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Hair Was Thinning, Put On Sodium Valporate. Suggest?

Posted on Thu, 17 Oct 2013

Question: Sodium valproate: My hair was already thinning, but this has seemed to push things over a crucial point. I'm not vain, but when I was initially put on Sodium Valproate, I lost some hair. The dose has recently been tripled. Hello baldie? About the shave it all off.
G.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hello

Detailed Answer:
Welcome to XXXXXXX

Sodium Valproate is known to cause loss of hair, curly hair but fortunately the loss is reversible and on discontinuation of drug hair growth will occur again.

You are a known case of bipolar disorder and Valproate is a nice and safe medicine for that. If the hair loss is causing a significant problem you can discuss with your psychiatrist to add some other medicine like Lithium Carbonate which dont cause loss of hair.

You can take supplements containing Multi-vitamines, Zinc, Chromium as these will help in hair growth.

So there is no need to worry as loss is reversible completely.

Hope this helps you, if you have more questions you can ask again.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (8 hours later)

Thank you for that clear reply. You say hair loss is reversible on discontinuation of the drug. Does this mean that I just have to accept that long term hair loss is the price for the benefit of long term use of this relatively "easy" drug that suits me?

Note:
I have been on Lithium for 15 years, together with Quetiapine, Tegretol etc. Sodium Valproate is a welcome addition.
Going bald is not a particular problem for me, but I am just deciding to shave the head before reaching a half way stage.

Thanks again, XXXXX

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Helo again

Detailed Answer:
Yes I want to telly you again that the loss is fully reversible and it is commonly seen in high doses. If the drug proved to be very effective in you then there is no need to discontinue the drug for this minor side effect. The hair growth will occur normally once you discontinue the drug.

If you didnt respond to lithium, qutiapine, carbamazepine etc drugs and then responded to valproate then it is good for you to continue with valproate only.

Take the supplements I have mentioned, your hair loss will decrease.

Thanks, if you have more questions you can ask again.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar