Posted by psybintea on January 25, 2003, at 21:16:32
is anyone aware of the etiology of this "supposedly" rare side-effect from AD's?
my main concern is if SSRI induced hair loss is in fact transient? I want some opinions from personal experiences. Has anyone here experienced hair loss and regained it after a certain period of time? and did the regrowth occur after discontinuation? From all the cases i've read, it seems like all of them regrew their hair a few months after stopping the AD, but i haven't read anything regarding rather or not the hair will grow back if the medication is continued. Has anyone ever stuck with it and had their hair return without stoppining their meds?
I found this article:
Dr Richard Lee, MD answered: "Hair loss has been reported with essentially all of the drugs used in psychopharmacology, but the incidence of hair loss as a side effect shows a wide variation.
Here’s an edited abstract from an article entitled, “Hair Loss in Psychopharmacology” by Mercke Y, Sheng H, Khan T, and Lippmann S. from the Annals of Clinical Psychiatry 2000 Mar;12(1):35-42 :
Medication-induced alopecia is an occasional side effect of many psychopharmaceuticals. Most of the mood stabilizer and antidepressant drugs can lead to this condition. Some antipsychotic and antianxiety agents induce alopecia. Valproic acid (e.g. Depakene) and/ or divalproex precipitates alopecia in up to 12% of patients in a dose-dependent relationship. Incidences up to 28% are observed with high valproate concentration exposures. These pharmaceuticals also can change hair color and structure. The occurrence of carbamazepine (e.g. Tegretol)-induced alopecia is at or below 6%. Hair loss is less common with other mood stabilizers. Tricyclic antidepressants, maprotilene, trazodone, and virtually all the new generation of antidepressants may on rare occasions lead to alopecia. The same applies to haloperidol, olanzepine, risperidone, clonazepam, and buspirone, but not to other neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, or barbiturates, selected antihistamines, and antiparkinsonians. Discontinuation of the medication or dose reduction almost always leads to complete hair regrowth.
Please don’t allow this daunting list intimidate you. The majority of patients will not experience any hair loss as a result of taking an anti-depressant. Even if a medication does cause hair loss, the loss is almost always completely reversible. Many of the SSRI (Serum Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) are excellent anti-depressants with very good safety records. Be sure to take antidepressants under close medical supervision."
poster:psybintea
thread:137554
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030125/msgs/137554.html