Adderall-induced Trichotillomania: A Case Report.
Adderall (dextroamphet-amine/amphetamine) is a psychostimulant medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This medication is usually well tolerated with minimal side effects. We report a case of a 12-year-old girl who was prescribed Adderall by her primary care physician to treat her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and who subsequently developed trichotillomania. A short time following the initiation of the medication, the patient's family members noticed the patient displaying unusual hair-pulling behavior. The patient was referred to a psychiatrist for an evaluation of trichotillomania. Following a thorough evaluation, the decision was made to discontinue the Adderall and switch the patient to guanfacine. The urge to pull her hair along with her anxiety dissipated following this change. Close follow-up was maintained for over a year with both the psychiatrist and the primary care physician, and during this time the patient did not display any unusual hair pulling behaviors. This case appears to display a very unusual side effect of Adderall.
Dr. Narine is a resident of psychiatry, Dr. Sarwar is fellow of child and adolescent psychiatry, and Dr. Rais is the associate professor and program director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry-All from the University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.
Chiranjir
C
Narine
Sajjad R
SR
Sarwar
Theodor B
TB
Rais
ADHD; Adderall; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; trichotillomania