ANYONE LOSS HAIR WHILE ON VICTOZA

[xstitchnheaven]

I have type 2 diabetes. My doctor prescribed Byetta and I tried it for several months and the nausea side effects of it was devastating and caused me to gain even more weight. So, when my doctor told me about victoza and its weight loss benefits I was extremely excited about this revolutionary drug that would help lower my blood sugar level, AND LOSE WEIGHT at the same time.  

In the beginning, Victoza was God sent to me. My apetite decreased and I dropped 15 pounds in about 4-6 months. And I did not experience nausea at any time. Then, all of a sudden the weight loss stopped. My weight loss became stagnated and have been ever since. It has been 2 years since that time and while my blood glucose level and A1C is good, I have gained the 15 pounds back and more. No matter what I do, I cannot lose weight.

Before Byette, my doctor tried many different kinds of pills (example metformin and glumetra) but the sides effects had my life on hold. I had untrollable bowel explosions 24/7. I hhave heard many people say they loss weight on these pills but not me, just the 24/7 bowel explosions.

I would like to hear if anyone have ever experience hear loss whille on Victoza. I have not seen anywhere that this is a side effect but my hair began balding in big patches right after I got on Victoza and thinning out. It is still light this and I am so frustrated, conscioused and sometime down over it. I know it could be worse but my hair stylist is convince that it has to e=be my Victoza meds because this was not happening before. I bought expensive all natural hair vitamins with biotin in it that was spposed to help grow my hair back and make it full again but that made it worse. I have gone to a 2nd & 3rd hairstylist for their opinion and they are all at a loss and said it has to be my diabetes medicine. I even went to a a dermattologist but she did not know why it was happening.

If anyone have this problem or know why this is happening since I became diabetic please let me know. My endocinologist said the only alternative is to place me on insulin bvut I refused because that would mean more weight gain plus the Victoza is working to keep my glucose under control.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
I would say the hair loss is probably due to vitamin and iron deficiency which could have been the result of bowel problems that you have been having for so long. It could be mere coincidence that the hair loss started when you started Victoza. Hair loss is not a listed side effect. However, this is a comparatively new drug. Hence you could go on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) site and report this as a side effect. Otherwise you could ask your doctor to report this if all causes of hair loss have been looked into and not found to be the cause in your case. Only then can you link this with Victoza.
To do this, I am enumerating all causes of hair loss. Iron deficiency is the commonest cause of hair loss. Hair loss can also be due to dandruff, dermatitis, shampoos, oils, soaps, dust and dirt etc. Thyroid disorders and diabetes too could be a cause. Insomnia, stress and anxiety along with poor diet and excess of caffeine too can be the cause.
Localized hair loss can be due to scarring alopecia (causes dent, eg: discoid lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, lichen planopilaris, kerion, metastatic carcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoidosis, prolonged pressure, and cicatricial pemphigus), alopecia areata, tinea capitis (fungal infection), sarcoidosis, follicular mucinosis, bacterial infection, aplasia cutis (absence of skin),  burns (including chemical burns due to shampoos, oils or something that causes an allergic reaction), herpes zoster, squamous cell carcinoma, and other such conditions. The skin of the scalp should be biopsied. Please consult a skin specialist regarding this.
If no cause is found then please report this as a side effect of Victoza on FDA website. Also, insulin is actually a good option to be on especially since oral medications are causing a lot of symptoms. Weight gain on insulin can be easily controlled by regular exercise and diet control. Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.

[Pikawaiohinu]

I started losing my hair after I started Victoza - not sure if it is just a coincidence.  I have an appointment with my doctor in a few weeks and was going to ask her about it.

[azxmedhel]

Yes, I have experiences hair loss on Victoza.  It has been significant.  I will be discontinuing Vicotza for other reasons.  Since taking it, I have dealt with serious stomach upset and constipation.  Ultimately I have wound up with diverticulosis, most likely from all the straining in the colon.  I am extremely upset

[Snowcrash208]

My doctor felt I was borderline diabetic. I disagree, but I began using Victoza for just over a week in early October. I didn't like Victoza and it was way too expensive so I stopped, but three weeks later, I began to notice I was losing large amounts of hair.  This has never happened before to me in my life. I don't color or process my hair in any way and I'm very gentle on it when I wash and comb it. Still, my shower drain strainer is completely covered in hair when I shower. Every time I comb it out, it's depressing to see a big handful of precious hair in my comb. It's now seven weeks later and I'm still losing hair, but it may be slowing down a bit. I realize the hair loss might not have been due to the Victoza, but I'm in pretty good condition with enviable blood chemistry (glucose slightly high, but not alarming) and no vitamin deficiencies. I take 50mg of Atenolol daily. Until a couple of weeks ago I did take the occasional Prilosec, but I have stopped taking that, too, just in case it was causing or contributing to the hair loss. Perhaps it was a combination of one or more of my prescriptions, just one of them, or something else. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope the hair loss will stop now and that it's reversible.

[Pikawaiohinu]

Yes.  I have had hair loss only after taking Victoza shots.

[CellieBee]

I've  noticed big hair loss as well and bowel explosions.  The hair loss is horrible as I am blessed with a full thick mane. Since stopping Victoza the bowel explosions have really calmed down.

[CarolinaRed]

I too began losing hair after beginning to take Victoza. I am sure it is the victoza and that is sad because other than that i think it works well. Any ideas how to combat this?

[RPHguru]

I am a pharmacist who had to start Victoza and hair has thinned all around the edges and top. I can only attribute it to the Victoza.