Hair loss with levetiracetam in five patients with epilepsy

PURPOSE To report cases of hair loss with levetiracetam (LEV) in epilepsy patient and summarise their demographic and clinical features. METHOD All patients reported attended the epilepsy outpatient clinic of the West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Demographic and clinical information was obtained from medical records and by interview. All the patients were under regular follow up. RESULTS Five epilepsy patients (4 females and 1 male) are reported. All developed hair loss within two months of starting LEV treatment. Three had idiopathic epilepsy, two symptomatic epilepsy. Three patients received LEV monotherapy, two combination treatment. None decided to switch away from LEV to another drug after developing hair loss, although the dose of LEV was reduced in one patient. CONCLUSION Hair loss may be a rare side effect of LEV treatment in patients with epilepsy. LEV-related hair loss appears reversible if the dose is reduced or treatment is stopped.