I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: swramsay on May 05, 2009, 01:03:33 PM

Title: heparain substitute / hair loss?
Post by: swramsay on May 05, 2009, 01:03:33 PM

I have lost about 1/2 the volume of my hair in the past couple of months. I have read that heparin can cause hair loss sometimes several months after using it. I began dialysis about 8 months ago with a few months not using heparin due to low platelets. It fits that heparin is causing my hair loss. This is frustrating since I lost all my hair from chemo in 2006. Finally I had a full head again and now this.

Is there a substitute for heparin that people use during dialysis? I only use 500 units of heparin at the beginning of each run.

Title: Re: heparain substitute / hair loss?
Post by: marie on May 06, 2009, 11:02:01 PM

I had no idea that could make you lose your hair. Ive been on Dialysis for 8 months now and my hair has been falling out for months too. If you find out anything pls let me know.

Title: Re: heparain substitute / hair loss?
Post by: rose1999 on May 06, 2009, 11:09:39 PM

Dad used to have lovely thick hair but I've noticed how thin it has gone lately, I thought it was maybe his age but as it stayed thick so long it seems strange it has gone so thin so quickly -  perhaps it is the heparin.  I wonder if any studies have been done?

Title: Re: heparain substitute / hair loss?
Post by: Zach on May 07, 2009, 07:56:34 AM

Low iron levels can also cause hair loss.

There are some other IHD threads on this subject you might want to read.

 8)

Title: Re: heparain substitute / hair loss?
Post by: Sugarlump on May 15, 2009, 10:59:55 AM

Hi i had the same problem with extensive hair loss after about 6 months of dialysis.
The doc changed me to FRAGMIN which is a heparin substitute which was much better.
Worth a try

Title: Re: heparain substitute / hair loss?
Post by: swramsay on May 15, 2009, 06:46:28 PM

Thank you, Sugarlump. I'll talk to my neph about it next week.

Title: Re: heparain substitute / hair loss?
Post by: TiffanyJean on May 16, 2009, 11:05:32 PM

richie had started to lose his hair a few months into HD; once he switched to PD it had stopped. it started again when he had a PICC line in his arm for his calcium issues. our neph said that it was probably the heparin. he no longer has the PICC line so we will see if his hair starts to go back. as for subs - maybe saline i know that towrads the end of hemo they started using saline instead of heparin becuase they couldnt pull the heparin out it would only push. :(

tj