**** updated on 26 Feb 2026 with new photo ****
The post-Ocrevus/Methylprednisolone hair temple recession and thinning has gotten worse. However, the post-ocrevus hair texture change seems to be stabilising after 7 months, as it’s not tugging as much, but there are still wiry hairs in places.
I did not attend my Feb 2026 Ocrevus infusion and the NHS hospital delayed it until May, but I wish for a longer break from this medication for the reasons outlined. I am also concerned of immunosuppression. The Neurologist mentioned the options of Mavenclad or Briumvi, however I said there is no point changing medication as it would be an unknown and there are concerning risks with the alternative MS medications.
In terms of my hair loss, the only option is coming to terms with it, as there are more concerning issues as I am facing the prospect of paralysis due to the cervical demyelination that was detected late. But it’s difficult when my hair was the only asset I had going for me.
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Male in mid/late thirties, diagnosed with RRMS (2024), Ocrevus administered in January 2025, February 2025 and August 2025, had the premedication steroid Methylprednisolone on the second half-dose, but refused it at others.
Pre-Ocrevus…I had some mild hair recession on my right temple, but nothing on the left-side. In terms of texture, my hair was coarse and wavy, but could be dried into a relaxed style. I am mixed race: heritage Irish and Ugandanasian. Some family members have wiry coarse hair, so perhaps the medication exacerbated that underlying hair texture. I went on holiday in Sep 2024 before the first Ocrevus infusion, and when viewing holiday photos of my hair, it’s clear it was in better condition prior to this medication.
Post-Ocrevus and Methylprednisolone…there has been drastic onset of hair thinning at left temple hairline (see attached photos – I style my hair to cover the thinning). If there was underlying androgenetic hair recession, then I wonder if the Methylprednisolone steroid pre-med accelerated that if it alters DHT levels. I suspect it may be from hair follicle sensitivity to DHT. Presently, it’s the hair thinning-diffusion at temples that’s upsetting me, if my hairline were to recover then it wouldn’t be so bad. The hairline recession is considerable when compared to before medication. After Ocrevus there was an alteration in hair texture as it became coarser and wiry with kinks. The hair thinning and hair texture change became noticeable at 6-8 months after the infusion: I first noticed the change when my hair brush was tugging in early September 2025 and my hair was appearing curly and wiry in photos.
After Ocrevus/Methylprednisolone, I have chronic weakness in my knees/legs, my clinical depression has worsened, my existing gastroenterological condition (BAM) has worsened, I have an intermittent burning sensation in stomach, I have developed acid reflux post-ocrevus. Furthermore, I have POTS a cardiac condition that was induced by the 2021 Pfizer mRNA covid-vaccines (as verified in writing by NHS), but post Ocrevus I have been suffering with increased dizziness and vertigo.
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I had refused the Methylprednisolone steroid at first Ocrevus infusion, and then suffered with burning inside my neck and increased paresthesia in arms/hands, but it transpired to be nothing. I had horrendous night sweats for a week, my sheets and clothes were drenched, had to change sheets twice in one night. This predominantly occurred after the first Ocrevus infusion. However the hospital insisted on the Methylprednisolone pre-medication steroid at the second Ocrevus infusion. Frustrating, as two weeks after, I learnt from a Neurologist that the pre-med steroid is unnecessary unless it’s the first Ocrevus infusion where a reaction is more likely as the body acclimatises to a new compound (it’s a shame the other three neurologists before failed to mention that). The Methylprednisolone pre-medication steroid caused my eye lashes to fall-out (they came back to some degree), it caused dreadful stomach pain, fat redistribution around my chin and midsection (remains unresolved after year), increased facial hair, affected my hormones, and may have accelerated any underlying androgenetic hair thinning /recession.
21 October 2025 : Neurologist says that I am their first patient to mention the post Ocrevus hair texture change side effect.
28 October 2025: Thyroid normal, Thyroid Anti-body normal, Vitamin D low but in range, Vitamin B12 normal, Vitamin A, E and K normal.
28 November 2025: Iron and ferritin levels normal.
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I have relayed these side effects to the MHRA.
On 9 Feb 2026, I received a formal letter from the Medical assessor at the MHRA who responded to my complaint about my side effects. The MHRA said there are 61 reports of alopecia from Ocrevus, but nothing in relation to brittle hair texture (trichorrhexis), abnormal hair texture or hair injury.
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If you have experienced hair texture changes or hair thinning, hair diffusion or hair recession from Ocrevus or the pre-medication steroid Methylprednisolone, then please share your experience or whether it’s reversible or not?
Shall endeavour to keep post updated.
