An important cause of alopecia is associated with medications.
Diagnosis of drug-induced alopecia:
(1) The patient has a history of exposure to the drug.
(2) absence of alopecia before starting, or worsening of alopecia after starting the drug.
(3) exclusion of other causes
(4) The alopecia is usually reversible after discontinuation of the implicated drug.
(5) Alopecia may recur with re-exposure to the implicated drug(s).
Groups of drugs associated with alopecia:
(1) chemotherapeutic agents
(2) associated with telogen effluvium
(3) enhanced androgenetic activity
(4) hypolipemic agents
Drugs associated with telogen effluvium:
(1) ACE inhibitor (captopril, enalopril, other)
(2) albendazole
(3) allopurinol
(4) amphetamnes
(5) boric acid
(6) bromocryptine
(7) cimetidine
(8) colchicines
(9) glibenclamide
(10) gold
(11) heparin
(12) interferon
(13) levadopa
(14) mebendazole
(15) methysergide
(16) penicillamine
(17) phenytoin
(18) sulfasalazine
(19) warfarin
Drugs with antithyroid activity:
(1) amiodarone
(2) carbimazole
(3) lithium
(4) propylthiouracil
Drugs that enhance androgenetic activity:
(1) anabolic steroids
(2) danazol
(3) oral contraceptives
(4) testosterone
Drugs with hypolipemic activity:
(1) clofibrate
(2) triparanol
Specialty: Dermatology
ICD-10: ,