Condition
Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling)
Trichotillomania is a hair-pulling disorder in which people feel compelled to pull hair from the scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes, and it is grouped with obsessive-compulsive related conditions. The evidence is strongest for N-acetyl cysteine, a glutamate modulator tested in a randomized trial for hair pulling, while inositol has only limited evidence. Still, the leading option showed no clear difference for anxiety in one small group of 50 people, and the other supplements have limited research.
Sources: PMID 19581567
- Supplements studied
- 1
- Graded outcomes
- 1
- Trials
- 1
- People studied
- 50
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Symptoms No effect | NoneNo effect | 50 people | ||||
| Depression Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 4 studies | 50 people | |||
Studies that measured depression symptoms
| ||||||
| Trichotillomania Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 50 people | |||
Studies that measured trichotillomania symptoms | ||||||
| Subjective Well-Being | Improves (the measure goes up) | 50 people | ||||
Key findings
- Anxiety Symptoms
The Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)1,200–2,400 mg daily in divided doses
- Inositol12–18 g daily in divided doses
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling). If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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Studies cited
34 studies from PubMed
- Safety and tolerability of N-acetylcysteine in cocaine-dependent individuals
- The administration of N-acetylcysteine reduces oxidative stress and regulates glutathione metabolism in the blood cells of workers exposed to lead
- N-Acetylcysteine Attenuates Fatigue Following Repeated-Bouts of Intermittent Exercise: Practical Implications for Tournament Situations
- N-acetylcysteine, a glutamate modulator, in the treatment of trichotillomania: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- New developments in the treatment of COPD: comparing the effects of inhaled corticosteroids and N-acetylcysteine
- Induced sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) contains adhesion-promoting, therapy-sensitive factors
- N-acetylcysteine add-on treatment in refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Effects of N-acetylcysteine on outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Bronchitis Randomized on NAC Cost-Utility Study, BRONCUS): a randomised placebo-controlled trial
- Long-term oral n-acetylcysteine reduces exhaled hydrogen peroxide in stable COPD
- The efficacy of -acetylcysteine in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: a meta-analysis.
- Effect of Orally Administered N-Acetylcysteine on Chronic Bronchitis: A Meta-analysis.
- A randomized controlled pilot trial of oral N-acetylcysteine in children with autism
- A randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial of N-Acetylcysteine added to risperidone for treating autistic disorders
- N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibits renal nitrite and nitrate reabsorption in healthy subjects and in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: risk of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability loss by NAC?
- The role of cystine-glutamate exchange in nicotine dependence in rats and humans
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in young marijuana users: an open-label pilot study
- N-Acetylcysteine in depressive symptoms and functionality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of craving in substance use disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with -acetylcysteine in the treatment of schizophrenia.
- Meta-analytic Techniques to Assess the Association Between N-acetylcysteine and Acute Kidney Injury After Contrast Administration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
- The efficacy of adjuvant N acetyl cysteine for the eradication of H pylori infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
- N-acetylcysteine in the Donor, Recipient, or Both Donor and Recipient in Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.
- N-acetylcysteine use among patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.
- The effect of N-acetylcysteine on bipolar depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- N-acetylcysteine as an adjunctive treatment for bipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- N-acetylcysteine as an adjunctive treatment for bipolar depression and major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trials.
- Efficacy and Safety of N-Acetylcysteine for the Management of Chronic Pain in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- The effects of N-acetylcysteine on ovulation and sex hormones profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- The effects of N-acetylcysteine supplement on metabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine in preventing aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity: implications for the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB.
- Effect of N-acetyl-cysteine in prevention of noise-induced hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Effect of N-acetyl-cysteine treatment on sensorineural hearing loss: a meta-analysis.
- No Significant Beneficial Effects of Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine on Patient Outcome in Non-Paracetamol Acute Liver Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.