Hair loss in a female patient after administration of fluoxetine: a case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE: Fluoxetine is a pharmacological agent that has been widely used to determine the neurotransmission of serotonin in the central nervous system. It is the drug of choice in the treatment of depression due to its safer profile, fewer side effects, and greater tolerability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a case of a 30 year-old woman suffering from mild depression according to the DSM-V criteria who had been prescribed and administered fluoxetine in a dose of 20 mg p.o./per day. RESULTS: Six weeks after the initiation of the medication, the patient reported hair loss in the frontal area of the skull. CONCLUSIONS: Since fluoxetine is a widely used antidepressant, clinicians should be aware of the skin complications in patients treated with antidepressants. There is further need for therapeutic monitoring in everyday clinical practice and before the prescription of an antidepressant agent, the specific guidelines, side-effect profile, drug-drug interactions and most current indications should always be taken into consideration.