Dermatologic Side Effects of Psychotropic Medications

• Published in: Psychosomatics (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 1 - 20
• Main Authors: Mitkov, Mario V., B.S, Trowbridge, Ryan M., M.A, Lockshin, Benjamin N., M.D, Caplan, Jason P., M.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arlington, VA Elsevier Inc 2014; American Psychiatric Publishing
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Drug Eruptions - etiology; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychiatry; Psychotropic Drugs - adverse effects; Toxicity: skin, dermoskeleton; Human; Skin disease; Treatment; Psychotropic; Toxicity; Pharmacotherapy; Mental disorder; Review
• ISSN: 0033-3182; 1545-7206
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psym.2013.07.003

Background Although relatively uncommon, cutaneous reactions to psychotropic medications may thwart treatment of psychiatric illness and confuse diagnostic efforts especially when they occur in the context of comorbid medical conditions. Psychiatrists may be asked to comment on whether a particular cutaneous condition is due to a psychotropic medication or to recommend a replacement psychotropic agent. Objective To review the available literature describing cutaneous adverse effects prompted by psychotropic medications. Method A search of the literature using PubMed was undertaken using the terms “psychotropic,” “psychiatric,” “antidepressant,” “anxiolytic,” “mood stabilizer,” “antipsychotic,” and “neuroleptic” in combination with either of the terms “dermatologic,” “cutaneous” or “skin.” Results Psychotropic medications from all classes have been associated with a broad variety of dermatologic reactions with variable rates of incidence. Psychiatrists should be aware of the potential cutaneous adverse effects of the medications they prescribe. Psychiatrists practicing in the general hospital, where cutaneous symptoms may present for any number of reasons, should be aware of the typical presentations and relative likelihood of these reactions to forestall unnecessary “blaming” of psychotropics for cutaneous reactions.