TLDR Some anticonvulsant drugs can cause skin reactions, ranging from mild to severe, and managing these reactions is important for patient care.
In the 1999 review, James Ruble and Fumisuke Matsuo discussed the incidence, mechanisms, and management of cutaneous drug reactions (CDRs) induced by anticonvulsants. They noted that while CDRs are relatively uncommon, they can be severe and unpredictable. Mild reactions like exanthems and urticaria are most common, but severe reactions require careful management, potentially in burn centers, and may involve immunosuppressive therapy. The review also addressed specific reactions such as alopecia, pigmentation changes, and various severe skin conditions like erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Alopecia caused by valproic acid typically reverses after discontinuation of the drug, and treatment options are limited. The document highlighted the importance of recognizing and managing CDRs to optimize patient care, despite the difficulty in establishing specific incidence rates due to limitations in clinical reporting.
38 citations,
September 1996 in “Annals of Clinical Psychiatry” Hair loss from mood stabilizers is common but can be managed without stopping the medication.
147 citations,
April 1994 in “Drug Safety” Some drugs can cause hair loss or increase hair growth, but these effects are usually reversible when the drug is stopped.
10 citations,
March 1992 in “European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience” Hair loss from mood stabilizers can grow back, but the reasons why are not fully understood.
12 citations,
December 1985 in “Dicp-The annals of pharmacotherapy” Carbamazepine can cause hair loss, which may reverse when the medication is stopped.
14 citations,
June 1952 in “The BMJ” Phenobarbitone can cause severe and sometimes fatal skin reactions.
47 citations,
January 2003 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Mood stabilizers can cause serious skin reactions; careful monitoring and immediate treatment are crucial.
6 citations,
October 2013 in “Expert Review of Dermatology” Psychotropic medications can cause skin problems, including serious conditions, and patients should be monitored closely.
3 citations,
July 2017 in “Elsevier eBooks” Skin reactions are a common reason for emergency visits due to drug allergies, with some severe cases needing intensive care.
63 citations,
March 1995 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Some drugs can cause hair loss, and stopping these drugs often leads to hair regrowth.
12 citations,
June 2003 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Some psychoactive drugs can cause skin reactions, with carbamazepine having a higher risk, and stopping the drug and seeing a dermatologist is important.
