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N‐Acetylcysteine in the treatment of trichotillomania: remarkable results in two patients
Author(s) -
Özcan D.,
Seçkin D.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/jdv.13690
Subject(s) - acetylcysteine , medicine , girl , pathophysiology , glutamatergic , side effect (computer science) , impulse control disorder , glutamate receptor , psychology , developmental psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , receptor , computer science , pathological , programming language , antioxidant
Background The management of trichotillomania is challenging. The limited efficacy and side‐effects of pharmacological medications and difficulty in long‐term maintenance of behavioural therapies necessitates alternative treatment options. A dysregulated glutamatergic system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of trichotillomania. A limited number of reports indicate that N‐acetylcysteine ( NAC ), a glutamate modulator, may be a promising treatment for this disorder. Objectives We report two patients with trichotillomania for whom treatment with NAC was successful. Methods The first patient was a 30‐year‐old female, and the second patient was a 14‐year‐old girl, both who were diagnosed with trichotillomania and prescribed NAC (1200 mg/d, p.o.). Results Hair pulling behaviour subsided within 2 months and 2 weeks of initiating NAC in the first and second patient, respectively. Complete hair regrowth was observed after 4 and 6 months of NAC treatment in the first and second patient, respectively. No side‐effects related to NAC were noted. Conclusion NAC could be a well‐tolerated and effective treatment option for trichotillomania.