Hi
I have had RA for 35 years when I went on the biologicals I started to lose my hair. I have always had problems with certain drugs such as arava and methotrexate.However, after starting Enbrel , which was fabulous I lost so much hair did all the tests. Alopecia Areata was diagonosed. This improved when I went off biologic and onto high dose of prednislone so my weight gained as well! Now I am on another bio but the alopecia has gone to universalis and likely never to return, I have been told once you get one autoimmune you get another. wigs work well. but inhibit youu going swimming and leading a normal life.Anothe bio called Xeljanz has been showing promise with this hair loss. we will see.

Thanks for your answer Monique, I've had the blood test and it's not my Thyoid or diabetes. Saw the RA consultant yesterday and he reckons it is the Luflunamide medication, so has put me on a reduced dose to see if this reduces the hair loss, if not will take he will me off the Luflunamide. Until then its pretty scarves!

I don't know if it contributed to it, but I take BIOTIN 10,000mcg once daily and OTC (over the counter) thyroid product from Amazon. I'm not due to see my Endocrinologist til 2017 still have two small nodules (non cancerous) 1" on the left side of my thyroid. The doctor said he wasn't going to prescribe anything because of the size and for me to keep notice of any changes.

I had been on methetrexate for 4yrs with no problem with hair loss. Then i took biologic Simponi and had quite significant hair loss and no help with RA. it stopped when i discontinued Simponi but it has started again 12 months later without any new drugs. RA Itself can also cause hair loss from the inflammation.

Twice I stopped the methotrexate but I stopped it because of elevated liver functions. Once is been off the methotrexate for about 6/8 weeks it started growing with a vengeance!! Haha