Alopecia and Drugs: Exploring the Link Between Medications and Hair Loss

The document from 2014 discussed the link between prescription medications and hair loss, highlighting the need to consider the timing of medication use and the onset of hair loss to determine if the medication could be the cause. It pointed out the lack of detailed exploration into the mechanisms of drug-induced hair loss and the importance of a thorough clinical history to identify potential triggers within three months prior to hair loss. The document described anagen effluvium, commonly caused by chemotherapy, and telogen effluvium, which can result from various drugs, as types of drug-induced hair loss. It listed several classes of drugs known to cause hair loss, such as psychotropic drugs, anticoagulants, and oral contraceptives, among others, and noted that while this type of hair loss is typically diffuse, non-scarring, and reversible, it occurs more frequently in women.