What drugs cause hair loss

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Drugs That Cause Hair Loss: An Overview

Introduction to Drug-Induced Hair Loss

Hair loss, or alopecia, can be a distressing side effect of various medications. It can manifest in different forms, such as anagen effluvium and telogen effluvium, depending on the drug and individual susceptibility 126. Understanding which drugs are commonly associated with hair loss can help in managing and mitigating this adverse effect.

Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Hair Loss

Anagen Effluvium

Anagen effluvium occurs when drugs cause an abrupt cessation of mitotic activity in rapidly dividing hair matrix cells. This type of hair loss typically happens within days to weeks of drug administration and is most commonly associated with antineoplastic agents used in cancer treatment 19.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is characterized by the premature transition of hair follicles into the resting phase, leading to hair shedding 2 to 4 months after starting the medication. This form of hair loss can be triggered by a wide range of drugs, including anticoagulants, retinoids, interferons, and antihyperlipidemic drugs 126.

Common Drugs Associated with Hair Loss

Antineoplastic Agents

Antineoplastic agents, used in chemotherapy, are well-known for causing anagen effluvium due to their toxic effects on rapidly dividing cells 19.

Psychotropic Drugs

Several psychotropic drugs, including antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), lithium, carbamazepine, and valproic acid, have been reported to cause hair loss. The risk varies among different agents, with some like lithium and valproic acid having a more convincing association 457.

Anticoagulants and Antithyroid Drugs

Anticoagulants and antithyroid drugs are also implicated in causing telogen effluvium. These drugs can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, leading to diffuse hair shedding 110.

Antihypertensive Drugs

Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, both systemic and topical, have been reported to cause hair loss in some patients. The incidence is relatively low but noteworthy .

Other Medications

Other drugs that have been occasionally reported to cause hair loss include retinoids, amphetamines, bromocriptine, levodopa, cimetidine, and certain hypocholesterolemic and anti-infectious agents .

Reversibility and Management

Drug-induced hair loss is usually reversible upon discontinuation of the offending medication. However, the severity and duration of hair loss can vary based on the drug and individual predisposition 126. In cases where hair loss is severe or persistent, consulting a dermatologist for alternative treatments or supportive therapies may be beneficial 47.

Conclusion

Understanding the potential for drug-induced hair loss is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers. While many drugs can cause hair loss, the effect is typically reversible. Awareness and early intervention can help manage this side effect effectively, ensuring better compliance and quality of life for patients undergoing treatment.

Sources and full results

Most relevant research papers on this topic

Drug-Induced Hair Loss and Hair Growth

Drug-induced hair loss can be reversible after interruption of treatment, with hirsutism and hypertrichosis being common side effects.

Highly Cited

1994·

133citations

·A. Tosti et al.

Drug reactions affecting hair: diagnosis.

Drug-induced hair loss is usually reversible, but some drugs may cause permanent hair loss.

Highly Cited

2007·

88citations

·A. Tosti et al.

Drugs and hair loss.

Hair loss may be caused by medications, but other factors, such as fever, hemorrhage, severe illness, stress, and childbirth, also contribute to hair loss.

2013·

57citations

·Mansi Patel et al.

Changes in Growth and Distribution of Hair Associated with Psychotropic Drug Use

Psychotropic drug use may cause hair loss and hypertrichosis, but the risk of hair loss during drug use is difficult to assess and should be consulted with a dermatologist.

1997·

8citations

·A. Rebora

A case of mirtazapine-associated hair loss.

Mirtazapine, a prototypical noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant, can cause temporary hair loss in female patients.

Case Report

2010·

6citations

·Chieh-Hsin Lin et al.

Drug-induced hair disorders.

Drug-induced hair loss is usually reversible and caused by a toxic effect on the hair follicle matrix, but in rare cases it may be permanent.

2006·

39citations

·B. Piraccini et al.

Severe hair loss associated with psyc hotropic drugs in psychiatric inpatients—Data from an observational pharmacovigilance program in German-speaking countries

Severe hair loss related to psychotropic drugs was reported in 43 cases (0.01%) in psychiatric inpatients, with valproic acid being the most common risk factor, and is more common in female patients than male patients.

Observational StudyRigorous Journal

2018·

5citations

·K. Druschky et al.

Drug-induced hair loss.

Drug-induced hair loss is often reversible after discontinuing the drug, but may persist for a few months after discontinuing the drug.

2016·

0citations

DRUG‐ASSOCIATED ALOPECIA

Drug-induced alopecia is a common, reversible side effect of drug therapy, with severity and prevalence depending on the drug and individual predisposition.

1995·

66citations

·PETER J. Pillans et al.

[Drug-induced alopecia: review of the literature].

Drug-induced alopecia can be a difficult side effect to diagnose, with a wide range of drugs potentially causing hair loss.

Literature Review

1995·

25citations

·M. Llau et al.

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