title: N-Acetylcysteine in the treatment of trichotillomania: remarkable results in two patients.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAC could be a well-tolerated and effective treatment option for trichotillomania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Özcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seçkin
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000111:Acetylcysteine