Treatment Options: Medications
Questions about pharmacological treatment are among the most frequently asked of TLC. Understandably, many want to know, "What can I take to make me stop pulling?"
As of yet, there is no magic pill for the treatment of trichotillomania or skin picking. In fact, people respond very individually to medications, so there probably will never be a single drug that helps everyone. There is also a strong possibility that there is more than one form of trichotillomania, and that different forms will respond to different treatments.
That said, some people do benefit from drug therapies, either alone or in conjunction with cognitive-behavior therapy. Many experience a reduction of the urge to pull, and some have experienced total cessation. The effect, however, is often (though not always) temporary. It can be useful to use a period of relief to explore additional treatment or support resources that may help you in the long term.
Because reaction to medications is so individual, it is often necessary for you and your doctor to try more than one drug or combination of drugs before finding one that helps. Medications in the SRI or SSRI category have shown to be the most useful to date, but results are mixed. Please see our "Clinicians' Guides" for more detailed information.
The use of medication for the treatment of these behaviors in children or adolescents brings additional concerns. Very few drug trials involve children and to date there have been no studies of the use of medication for treatment of TTM in children. Due to the limited evidence supporting its effectiveness, as well as concerns about the long-term effects of medications on the developing brain, TLC's Scientific Advisory Board advises that for most children and adolescents with trichotillomania, medications should not be used as a treatment of first choice.
It is important for you and your doctor to be aware that many people with trichotillomania and skin picking suffer with additional problems, such as depression and anxiety, which should be screened for and treated. In addition to being serious or even life-threatening in their own right, the existence of additional disorders can hinder one's ability to benefit from treatment of trichotillomania.
Related Pages
Guides
- Clinician's Guide to the Treatment of Trichotillomania in Adults
- Clinician's Guide to the Treatment of Trichotillomania in Children & Adolescents