Medication for BFRBs like hair-pulling and skin-picking
Is there a pill to treat hair-pulling or skin-picking successfully?
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There is no magic potion that can take away specialist conditions like these, but many people do find their anxiety is relieved with some medications. Lower anxiety and managing sleeplessness can help to reduce urges to pull hair or pick skin.
However, a 2023 study has supported the theory that modulating the glutaminergic system of the brain with the medication Memantine, can reduce symptoms of hair pulling and skin picking. Grant et al (2023).
We have seen no evidence to recommend medication for trichotillomania. Our studies of over five thousand people who have been medicated for trichotillomania reveal that no one has stopped pulling through medication alone, and that for many, pulling was made worse. Anti-depressants and SSRIs do not work for trichotillomania but should still be taken if prescribed for co-existing health conditions.
There have been many research projects into medication for trichotillomania, with limited results. Tricsters are often given medication for OCD. OCD compulsions are often the result of compulsive thoughts, such as “I must do this to prevent that”; by contrast, hair pulling is not usually preceded by such thoughts or cognitive problems. Trichotillomania symptoms often begin in infancy, while OCD usually begins in late teens (Himle et al., 1995). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and exposure treatments are effective for OCD, but have not been shown to prevent pulling.
Those with social anxiety and obsessions often benefit from old
school branded medication like Seroxat (notably not Sertraline the brand) or in fewer cases, more modern SSRis. Be
careful though, don’t believe articles which tell you it will stop
your hair pulling. Most medications can also cause some very unpleasant side
effects.
Insomnia can often be one of the most frustrating elements of BFRBs,
and you can certainly ask your doctor for help to sleep soundly at
night. Not only will better sleep make you feel so much better, it will
reduce the time available when you can pick, bite or pull.
People with associated pain or insomnia often benefit from melatonin and Amitriptyline.
If you do decide to take some medication, don’t expect it to stop you
pulling, but it is reasonable to expect it to give you an easier ride
through life, and relieve social anxiety. It is easy to feel that taking
medication is like wearing a label that says you are unwell, or that
stopping your medication will make the whole problem go away. Taking
medication for anxiety doesn’t mean that you are mentally ill, any more
than taking pain killers means you have a migraine. Many normal people
take medication for anxiety and most of them go through stages where
they don’t want to take them. Discontinuing medication must be a slow
and gradual process. Ultimately, of course, the decision about whether or
not to take trichotillomania medication is a matter for the individual
with the condition.
We can help.
Many people with BFRBs are very sensitive to what they put in their
bodies and we therefore recommend starting slowly on half of most
medications per day. If you are going to start taking meds, we recommend
starting when you go on holiday, with half the dose for a week or two
until the start of your holiday, then going to the full dose during your
vacation.
Certain reported similarities have been found between motor tic urges
and hair pulling urges (Prado et al., 2008). Van Ameringen et al., 2006
tested the antipsychotic Olanzapine (10.8 mg/daily), on people with
trichotillomania. This medication has been effective for treating motor
tics. Of the tricsters, 85% of those given olanzapine pulled less than
before, as compared to 17% of those taking the placebo. There may
therefore be a positive outcome with the well supervised use of
Olanzapine in treating trichotillomania, especially if used alongside
behavioral modification therapy.
Most of the major medical and psychiatric journals contain
misinformation about trichotillomania and some advocate the use of
medications which can be unhelpful to tricsters. Many medications
prescribed for trichotillomania cause tiredness, and tiredness increases urges to pull. This might explain why urges are often reported to increase with medication.
References:
Grant JE, Chesivoir E, Valle S, Ehsan D, Chamberlain SR, Chir MMB, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study of Memantine in Trichotillomania and Skin-Picking Disorder, Accessed: 22 Feb 2023 https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20220737
Revised 24 February 2023, Review 22 February 2024
