Lamotrigine hair loss: how long after starting it shows up

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In a review of pharmacovigilance reports of lamotrigine-associated alopecia, onset was variable: 17 people within one month, 48 between one and six months, and 31 after six months of starting.

No consistent week-by-week window is published for this, so it is not on the calculator.

When lamotrigine-linked hair loss was reported to start

Time from starting lamotrigine	Number of reports
Within 1 month	17 [PubMed]
1–6 months	48 [PubMed]
After 6 months	31 [PubMed]

These are spontaneous reports in a drug-safety database with limited clinical detail, so they show spread, not how often it happens [PubMed]. Because there is no consistent window, we do not put lamotrigine on the calculator.

What usually happened next

Across anti-seizure medicines, the review notes that in most reported cases hair loss stopped after the prescriber adjusted the dose or the drug [PubMed]. That decision belongs to your prescriber: these medicines must not be stopped suddenly.

Normal vs. warning signs

Commonly normal

Diffuse shedding with no patches
No rash or other new symptoms

Warning signs — get checked

Any new rash, especially with fever — contact your prescriber urgently
Patches or smooth bald spots
Scalp pain, redness, burning or scaling
Loss of eyebrows, eyelashes or body hair

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What may help

Never stop or change lamotrigine yourself — talk to your prescriber.
Note the start date and any dose increases for your clinician.
Ask whether iron or thyroid tests are worth doing to rule out other causes.

Related triggers

Medications

Telogen club hair

Frequently asked questions

How long after starting lamotrigine does hair loss start?

It varies: in drug-safety reports, 17 began within a month, 48 between one and six months, and 31 after six months.

Does lamotrigine hair loss go away?

In most reported anti-seizure-medicine cases, hair loss stopped after the prescriber adjusted treatment. Do not change it yourself.

Should I stop lamotrigine for hair loss?

No. Talk to your prescriber; anti-seizure and mood medicines should not be stopped abruptly.

Sources

PubMed Central (PMC10301592). Antiseizure medication-induced alopecia: a literature review (PMC10301592)
DermNet. Alopecia from drugs