eating and was disturbed by the need to be on medication. They said HCTZ was a mild diuretic and never mentioned that hair loss is associated with it. After five years on HCTZ my hair loss is severe. I have lost half my hair and it is dry and brittle, no matter what styling products I use. I had long beautiful thick glossy natural hair, but the texture of my hair has totally changed. A few days ago, frustrated by the continual hair loss, I began searching for my own answers. In my first web search, I pulled up many connections to HCTZ and hair loss, including this site. As others have said, I am mad at myself for not taking my health care into my own hands sooner. I have stopped HCTZ and my blood pressure is being controlled by diet, exercise, and drinking plenty of water. What I would like to know-- is HCTZ hair loss reversible? Are there any reputable natural solutions to hair regrowth. (And minoxidil has been disappointing.) Thanks for your comments. They have helped immensely. GG.

I recently noticed my hair was thinning, long strands coming out in the shower, and extremely dry. I had thin hair to start with, so can't afford to lose any hair. I read all these postings where others have had hair loss from Lisinopril. I started taking it the end of August and in the past few weeks have noticed the hair loss. I put in a call to my doctor and am waiting for his return call. Lisinopril has been keeping my BP's almost perfect, but what a trade off. I'm wondering if taking extra Vitamin E or Nioxin which promotes hair growth would overpower the effects of Lisinopril. I've also felt a vibration in my left thigh that comes and goes and my thigh heats up once in a while and goes away. Anyone had that side effect?

The joint pain is not bad, but I hate the thinning hair! I used to have thick hair and now you can see my scalp in spots. I'm wondering if Nioxin or Rogaine for Women will help at all or if my hair will grow back in normally after I stop the Arimidex. I also have had back pain and stomach or digestive pain I never had before. My doctors have run tests and have found nothing wrong.

i am new here, i wanted to know, if the hair loss is normal after you stop the pill? when i was on it, my hair fell a little bit more than what is normal, but now it is out of controll, it is way too thin and i had so much hair that it used to be bothersome to blowdry or style b/c it was way too much, but now it is way too thin :( i started using NIOXIN, anyone use that here??? well i just want to know if this will stop, i am 22 and getting very impatient with this hairloss, i feel so unattractive, i am getting even more depressed and anxiouse, and i am in college about to graduate so i am very stressed, i know that adds on to the hairloss, but not this severly. Good luck to all of you struggling with this horrendouse pill, i have been yasmin free now for about 5 months. TIP: drink alot of green and white tea, it flushes out alot of toxins, way more than just the 9 cups of water a day, add 2 cups of tea in ur day and it will give you energy aswell!!!! XOXO