TLDR Mood stabilizers like lithium and anticonvulsants have side effects that can lead to patients stopping their medication, and managing these effects is important for treatment adherence.
The document from 2013 reviews the side effects of mood stabilizers such as lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine in bipolar disorder treatment, noting that side effects contribute to medication nonadherence with rates ranging from 10 to 60%. It reports that hypothyroidism is a common side effect of lithium, affecting 0-23% of patients, and hair loss is reported in at least 10% of patients on lithium, 6% on carbamazepine, and up to 28% on high doses of valproate. Cognitive and sexual side effects are also concerns, with lithium affecting memory and motor speed, and anticonvulsants associated with sexual dysfunction. Hepatotoxicity is rare with valproate, but hyperammonemia is reported in 16-100% of patients. Teratogenic risks are present, with lithium having a low risk of cardiovascular malformations, while valproate is linked to a higher risk of neural tube defects. The document stresses the importance of monitoring and managing side effects to improve patient adherence and calls for more research on the efficacy of interventions, particularly in elderly patients.
13 citations,
July 2010 in “Drug safety” Lamotrigine may cause hair loss, affecting treatment compliance and health.
10 citations,
January 2008 in “Acta dermato-venereologica” Carbamazepine caused hair loss and skin eruptions in a woman, which improved after stopping the medication.
9 citations,
August 2006 in “American Journal of Psychiatry” A woman's hair loss stopped after she stopped taking lamotrigine, suggesting it might cause hair loss.
16 citations,
October 2004 in “Acta dermato-venereologica” Two people lost a lot of hair because of epilepsy drugs, but their hair grew back after changing medication.
79 citations,
January 2000 in “Annals of Clinical Psychiatry” Some psychiatric medications can cause hair loss, but stopping or reducing the dose usually reverses it.
38 citations,
September 1996 in “Annals of Clinical Psychiatry” Hair loss from mood stabilizers is common but can be managed without stopping the medication.
11 citations,
January 2016 in “Bipolar Disorder” Valproate is a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder but has side effects and risks, especially during pregnancy.
19 citations,
October 2013 in “Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain” The document concludes that inhalation of oxygen and sumatriptan injections are primary for cluster headaches, indomethacin for paroxysmal hemicrania, and lidocaine and lamotrigine for SUNCT, but SUNCT often resists treatment.
13 citations,
April 2019 in “Seizure” Valproic acid increases the risk of hair loss more than other drugs, especially in migraine patients, and lamotrigine may be a safer alternative.
1 citations,
March 2023 in “Nutrients” The conclusion is that obesity should be managed with a slow, balanced approach to diet and exercise, with medication and surgery as additional options, and education and access to care are important.
17 citations,
January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Pharmacology” High levels of the seizure medication sodium valproate can cause hair loss.
