Drug-Induced Alopecia: Review of the Literature

The review discussed drug-induced alopecia, highlighting that various medications could cause hair loss, ranging from mild shedding to irreversible baldness. It was noted that alopecia from drugs was typically diffuse and non-scarring, often reversible upon stopping the medication. Antimitotic agents were commonly associated with hair loss, while psychotropic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, lithium, anticonvulsants like valproic acid, beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, salicylates, nonsteroidal analgesics, anticoagulants, antithyroid drugs, and oral contraceptives were also implicated. The review emphasized the difficulty in diagnosing drug-induced alopecia, with improvement after drug cessation being the primary confirmation method. Recognizing this side effect was crucial as it could affect patient compliance.