Tosi, 1994  Title: Drug-induced hair loss and hair growth.
Incidence, management and avoidance.
Authors: Tosi A, Misciali C, Piraccini BM,
Peluso AM, Bardazzi F
Journal: Drug Saf 1994 Apr;10(4):310-7
PMID: 8018303, UI: 94288923
Affiliated institution: Department
of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Italy.
Cited in: Lin
A large number of drugs may interfere with the hair
cycle and produce hair loss. Drugs may affect anagen follicles
through 2 main different modalities: (i) by inducing an abrupt
cessation of mitotic activity in rapidly dividing hair matrix
cells (anagen effluvium) or (ii) by precipitating the follicles
into premature rest (telogen effluvium). In anagen effluvium,
hair loss usually occurs within days to weeks of drug administration,
whereas in telogen effluvium, hair loss becomes evident 2 to 4
months after starting treatment. Anagen effluvium is a prominent
adverse effect of antineoplastic agents, which cause acute damage
of rapidly dividing hair matrix cells. Telogen effluvium may be
a consequence of a large number of drugs including anticoagulants,
retinol (vitamin A) and its derivatives, interferons and antihyperlipidaemic
drugs. Drug-induced hair loss is usually reversible after interruption
of treatment. The prevalence and severity of alopecia depend on
the drug as well as on individual predisposition. Some drugs produce
hair loss in most patients receiving appropriate dosages while
other drugs are only occasionally responsible for hair abnormalities.
Both hirsutism and hypertrichosis may be associated with drug
administration. Drugs most commonly responsible for the development
of hirsutism include testosterone, danazol, corticotrophin (ACTH),
metyrapone, anabolic steroids and glucocorticoids. Hypertrichosis
is a common adverse effect of cyclosporin, minoxidil and diazoxide.
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