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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by knicknack on March 22, 2004, at 22:50:44
Hi there- I have a somewhat strange question for people. I am on wellbutrin, and have been on it for about 3 months. Last time I went on wellbutrin I started losing hair about now, although my dermatologist told me it might have been from going off of the birth control pill. However, I had quite a few odd symptoms, and one of them was pimples on my scalp.
I just started getting those this week, again, so I'm worried that the hair loss is about to start again. I looked up what might cause these, and hypothyroidism is one of them, and when I looked it up I realized that some of the other symptoms I'm experiencing as well - like muscle fatigue for example, that I didn't have a month ago.
I also see that hypothyroidism has a similar profile to depression, which is also interesting.
Is it possible that wellbutrin either causes a the thyroid to produce less, or that it exacerbates an already existing hypothyroidism? Has anyone else gotten these scalp zits on wellbutrin?
I'm not a hypochondriac, I promise, I'm just curious because it seems like this might be what is going on with me. A few years ago I took wellbutrin for a while and never had the problems with it that I'm having now. I've never been tested for hypothyroidism (well, not since I was a child) so it's possible that it's what is causing this depression-like effect. Wellbutrin helps a lot with motivation, etc... though, and I hate to go off of it. If it's possible that this is what is happening it seems like it might be fixable, and I could stay on it.
Thanks!
Posted by Jgraf on March 24, 2004, at 3:08:27
In reply to wellbutrin and hypothyroidism-like side effects?, posted by knicknack on March 22, 2004, at 22:50:44
Hello,
Problems with the thyroid can be difficult to diagnose and detect. It is one of the most commonly missed or misdiagnosed health problems. Thyroid problems are not always found with a simple blood test and are often overlooked, as the source of your aliment. I have been treated for depression over a three year period, with Paxil, only to discover I had hypothyroidism. My thyroid levels had not been tested, while I was being treated with Paxil so it went undetected. I had a history of possible thyroid problems, since I have a goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) and it was still missed. I've had the goiter for over 10 years and it only recently started under producting thyrotoxin. Look up the other symptoms of hypothyroid/hyperthyroid, and see if you fit any other symptoms, go to your Dr., make your case and get tested. I had over half of the symptoms for hypothyroidism, one of which is depression. I can't blame the Dr. for missing it either, since I was going in only complaining about one or two symptoms at a time. One of which, I spent $600 to be scanned, only to find nothing wrong. I dropped the Paxil and started taking a thyroid replacement and I feel great. The only other thing I would note is that about a year ago, I took Wellbutrin, for a month, to quit smoking. However, that had no effect on my thyroid symptoms, since they were already existing or unchanged.
Also see if you have a zinc deficiency because I believe that causes hair loss.
Good Luck
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