Rituxan & Hair Loss

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced hair loss after a treatment of Rituxan?

I received a once-per-week, four week treatment of Rituxan in January. Prior to the treatment, my Hemo did fill me in on potential side effects, hair loss being one. However, he told me that it was very minimal, and patients did not lose all of the hair.

About two weeks into the treatment, I started noticing that I was losing a larger amount of hair than normal -- particularly when showering and brushing my hair. After brushing my hair, I would find my brush to have a layer of hair in it -- so much so that I empty my brush each time I use it. I was not too concerned initially, especially because I have a pretty thick head of hair. Now, it has been six weeks since my last Rituxan infusion, and I'm still losing hair at the same rate as I was two months ago. And, I can definitely tell that my hair is significantly thinner than it was prior to treatment. In example, when I put my hair in a ponytail, the ponytail is about half as thick as it was before.

I know this might seem kind of vain, but being female, I'm not exactly thrilled about the hair loss -- or the possibility of losing more. Has anyone else had this experience? If so, when did it stop for you?

Jess, I never lost any hair during or after my Rituxan treatments. Could there be another cause? Hopefully others who have done Rituxan will chime in, too.

No, I didn't lose any hair when I had Rituxan. I've never seen that mentioned as a side effect.

Steroids can cause hair loss. Were you on those at all?

No hair loss from my rituxan, but lots of loss from prednisone. I'd say about 30%, and no regrowth as of yet.

I was lucky enough to get hair growing somewhere else..... On my upper lip! :blink:

I didn't have any hair loss from Rituxan, and like others have never heard of that as a side effect. I have had hair loss from prednisone and from low thyroid. When I tapered off the prednisone my hair got thicker again.

The only side effect from Rituxan was that ice water tasted delicious! I was craving it even on cold days. I didn't drink ice water before Rituxan and it was very obvious that the Rituxan was what was making it taste so good. Then after about 6 months when the Rituxan wore off so did my love of ice water.

Thanks for the responses!

I hadn't heard that hair loss was a side effect of the steroids. I was on Prednisone for about five months, but I tapered off before I started the Rituxan. I've been on Dexamethasone for about six months now, and I am still on a very low dose every three weeks. I definitely noticed an increase in hair loss at the time I was receiving Ritxuan infusions, as opposed to earlier when I was just on the steroids.

Interesting about the ice water! I guess, if you are going to crave something, ice water isn't a bad way to go!

Decadron Side Effects - for the Professional

Decadron

The following adverse reactions have been reported with Decadron or other corticosteroids:


Dermatologic: Acne, allergic dermatitis, dry scaly skin, ecchymoses and petechiae, erythema, impaired wound healing, increased sweating, rash, striae, suppression of reactions to skin tests, thin fragile skin, thinning scalp hair, urticaria.

www.drugs.com/sfx/decadron-side-effects.html

It was probably just coincidental that it started around the time you began Rituxan.

My hair was thinning on Rituxan, I've had 8 treatments so far. I got tired of my hair thinning so I shaved it last Friday.

Well I am happy to say that after 4 months of no steroids, my hair is finally falling out at a normal rate, and I have lots of short new growth. It will probably take a while for this to all work it's way in, but growth is good.

My hair was in the middle of my back so the hair loss was very noticeable on my floor at work and at home. It's so much easier now in the morning, I'm dry in 2 seconds from head to toe. Plan on keeping it short for awhile I kind of like it shaved, its not all the way down to the skin but its close.

Hi- I've Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-I'm on a maintenance rituxamb injection every eight weeks-My hair was quite thin from previous meds - But I have had significant hair loss- My hair has snapped & broke off mid length-The top of my hair is now very thin & short -I also have been told that rituxamb hasn't any side effects of hair loss-My chemo nurse told me it's a defence mechanism your body uses to help concentrate on your bodies well being- Using all it defences to mend /renew cells-leaving things like nails/hair regrowth as insignificant-
I can only hope that eventually my hair will re-grow -I have started taking vitamins-zinc 10mg daily -Fingers crossed- I also agree-about feeling vain- but for a women ,it's soul destroying - '(((((

I am on week 3 of 4 of Rituxan and on 50 of Prednisone. Was at 60. No changes in my hair.

Hair loss and hair breakage are two different things. I've had the same problem...no Rituxan, just stress. I've been told to take Biotin and use coconut oil on my hair. It's a very slow process.

I already take 5000 biotin daily for my nails so hopefully that will avert some of it if it happens.

Just throwing it out there, but anemia causes terrible hair loss. If you have significant bleeding that leads to you being generally anemic it can have effects on hair quality and quantity. I'm always fighting with anemia because of my ITP causing ridiculous monthly blood loss. My hair is in a pretty sad state.

Even if you have normal hgb levels, having low ferritin numbers can also affect hair growth.

Fun times I also take a boatload of biotin, but don't expect much improvement until after menopause :lol:

Jess, I have not yet went into the ruxitan treatments, but soon.
What I can say is that I have been on high does prednisone since April, tapering twice.
I have lost allot of hair and am still losing.
As you say my pony is so thin that my regular elastics fall right out...I find them all over the house on the floor. My cat thinks it's great.
Holy smoke if I lose any with the rituximab/ruxitan treatment I'll be in trouble! Sandy Too