Alopecia and Amphetamine Use: Reply
July 1988
in “
JAMA
”
New to Alopecia Areata? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → 
Studysummary This article discusses reported cases of diffuse scalp hair thinning in women using amphetamines and suggests no clear cause-effect relationship with amphetamine use based on available evidence.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
In a letter dated July 8, 1988, Dr. Virginia C. Fiedler responded to a query regarding the relationship between amphetamine use and alopecia. She expressed skepticism about a direct cause-effect relationship between long-term amphetamine use and the development of alopecia, as the type of hair loss associated with amphetamine use was diffuse scalp thinning, which is different from the total hair loss seen in severe alopecia areata. Dr. Fiedler referenced two studies: one by Eckert et al. (1967) which found that only three out of 150 women with diffuse hair loss were taking amphetamines, without evidence of a temporal relationship between amphetamine use and hair loss; and another by Alexander (1965) which reported diffuse hair loss in individuals using amphetamines for weight reduction, though rapid weight loss itself could be a contributing factor. Dr. Fiedler concluded that it is difficult to determine the role of amphetamines in diffuse scalp hair loss based on the available information.
