Alopecia and Mood Stabilizers: Two Case Reports
March 1992
in “
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
”
![Image of study](/images/research/a4b22dfc-80db-4c3e-a55c-4f687ec921bd/medium/22715.jpg)
TLDR Hair loss from mood stabilizers can grow back, but the reasons why are not fully understood.
The document described two cases where alopecia was associated with the use of mood stabilizers lithium and valproate. The first case involved a 30-year-old female who experienced hair regrowth after switching from lithium to valproate. The second case involved a 50-year-old female who had hair regrowth after stopping valproate, although her psychiatric condition deteriorated, leading to a cautious reintroduction of valproate without further hair loss. The document highlighted that drug-induced alopecia is typically diffuse, non-scarring, and reversible, but it emphasized the importance of addressing this side effect due to its potential impact on a patient's willingness to comply with treatment. The mechanisms behind mood stabilizer-induced alopecia remain unclear, and the document suggests trying alternative mood stabilizers or cautiously reintroducing the same drug if necessary.