TLDR A woman's temporary hair loss was caused by high prolactin levels from her medication.
In 2020, a case study was conducted on a 77-year-old woman who had been taking olanzapine, valproic acid, and trazodone for dementia for about 2 years. A month before her first visit, risperidone was added to her medication regimen, after which her family noticed a significant decrease in her hair volume and an increase in hair shedding. Upon examination, diffuse hair loss and easy hair pullability were observed, but no pathological hair was found. A biopsy showed an increase in hair follicles in the resting phase, and no inflammatory cell infiltration was observed. Her serum prolactin (PRL) level was high at 137.7 ng/ml. The researchers concluded that the woman had telogen effluvium, a form of temporary hair loss, due to drug-induced hyperprolactinemia. After gradually discontinuing risperidone, her PRL level dropped to 67.1 ng/ml after 3 months, and her hair loss improved with a visible increase in hair volume. The study suggested that drug-induced telogen effluvium can be difficult to notice and should be considered in differential diagnosis when diffuse hair loss occurs.
11 citations,
January 2018 in “International journal of trichology” Valproate can cause hair loss and changes in hair appearance, but may help regrow hair when applied topically.
54 citations,
September 2012 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Some medications can cause hair loss, but stopping the drug usually leads to recovery within 3 months.
19 citations,
January 2012 in “Dermato-endocrinology” Moderately high prolactin levels do not cause hair loss in women.
36 citations,
November 2009 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Prolactin may affect hair growth differently based on gender and scalp area.
73 citations,
June 2001 in “Endocrinology” Prolactin affects when mice shed and grow hair.
1 citations,
January 2017 in “International Journal of Trichology” Psychological stress and personal history are significant factors in hair loss.
January 2021 in “Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Dermatology” Women with a certain type of hair loss had lower levels of a hormone called prolactin compared to healthy women.
14 citations,
October 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” A woman with Parkinson's disease experienced hair loss from the Parkinson's medication pramipexole, which improved after stopping the drug.
67 citations,
January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” Chronic Telogen Effluvium may resolve after years and is diagnosed by examining the patient's history and clinical signs, with treatment aimed at underlying causes and possibly minoxidil.
18 citations,
January 2016 in “Skin appendage disorders” The paper suggests improving diagnosis and treatment of telogen effluvium but does not recommend a new classification system.
