Role of Zinc Supplementation in the Treatment of Levetiracetam-Induced Hair Loss: A Case Series
Abstract
Cosmetic side effects are among important causes for non-compliance in patients on anti-epileptics. Telogen effluvium (TE) is one of the most encountered cosmetic adverse effects. This report presents three patients with seizure disorder who developed levetiracetam- induced TE. Levetiracetam was considered to be a proper option for the treatment of the presented cases and therefore was not changed to other anti-epileptics. To manage TE, it was decided to add zinc sulfate to the therapeutic levetiracetam regimen. All three patients reported improvement in their hair condition as well as in controlling their seizure. Levetiracetam has favorable safety and efficacy profiles. However; the hair loss caused by this medication is a major drawback. Zinc sulfate was decided to be added to the therapeutic levetiracetam regimen in order to manage TE. All three patients reported improvement in their hair condition. Zinc supplementation is suggested to be safe and cost effective when considering management of levetiracetam-induced TE.
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| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 4, No 1-2 (Spring 2016) | |
| Section | Case Report(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Antiepileptic drugs levetiracetam telogen effluvium zinc | ||
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