Thinning hair symptoms and conditions

I am 51 year old woman and have been on Lisinopril 5mg and Bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg for many years now, about 8 (not sure). I got the dry cough to start with and then it vanished, to be replaced with a productive cough. I get, at any time, but thankfully not all the time, a constant need t clear my throat and a wheezing in my breath. I am producing copious amounts of mucus and this is what sets it off. It most often happens after eating or after I have been sedentary for a long time so I get it a lot when in bed. I cough until it all clears away but sometimes I am sick, or I cough myself dizzy and come over all peculiar. It is not a listed side effect but I never had this before. My hair has suddenly thinned, hairdresser told me he has notice a big change in my hair (am menopausal but not through it yet, I suppose my age and meo could be cause of thinning hair). I suffer from terrible stiffness in my feet. Sometimes I can hardly walk as my legs and feet as so fatigued. I will limp upstairs one at a time. Other days I can s[rint up! No regular pattern but I have started using a walking stick often as one ankle is very weak and can give way. Could it be the Lisinopril? I had three day bout of my taste buds going haywire about four years ago but it righted itself. Now I have it again, only not quite so bad. I can taste tea and coffee and savory foodstuff mostly as normal but sweet things either are tasteless or bitter. I don't know if I should go doctors or not. Does anyone else get this constant hacking cough due to excess mucus suddenly being produced. Tenalady are making too much money out of me due to this, lol!

Oh yes I forgot a few things. I also experience extreme hot/cold flashes. My husband yells at me because I am constantly turning the thermostat up and down. Also I am losing my hair, much more than other women I know. I attribute this to my PCOS, which already has a side effect of thinning hair, but I doubt Yaz is helping it any. At this point it's hard to say how many of these side effects are not Yaz related, and it's quite possible that 95% of them aren't. I know I'm young and still maturing, however, these headaches and nausea are not normal (and no I'm not pregnant).

If Yaz works for you, that's fantastic, but for those that are having physical/mental/emotional symptoms that you don't feel are normal, please get yourself checked out. Even if you only go off Yaz for a month to see how your symptoms are affected, please do so. Every birth control pill works differently for every woman, and it might not be for you.

I had Mirena inserted about 2 years ago and I'm having it removed later this week (thank goodness). I have gained 30 lbs, suffered from terrible fatigue and joint pain, mood swings, thinning hair, depression, total lack of sex drive and worst of all DEBILITATING migraines (especially after an orgasm.....I suppose that's a good reason for lack of sex drive!).

I had no problem with insertion, but was immediately aware of vaginal odor that was never there before....just an unclean sort of smell....really annoying and still persists. I miss my old periods (very normal, one week of PMS, 4 days of bleeding, then done). Now I have about 3 weeks of horrendous PMS with breast swelling, weight gain, fatigue, depression, increased appetite then I "spot" for 8-12 days! Horrible! I'll take 4 days of bleeding over 8 days of "sludge" anytime.

I hope removing it will end these issues.

Had my mirena removed yesterday after spending the weekend in the hospital for "cardiac telemetry" (observation). This was my 2nd major event this year that made me feel as if I were in need of immediate medical attention. I have had too many days of dealing with "cloudiness", blurred vision, headaches, waking with body aches, abdominal "flutters", irritability, chest pain, numbness/weakness/tingling in arms and legs, thinning hair, and horrific weight gain! The sad thing is that I didn't realize all these things had a single culprit until the end of my 5 years. I'm just glad that it is out, and I have brighter days ahead!

I have been taking Lipitor for about 6 years suddenly developed a rash on my shoulders and chest. My doctor diagnosed SCABIES!!so I treated myself for that then the rash progressed so I had a biopsy done and after 3 months of agony my slin specialist had taken me off Lipitor as theh test showed a reaction to a drug. I am still itchy prickly and burning on arms legs and hands and cannot tolerate cortisone cream so am on tablets for a week..can anyone relate to this condition? My scalp is also very dry and scaly.

I'm 48 and had a PE 4/2/09. I entered this site looking to see if hair loss was a common side effect to the Warfarin I've been taking and, lo and behold, not only do I now have an explanation for my thinning hair but the acne, the joint pain, WEIGHT GAIN (UGH!) and gas / bloating. The powers that be have decided that the cause of the PE was my Yasmin birth control pills (a huge law suit going on for Bayer now - the producers of Yasmin, Yaz and one other one) and put me on the Warfarin for 6 months to life - we'll see about the 'to life' part on 10/02/09. I think regardless, I'm going with 'Tannabo' and trying the Nattokinase once I'm done with the Warfarin. Thank you for this 'enlightening' website and everyone's input!

This website is a joke! After I had my Mirena inserted 4 months ago I started reading on the internet about possible side effects. I was furious with myself that I hadn't Read up on this before the appointment. There were so many horrible reviews involving hair loss, weight gain, acne, and mood swings! I was so scared and actually thought about removing the Mirena that week. I then found multiple reviews on websites not owned and operated by other drug companies that are trying to scare people in order to prevent the sale and use of the Mirena and the side effects listed here were a 180 degree difference. I have not experienced any weight gain, in fact, I recently was able to shed 5 pounds from picking up running again (so it is possible to LOSE weight on the Mirena as well). I have had zero hair loss, have not had a pimple anywhere or any random hair growth. My live in boyfriend and I have discussed if we've noticed any mood swings or changes and my mood which is usually optimistic and positive has been the same since I had the Mirena inserted. My periods are much lighter and although they can last an extra day or two more than what I was used to, they are light and I have not had any cramping. I'm writing this review not because I absolutely love the Mirena, I think it's a fine form of BC but who LOVES their BC, isn't it all kind of a pain. The Mirena is by far the most convenient form of birth control and I don't worry at all about missing a day and the chance of getting pregnant. I'm writing this review because I encourage everyone to talk more with their doctors about the side effects and look around on the internet for REAL websites.

I am a 53 yr. old woman who had aortic Valve replacement surgery in April 2007. I had a St. Jude valve put in and have been on Warfarin ever since. I usually go for a couple months with a steady INR and then, for no apparent reason, it goes out of whack and I have to adjust the level (with repeated doctor visits) to smooth things out. I have gained 20 lbs since my surgery, and cannot lose it, no matter what I do! I ride an exercise bike an hour a day, or walk a 3 mile route. NOTHING helps. I have recently said that if I had it to do all over again, I would choose a Bovine valve (even with the knowledge that surgery would probably have to be repeated later in life) just to be able to avoid the side effects of Warfarin. I have also experienced light-headedness, left sided chest pain, fatigue, coarse thinning hair, but by far, the worst is the weight gain!!

Hi Everyone i hope you are all getting well x

My name is Mandy i had my coil put in almost just over four years ago following an emergency ectopic pregnancy, i was in hospital for a week (bad times). I was in no fit state to argue with the docs recommendations as this was all new to me, so i let them do what they wanted basically!

I had the "DEMON" removed on Thursday night (1st July 2009) by my own doctor much to her disapproval

After all the years of knowing here she actually didnt really care for me deciding to get it removed! And preceded to lecture me on contraception.I am 40 and have a 20 and 18 year old! and was mad she made a big deal of it considering my loss 4 years previous.

I ended up telling her in my most maddened but calm voice " if you dont take this out now i am either going to kill myself, kill my family or kill you"!

I told her about the thinning hair (which as a point of fact ladies for me is a big thing, not because i am proud of my locks, but because the doctors can poo poo any symptoms they like as hormonal, stress, womans probs, just woman in general!! but all of these woman all having thinning hair hmmmmm bit weird to me!) she did agree the mood swings and weight gain was the coil though.

I am not the same person i was four years ago, despite having a great life, house, hubby, job, kids, i do get the same stress as any other person and want to put the world to rights, but nothing a few friends and a bottle of wine couldn't cure. (pre coil)

If don't know if i will have any friends left!

Today i have some bleeding (i never had heavy flow before thankfully) although i did have major PMT, i expect a crash at somepoint, i am anxious and panicky and actually thought i was having a stroke, but panic will do that, i have low blood pressure ( which is on the up) tingling headaches and all due to removal i hope lol and hormones being all out of whack.

BUT....every time i thing of the little evilness not being inside me anymore i smile and feel great!

It may be for some people but it wasn't for me, now i want the old Mandy back or whatever is left of her, and maybe drop the weight along the way!!

Good luck to you all and make yourself heard xxooxxx

M. :)

Does anyone have any thoughts on after stopping the nuvaring. I was only on it for 2 months but the extreme moods and depression made me stop and never look back. Its been 6 months since I stopped, I have not used any birth control since. My hair started falling out when I was on it, but it never stopped and is now getting worse. I am not feeling well and seem to have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism, I just had a blood test today and am waiting on the results. I am 25 yrs old and otherwise healthy besides this. I feel like all my symptoms, physical and emotional started with the nuvaring, I am wondering if anyone else has developed hypothyroidism after being on and stopping the nuvaring???

I, too, am trying to get off of Lisinopril. I am 49, and 10 lbs over my ideal weight. Went on the drug in December 2008, 2.5 mg a day. Since then, I have been depressed, tired, had a dry cough, sometimes a pounding heart and most recently, I am now losing my hair! And, yes, my bp is normal while on the Lisinopril. I have to say, that while I knew it was making me feel lousy, the hair loss was the last straw of side effects. I went on it at a time of high stress in my life and for now, life is calmer and my bp ranges between 135/80 and 145/90 when I am off it. Thinking of some natural, healthy approaches to lower my bp. Perhaps lose that 10 pounds and get more exercise. It is the worry of a high bp that makes the lisinopril hard to give up. The side effects though tell me it is bad for my body. I appreciate this website and reading about the experiences others are having while on this drug. I am hoping my hair will come back in if I stay off of it. Has anyone else had their hair grow back?

I had Mirena put in three months ago after my doctor told me the hormones would not enter my bloodstream (I am very sensitive to hormones and reacted adversely to traditional birth control pills). I didn't notice the side effects immediately but they have progressively become worse over time. My side effects include bouts of constipation (2-3 days) followed by diarrhea, nausea, frequent (1 a month) vaginal yeast infections, abnormal vaginal ph (causes a terrible odor), pain in my abdomen so extreme that I landed in the emergency room once, irritability, depression, weight gain, thinning hair and acne like I've never had. My fiancee thinks I'm making all of this up but I am absolutely convinced it is caused by the Mirena. I'm having it taken out this week and will be back to share whether it has alleviated my symptoms.

I think everyone has different reactions to different forms of birth control. I was on Alesse for 2 years with zero problems. Then one day my pharmacist offered me the generic form Aviane and told me it was the same. I decided to get it since its cheaper, but now I wish I hadn't. I had some of the same symptoms listed here on Aviane, like yeast infections, low sex drive and thinning hair. So I'm going back to Alesse which was always great for me. Everyone needs to listen to their bodies and make the best decision for themselves. Good luck!!!!!

I feel like such an idiot. I'm usually so careful about new things. When I was prescribed Alesse 3 years ago I researched all the side effects, but I never had a problem. About a year ago, my pharmacy offered me Aviane, and since the pharmacist told me it was exactly the same as Alesse I figured I might as well save a few bucks. I trusted the pharmacist, and never thought to research the side effects since I believed it was the same. Now I know I was so wrong. I never connected the side effects until recently. I have noticed thinning hair around my temples for about 6 months, and it wasn't until I googled that expecting to find that its a normal part of aging (even though I'm only 25) that I came across so much about Aviane. Then reading everyone else's experiences, I realized I hadn't connected all the other side effects to this generic brand. I had rapid weight gain the first 3 months and have been unable to lose it no matter what I do. The depression, low sex drive, acne, and practically constant yeast infections I think now are all connected to Aviane. After reading this yesterday, I went straight to my pharmacy and switched back to Alesse. Even though it cost me $25 with my health plan (2 years ago it only cost $6 so I wonder if my plan pays less because of the cheaper alternative) I don't care, I just want to be healthy and sane again. Thanks for sharing your stories, they made me realize there was a problem and I can't wait to start my new pack tomorrow and see what happens.

*JENN*

I had my mirena removed a few months ago, and I tell ya, the symptoms stopped almost instantly. I had oily limp hair that fell out all the time, cramping, bloating, acne, my skin got hives off and on, I felt like I needed to shower twice a day, my back ached all the time, my eyes hurt, you name it, it was horrible. I thought it was all over when the symptoms stopped, but guess what.... now I have ovarian cysts, I am 29 years old and have 3 children which is supposed to be very low risk. I am almost positive that it has everything to do with that Damn Mirena IUD. If you are considering it, think twice, because you never know what will come from implanting a foreign object into your body like that. I am terrified to think what else can happen, hopefully since I only had it in for 6 months, it will be fine, but who knows.

Hi Everyone! I am a 40 year old mother of 6 that has just had her second Mirena IUD put into place on April 10th, 2009. On Easter Sunday (April 12th) I woke with a lot of joint pain, back pain, breast pain, severe nausea, headache, dizziness, faintness and extremely low blood pressure (87/54). My first Mirena was placed in October of 2001, 6 months after the birth of my last child. All went pretty well with no real bad complaints the first time other than the normal cramping and bleeding. I didn't even have headaches or moodiness (my doctor thinks it was because I was breast feeding at the time and the body produces a lot of natural progesterone during this). Things took a turn for me in 2003 though and have progressively gotten worse since; I have had so many crazy ailments (everything from muscle spasms, thinning hair to stabbing pains behind the eye) , that even I was beginning to think it was all in my head! It all started with an ovarian cyst that had to be surgically removed in Dec. 2003, from there I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and an extremely high heart beat rate in Sept. 2004 (on meds to current date). I get sick very easily now and I had gotten strep 3 times in the winter of 2006, so I had to have my tonsils and adenoids removed in March 2007. I have now been diagnosed with Raynauds Phenomenon and Glaucoma and suffer from an array of symptoms. My most recent mammogram showed that I have a lot of breast cysts now as well. I have been tested for MS, Lupus, Lime Disease, RA and many other things; everything comes up negative. Due to the current symptoms and symptoms I have had during the first Mirena (never made the connection until now) it prompted me to do some research. What I found was just shocking to me! The Mirena is made with a synthetic progesterone (progestin) called levonorgestrel. If you research this, you will find a huge list of possible adverse side effects; many of which I have suffered from. I have read many different sites and posts from countless people that have been affected by the Mirena. Most of these stories have a huge similarity to each other. I am now 10 days into these symptoms; yesterday I went to my Dr. because the symptoms were not getting any better and I wanted to discuss the possibility that most of my problems since 2003 may have been caused by the Mirena. My doctor did not confirm my suspicions, but she did not deny that it could be a possibility either. What occurred to both her and I was that I had left the first Mirena in longer than suggested; it should have been replaced around late 2006 to early 2007, but I was sick and had other surgery, so I just kept putting it off. Due to this, the effectiveness of the hormone progestin was wearing off over the past year or so; in the past 6 months (until now) I have been pretty much symptom free (that was why I had the Mirena replaced). The fact that my symptoms are suddenly back and in full force only 2 days after the insertion of the new Mirena, strongly suggests that the Mirena is responsible for most if not all my ailments. Over the last 6 months, even my blood pressure had gotten better and I had to lower my dosage of meds to compensate for the change; now my blood pressure is jumping all over the place again. I am now considering having the Mirena removed before it causes any other symptoms and completely ruins my life! It horrifies me to think that the Mirena is still on the market considering the potential it has to cause havoc on other peoples lives as it has mine.

I have been on Yasmin for the last 2.5 years after I delivered my daughter. I noticed I had hair loss towards her coming to 1 year old. But attributed it to my post pregnancy hormones adjusting still. Till today - she is now 2 years 5 months and I am still having hair loss/thinning hair. I just realised it could be due to Yasmin but I am not sure. I am going to see my OB/GYN next week and will ask him whether it could be really possible. I know that I have also super low libido. Both of this possible side effects is no fun!!

I have been taking singulair for runny nose from allergies. I never thought the drug was causing side effects but I an having many of the side effects described by other users of this drug. Vivid, weird dreams, extremely tired all the time, leg cramps, thinning hair, blurred vision, depression. I can't believe how many infants and children take this drug. It really didn't help my runny nose. My MD says there are NO side effects from this drug. I think I disagree.

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in Aug of 2005 and in remission for 9 months. I came out of remission in May of 2006 and have been on prednisone since then until right now. I would go on high dose of steriods, try a new medication, and try to ween off and get sick right as I went off the steriods, so I'd have to do this rollercoaster all over again. For a year now, I have been on steady, high doses between 60-100mg daily with no break. I tried to go below 20 and got really sick again and have run out of medication to try, so I had my colon removed. Right now, we are trying to ween me off the prednisone (since i dont need it for my disease anymore) but have to go over 3-4 months and very slowly since I've been on it so long to prevent the body from doing all the fun things it does when you stop prednisone cold turkey, like a coma and stuff. I'm SICK of the side effects this drug has had on me! I have had countless sleepless nights, heartburn, night sweats, weight gain (i went from 140 lbs to 215 lbs right now), the moon face to where i can't even recognize myself, red face, weird skin, sensitive teeth, thinning hair, hungry ALL the time, stretch marks, all the weight is in my stomach, the buffalo hump, high blood pressure and high eye pressures etc. These are all the side-effects that have been horrible on this miserable drug. I'm sure there are a lot more I am forgetting, but these are the ones that come to mind. Hopefully they will go away once I am able to finally get off this drug!

Wow..I have been wondering for awhile now if the symptoms I have been having for over a year now had something to do with the MIRENA, and now I know I am not alone. I had the Merina put in in August of 2007, due to prolonged bleeding after my 3rd child (2nd pregnancy). I had on and off bleeding for the first 6 months, which they say is normal. Since then, I have experienced sore eyes, head aches, thinning hair (to the point that my pony tail holder falls out all the time), thinning eye lashes, and I feel sick to my stomach on a regular basis. My memory is horrible lately too. The worst of all would have to be my mood swings, anger, and feelings of depression. My poor husband and kids. I have 3 beautiful children and an amazing husband. None of us deserve this. I can feel my change in mood come and go. I went to my doctor and had all my blood work done and tested , and it all came back normal. I am 30 years old, I eat right and exercise regularly. There has to be something hormonally going on. I did not have these symptoms before the Mirena, and after reading everyone's experience, I truly believe that the Mirena is what has caused this major shift in the way my body feels. I want to take back control of my body.

Thank you all for sharing your stories. It has helped me to know I am making the right decision in getting this taken out as soon as possible. I'd rather have long periods, and take a pill everyday than have my entire life disrupted just because the Mirena is convenient. I have 2 goods friends that have the Mirena and they love it. I guess it just goes to show that all of our bodies are different, and it's up to us to listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us. Good luck to you all,and I will post once I have it taken out on how it effects me.

Hi Everyone,
My experience with Mirena is still causing me distress, and I had it taken out on 9/1/08. I've been Mirena free for 5 months now, and still waiting for my hair to grow back. I do see some small, short hairs around my hairline, and I'm hoping that it's growing back, but maybe it's breakage? Any thoughts?
Here's my story: I have always had very heavy periods, so after one botched ablation two years ago, my doctor suggested Mirena. I had it placed in June, 2008. Almost exactly 3 months later, I figured out why my hair was falling out. Every time I brushed my teeth, I noticed how thin my hair had suddenly become. You could see each individual hair from the front of my hairline backward about 2 inches - each individual hair surrounded by lots of space! There was hair loss at the temples as well. I had my thyroid checked first, because my mother has a thyroid problem. My bloodwork was fine. I thought maybe my last highlight/foil might have caused it...but it was not breakage, it was an all-over thinning out. I finally realized that the only thing different was the Mirena, so I insisted it come out immediately. My doctor told me that at 45, I should expect thinning hair, which was probably the cause, not the Mirena. I told him to JUST GET IT OUT!
I really wish I had researched the matter beforehand, but am thankful that I put two-and-two together in a matter of months.
If anyone else has experienced hair loss, please post. We have to get the word out!

I have hypothyroid. Have been taking Synthroid for about a year, 0.075MG a day. Had my levels checked 3 times since on the meds and still have never gotten to normal, but a lot closer. I have gained 20 pounds that I can't get rid of, which for me, is crazy. I have never had a problem dropping weight, and for the past month or so, I have started losing my hair. Not just losing it, but the texture and everything has changed. No matter what I do it looks dry and flat, and even when I condition it and also use a leave in conditioner, it still knots up and tangles. I have NEVER had a problem with tangles. It's coming out in handfuls. Im not taking any other meds, so I imagine it has to be the Synthroid. My problem is..What else can I take? I mean, I have Hypothyroid, so I can,t just leave it untreated, But I have no wish to be fat and bald either. Please...anyone know of others meds without these side effects?

I am a 22 year old, healthy female and received my fist two shots last September. By November, I began to notice my hair falling out, which became more excessive in December, prompting me to receive blood tests for thyroid problems, nutritional imbalances, etc. Everything came back negative and I self diagnosed the problem to be a hormonal imbalance caused by my birth control (which was hard to believe being that I had been on it for two years with no hair loss). I stopped the pill the end of January and my hair loss coincidentally stopped as well. I received my third shot in April, and sure enough the same devastating hair loss began two months later, which is classic with drug induced alopecia (hair loss). I am CONVINCED that Guardasil has caused this devastating reaction that has caused me to loose half my head of hair. It is October and I am still experiencing significant hair loss. This vaccine has caused me nearly a year of emotional turmoil over my thinning hair.

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.

Adderall has been an excellent drug for the treatment of ADD. It took me from a lethargic, disorganized adult, to a more productive one who finally could finish her work and leave her desk organized at the end of the day. Unfortunately...
...there are many side effects to this drug which has, reluctantly forced me to quit taking it. The weight loss was a welcome side-effect as was getting rid of the lethargy I have experienced on a daily basis since the age of 11 (anti-depressants did nothing). However, my infrequent migraines became daily and excruciating after starting Adderall and its generics. My insurance could not keep up with the coverage of the migraine meds I needed. I began experiencing ear problems (primarily in my left ear) that felt like I constantly had the pressure associated with a cold. After visiting my doctor (who told me nothing was wrong), an ENT doctor, getting a hearing test, and an MRI of my ear canals and Eustachian tubes, I finally found out it was due to the Adderall. The worst side effects, however, was a gradual increase in dermatitis (dry, itchy, scaly, skin). My complexion looked sallow and my back and neck broke out in horrible cyst-like acne (not typical AT ALL for me). My eyes became so dry (not to mention the cotton mouth), that I began trying to reverse this effect with pills from a Lasik eye center (helped, but didn't solve the problem). Perhaps the worst side effect, however, has been the hair loss. Long, beautiful blond hair, has been replaced by very thinning hair (comes out tons at a time in my shower), which is now brittle and breaks all the time. I have finally decided to quit this medication despite its benefits. I only took 15mg 2/day. Once my body recovers, I hope to take on an as-needed basis for important work projects or hectic weeks where productivity is necessary. Other than that, I won't take it any more. The side effects are too severe, even for me.