Oxcarbazepine and Hair Loss: What Users Say

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar 14 years ago. The first medicine they gave me was Depakote, which made my hair fall out. Then they put me on lithium, which I have been on for 14 years, and whenever I would try to go off it, I would get manic really bad, so I have had to stay on it. Well, I recently weaned myself off lithium due to weight gain and hair thinning out. My doctor then prescribed Trileptal. I have been on it for two days, and I already feel 100 percent better. I feel stabilized and in a very, very good mood. It's like a happy pill so far. I am very happy."

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar 14 years ago. The first medicine they gave me was Depakote, which made my hair fall out. Then they put me on lithium, which I have been on for 14 years, and whenever I would try to go off it, I would get manic really bad, so I have had to stay on it. Well, I recently weaned myself off lithium due to weight gain and hair thinning out. My doctor then prescribed Trileptal. I have been on it for two days, and I already feel 100 percent better. I feel stabilized and in a very, very good mood. It's like a happy pill so far. I am very happy."

• Anonymous
• March 12, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I am BP2 and have been on so many drug combinations for the disorder. I gained about 30 lbs on the Depakote/Zoloft combo. The absolute worst is when I was put on Topamax. Anyway, I was recently moved to Trileptal. I thought to myself, here we go again. The first week sucked because I had a never-ending headache and nausea. The second week, I debated going off the drug because I was seriously sick and tired of feeling sick. But, I decided that I would try something different by eating small meals every couple of hours, and that ended the nausea right away. The headache went away about midway through that week. This has been the absolute best I have felt in years!!!! I am so happy not to be hungry all the time like I was on the Depakote. I am hoping that my hair starts growing back because on the Depakote half of it fell out. My quality of life has really improved. My moods are stable, and I feel great and want to go to work every day!"

• Pet...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 17, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I am bipolar II and tried everything before settling, happily, with oxcarbazepine (300 mg x 2 a day). Lamictal did nothing for the hypomania, plus I lost about 1/2 my hair. Everything in between had such major side effects I could not tolerate them. I have to take the oxcarb in conjunction with Lexapro 10 mg, but I'm pretty darn stable as long as I don't have too much caffeine. I take 150 mg trazodone for sleep. The only downside to the meds is that they affect my memory, and I'm probably not as sharp as I used to be. I'm also older!"

• Aun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I had been on generic Trileptal for years, it worked great for mood stabilization. No weight gain or major side effects until I received a different generic version. Then, my iodine levels were terribly low, and I lost a ton of weight and felt awful. My dermatologist discovered this because my primary care doctor ran tests and couldn't figure this out. Years later, I'm back on Trileptal 900 mg, my mood is great, yet now I'm having hair loss. My hair is thin already. I'm done with this medicine. It's unfortunate because it works well for moods. Hair loss will definitely have me depressed. Not worth it."

• lea...
• October 14, 2010

Oxcarbazepine for Bipolar Disorder "After reactions to Lamictal and Topamax, Trileptal didn't space me out and levels my mood. I take it with nothing else for mild bipolar episodes. No weight gain, and my hair loss is not as drastic, if at all. Lamictal and Topamax made it fall out."

• Jos...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 31, 2024

For Epilepsy "I have been taking this medication since 2007 and it worked really well at 600mg AM and PM. Every year I go talk to my neurologist and they give me another 1-year prescription. I had very minimal side effects, just getting sleepy after taking it. I worked as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) weird hours for 6 years with no issues. I got into construction and I developed spongatic dermatitis (what the heck), high-pitched ringing in the ears, inability to focus, and now hair thinning. I guess 17 years on this medication is causing side effects. I have been seizure-free for these 17 years and that's awesome! However, the symptoms are concerning. I highly suggest taking a sodium supplement, calcium supplement, and doing a liver cleansing every year. This med is rough on your body."

• Lun...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 17, 2022

For Epilepsy "This medication has many side effects. It is just like if you were taking Tegretol. Eats away at calcium and your bones. I've already gotten osteoporosis from taking it. Make sure you go for bone density exams if you've been on it for a long time and are now on a high dosage. Many women I speak to go through hair loss once they are taking more than 900 mg of it. Your hair sheds out in the shower like there's no tomorrow."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 26, 2021

Oxcarbazepine for Epilepsy "Been on Trileptal now for about 5 years. I have nocturnal seizures. Just had a breakthrough seizure during the day. First time. It was horrible. I fell and rolled down a sidewalk. Was out for 45 mins. Came to at the hospital in pain from injuries. The doctor is now adding another drug. I hope and pray it works because I'm also losing all of my hair. Fixing to buy a wig."

• bp6...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on only 150 mg of oxcarbazepine for 6 weeks as a treatment for BPD and bipolar disorder. I cannot suggest enough against using this awful medication. Two weeks after I began my treatment, I developed migraine headaches daily from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep. These headaches could not be stopped by any pain medication. I began to worry that something was wrong and visited my local urgent care to get blood work. As it turns out, oxcarbazepine made me severely anemic. I have never had anemia in my life, and because of this drug, I am now suffering from extreme hair loss as a result of the anemia that it caused. I am constantly fatigued and have daily headaches still after stopping the medication. Never again. Beware. Oh, and also I am under the age of 25."

• Nad...
• December 10, 2019

For Epilepsy "The drug is effective in stopping partial seizures, but it has many side effects, mainly hair loss and thinning, interactions with several other drugs, interaction with female hormones (estrogen and progesterone), and a small weight gain. My 14-year-old daughter has been taking it for 4 years, the effects started after a year and are increasing as and when. What is the solution?"

• Nad...
• December 10, 2019

For Epilepsy "The drug is effective in stopping partial seizures, but it has many side effects, mainly hair loss and thinning, interactions with several other drugs, interaction with female hormones (estrogen and progesterone), and a small weight gain. My 14-year-old daughter has been taking it for 4 years, the effects started after a year and are increasing as and when. What is the solution?"