Alopecia associated with quetiapine

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Dermatology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Alopecia has been documented as a side effect of atypical antipsychotics like olanzapine and risperidone.
• However, a causal link between quetiapine and alopecia has not been previously established in scientific literature.

Observation:

• Two case reports of alopecia associated with quetiapine were identified through the New Zealand Intensive Medicines Monitoring Programme.
• An additional 15 case reports were found in the World Health Organization's global adverse event database.

Findings:

• The reviewed case reports provide evidence suggesting a causal relationship between quetiapine use and the development of alopecia.
• These represent the first published accounts linking quetiapine to hair loss.

Implications:

• Clinicians should be aware of the potential for quetiapine to cause alopecia in patients.
• Further research may be warranted to understand the incidence and mechanisms of quetiapine-induced alopecia.